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You can almost always hear me coming from just about any direction—mostly because I’m clomping my way through life in extra-chunky shoes. There’s something about a sturdy shoe that instantly grounds a look, and makes every and any proportion feel right. I wear my lug sole Gucci loafers, which weigh a ton, more than my sneakers—because they simply always complete my outfit. That being said, it’s currently New York Fashion Week, and what better time than now to experiment with style and try out new things? (Vogue’s street style gallery has plenty of outfit ideas.)
Feeling inspired by the idea of a wardrobe renewal, I tasked myself with venturing outside of my own signature shoes. What if I tried a more streamlined footwear style instead? I also began to notice a shoe taking over the menswear scene this season: Gents are now rocking ballet flats. Yes, those dainty little flats that count Olivia Rodrigo and Sofia Richie as fans. I was intrigued.
The idea of a men’s ballet flat scared me, though. Not because they’re a bold statement: Those flat, rounded-toe shoes are discreet enough, and they look pretty elegant. I love how designer Marc Jacobs recently wore a Balenciaga pair with a tuxedo blazer, white tee, and jeans. Stylish playwright Jeremy O. Harris also wore a pointed flat with a Canadian Tuxedo just earlier this week, too. No, ballet flats scared me less because of how they look, and more because of the comfort factor. As someone who’s used to a staggering platform, I was apprehensive about feeling the pavement that I’m walking on. This is New York City, after all—these streets are bumpy and uneven! Plus, as someone with high arches, taking on a flat-footed shoe sounded painful at best.
Still, I decided to try a pair or two out for fun. Perhaps they would affect the entire way I dress—or, perhaps they’re way more versatile than I think. Below, see my main takeaways as I test-drove ballet flats for the first two days of fashion week. (I found that running from show to show in them was surprisingly easy and comfy!).
Day one
I decided to be brave and kick off the first day of fashion week in my black ballet flats. I looked to Hereu’s ballet flat; I liked the slightly squared toe silhouette, which feels like a modern update to the shape. My first question was if I wear socks with them. I was perplexed, so I asked come of my co-workers. “That would be a tight fit,” said my colleague Elise. “A sock is too bulky to cram in there.” Still, my colleague Sarah said it could be a look. “Tibi made them into one piece for their show,” she said. The verdict? Go sockless. It felt slightly wrong to cram my bare feet into them, but off I went.
Then, came the styling conundrum. What do I wear with them? I tried out a few options. My go-to dress pants showed too much leg with the shoes (sexy ankles, I do not have). I landed on a baggy jean that draped just over the ballet flats; This felt cool and fresh to me. I threw on my new Isa Boulder knit polo with it, and I was out the door. I was surprised at how effortless (and maybe even French) the whole outfit felt. Jetting from show to show, they were also pleasantly comfortable. Though, my feet did get sweaty against the leather sole on an extremely humid day—the one con to wearing ballet flats.
Day two
For my second day of wearing ballet flats, I took things further in another pair by Hereu—this time, a laced-up style. I was intrigued if they would work with shorts, so I slipped into my favorite baggy white pair. The combination worked well. Compared to my go-to Gucci loafers, the ballet flats gave the whole look a more polished feel. I felt like I was European or something, heading back from a market with a baguette in my tote.
I had another busy day of shows to go to. Again, I was shocked at how comfy they were; Sometimes I forgot I was wearing shoes at all. They didn’t cut up the back of my feet, like new shoes sometimes can. “I love your shoes,” my friend instantly pointed out as we met up for lunch. “They’re a new vibe for you.” They were. There’s something subtly chic about ballet flats on a man. The unexpected shoe whispers, I’m not like other guys.
Even so, am I a total ballet flat convert? Hardly. By day three of fashion week, I was back into my Gucci loafers, already feeling more like myself. But the takeaway here is, when in the right mood, a sleek ballet flat can dress up your outfit. There’s no doubt they add a more sophisticated feel to your standard jeans and blazers. Maybe—just maybe—I’ll consider adding them into the rotation for fall. But, for now, you can find me stomping my way to work, as usual. We are who we are.
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