The Affordable Ballet Flats Giving You The “Cool Girl” Look On A Budget
elevated in an instant
By Victoria Lewis | 29th September 2026Though we can’t deny our love affair with sneakers, loafers, and mules, there is something so instantly elegant about the humble ballet flat. Though ballet flats have always been humming in the background of the shoe conversation, from being Chanel’s signature style to favourites of Alexa Chung and Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf in the early 2000s, the closed-toe silhouette has really been doing the rounds recently. As an effortless way to elevate any everyday outfit, it seems the cool girls of Instagram have gathered together to agree on one thing – the ballet flat is in.
To complete the OOTDs showering your IG and Pinterest saved folders right now, we are here to tell you which ballet flats are trending and where to shop the look for less. You are so welcome.
What ballet flats are trending?
The best thing about ballet flats? They can be as bold or as simple as you want them to be. For the forever minimalists out there, a sleek silhouette with an exaggerated upper vamp in a nice neutral will become your best friend, even on those days that require 10,000 steps. Satin styles are also adding a more feminine softness, while mesh is the preferred material to add a little edge to the look. Drawing inspiration from sneakers to ballet shoes themselves, the classic flat is truly taking on new forms in 2026.
The Tabi is taking over
Yet, if we had to pick one ballet flat style dividing and conquering the fashion world right now, it’s got to be the Tabi. This split-sole style first originated in Japan as a sock designed to wear with thongs, then was later reborn by Parisian fashion house Maison Margiela in 1988 when they put Tabi boots down the runway. Since then, Maison Margiela experimented with the Tabi style, eventually releasing a ballet flat version that has been a controversial part of the fashion zeitgeist and arguably started the “freaky shoe movement”.
Love it or loathe it, there is no denying that the Tabi ballet flat has become synonymous with “cool-girl” in recent years, and dare I say, become more mainstream. So much so that high-street brands like Shoe HQ‘s Sandler are bringing out their own iterations with a budget-friendly price tag. If we were to throw in our two cents, we say embrace the Tabi ballet flat, because it’s so wrong that it’s right.
Get the viral look for less
Ready to dip your toes into the world of ballet flats? You can’t go past Shoe HQ‘s extensive range, a curated selection from top high street brands (including Sandler and Sam Edelman) at prices that won’t break the bank. And because we can’t help but share the love, these are the affordable ballet flats occupying space in our shopping carts right now. Happy stomping.
Imagery: @sandler.shoes, @shoehq.social, @samedelman
This article is sponsored by Shoe HQ and proudly endorsed by style. We only promote brands and companies that we love and think our readers will love too!
