With 20 years of dance classes under my belt, my style was balletcore long before the trend hit TikTok. I’ve owned my fair share of wrap sweaters and leg warmers—but I thought I’d hung my pointe shoes up for good, until I found ballerina sneakers.
These studio-inspired shoes are coming soon to a sidewalk near you, if you haven’t spotted them already. They’re cute, comfy, and all over my IG feed. So, do they hold up? 10,000 steps later, here’s a dancer’s take (plus my favorite pairs to shop now, before they sell out).
Our top picks
- Dr. Martens Elphie II Leather Ballet Flats, $130
- Adidas Taekwondo Mei, $93
- Staud Gino Ballet Glides, $350
- JW Pei Caitlin Lace-up Ballerina Sneakers, $99
- Puma Mostro Fey Launch Sneakers, $110
Dr. Martens Elphie II Leather Ballet Flats
Original photo by SELF senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
As a longtime Dr. Martens fan (I now own four pairs), I’ve never sprinted to my local store faster than I did after I saw the Elphie II. This lace-up flat comes in four goes-with-everything colors: black, burgundy (my personal favorite), pale pink, and (hairy!) leopard print.
Like other Dr. Martens pairs, they aren’t exactly lightweight. But I’m happy to report that, many eight-hour work days later, they’re pretty comfy. I like pairing them with crew socks for a preppier vibe.
Adidas Taekwondo Mei
Move over, Sambas and Gazelles: The Adidas Taekwondo Mei sports the brand’s iconic stripes in a new ballet-inspired flat. While they may look dainty, they’re still as structured as a regular sneaker. They also come with three sizes of laces for the right fit. But, as a heads-up, shoppers say the shoes’ small loops can make the lacing process a little tricky.
Staud Gino Ballet Glides
Not a fan of knots? You don’t have to deal with tangled ties to get the balletcore look. Staud’s Gino slip-ons are my perfect weekend errand or dog walking shoe. Wear them with leggings, a skirt, or your go-to jeans on or off the field.
JW Pei Caitlin Lace-up Ballerina Sneakers
These suede flats take me back to my very first ballet slippers, with a few key upgrades. The laces are stretchy to keep them on your feet, and they have rubber all the way up the toes and heels (so they’ll look like new longer). Just know that they run narrow—bare feet or thin socks are the way to go.
Puma Mostro Fey Launch Sneakers
This gorpcore Mary Jane looks like a water shoe (or her sportier sister). The ripstop fabric upper can take a beating, and the elastic strap that goes across your foot has a Velcro closure, so you can slip them on in seconds. FYI: You might want to order one size up from your usual—Puma says these flats run small.
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