So yesterday I finally pulled the trigger on these trendy ballet flats everyone’s raving about online. Woke up thinking, “Right, let’s make these comfy shoes actually work.” Dug deep into my closet chaos – we’re talking stuff shoved behind winter coats and forgotten dresses.
The First Attempt
Saw them lying there all cute and flat. Grabbed my trusty black leggings and a chunky oatmeal sweater. Basic, right? Threw them on and looked down. Hmm. Leggings made my legs look weirdly short with the flats, kinda stumpish. Swapped the leggings for my oldest pair of dark skinny jeans rolled once at the ankle. Better. The clean cuff showed a tiny bit of ankle and kinda framed the flat. Oatmeal sweater stayed. Felt casual but… put-together lazy? Like “I tried but not too hard.” Added silver hoops. Called it Outfit One.
Feeling Braver (Mostly)
Alright, confidence creeping in. Remembered I had this simple midi dress – black, flowy, hits mid-calf. Kinda shapeless though. Here was the test: Ballet flats with a dress? Risky move. Could scream “kindergarten teacher” or weirdly fancy. Put it on with the flats and stood in front of the mirror. Actually… worked? The simple dress and simple flats balanced each other. No frills. Threw on a slim black belt to give some shape. Looked polished without pain. Score! Outfit Two locked in. Feeling smug.
Then… The Disaster Strikes
Got too cocky. Saw this bright floral print dress hanging sadly. Thought “Yeah! Pop of colour with classic black flats!” Mistake. Big mistake. Looked in the mirror and sighed. The delicate florals and delicate flats just… clashed styles hard? Like they were fighting. Made me look fussy and cheap. Instant no. Tore it off after two minutes. Learned my lesson: super bold prints? Probably stick to chunkier shoes. Ballet flats need simpler partners.
Pulling It Back Together
Okay, after the floral fail, needed a win. Went back to basics but slightly smarter. Black leggings again (firmly rolled or cuffed this time!) paired with a super long, slightly oversized grey tunic sweater. Added a long, thin gold necklace for some lift near my face. Slid into the ballet flats. Perfect “I have coffee plans but refuse to suffer” vibe. Leggings didn’t look stumpy this time because the long top balanced the flats. Added a big leather tote. Outfit Three felt like a solid backup plan.
Extra Touches I Fussed With
- Color Tights: Tried sheer black tights under the midi dress (Outfit Two). Kinda cute? Edged it slightly more sophisticated without changing shoes.
- Dainty Socks: Briefly attempted those frilly little ballet socks peeking out. Felt like I was trying too hard to be “ballet core.” Scrapped it instantly. Too precious.
- Accessories: Simple silver or gold always won. Big chunky stuff looked wrong next to the delicate flats. Hoops, thin chains = good.
The Verdict
Honestly? Totally worth the hype for the comfort factor alone. Key things I figured out: Stick with skinny pants rolled, simple sheath or shift dresses, and long tops over leggings. Avoid super busy prints or anything too stiff like a structured taffeta skirt (tried it quickly, another disaster 🙄). They’re not “wow” shoes, but they make getting dressed easy and pain-free. They just… disappear on your feet, in a good way? Basically, my heels are gathering dust now. Not saying they’ll fix every outfit, but for running errands or casual lunch? ♀️ Never going back.
