{{Short description|Fashion shoe inspired by women's ballet dance shoes}} {{About|a type of fashion shoe inspired by ballet dance shoes|the soft shoe used by dancers|Ballet shoe|the hard shoe used for pointe dancing|Pointe shoe}}thumb|300px|right|Ballet flats '''Ballet flats''' or '''ballet pumps''' are a style of shoe. The appearance is inspired by women's ballet shoes, with a very thin heel or the appearance of no heel at all.
Ballet flats are fashionably versatile as they are often worn with both formal and casual attire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://startupfashion.com/fashion-archives-history-ballet-flat/|title=Fashion Archives: The History of the Ballet Flat|last=Sourcing|first=11 21 2015 {{!}} Fashion Fabric|date=2015-11-21|website=StartUp Fashion|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/shoe-glossary-ballerina-flats-2987848|title=Shoe Glossary: Ballerina Flats|last=Stimpert|first=Desiree|website=LiveAbout|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2021-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724011630/https://www.liveabout.com/shoe-glossary-ballerina-flats-2987848|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History== thumb|Sketch of a ballet flat with a contrasting toe{{More citations needed section|date=December 2024}} Shoes with a similar shape to the ballet flat have existed since at least the sixteenth century, when men wore a similar shoe, then known as pompes.
In medieval times, ballet flats were popular with both men and women. They went out of fashion in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when the high-heeled shoe came into fashion after Catherine de' Medici requested that her cobbler add 5 cm (2 inches) to her wedding shoes. Heels lost popularity quickly after Marie Antoinette walked to the guillotine in a pair of heels. Functional shoes, such as sandals, boots, and flat shoes, prevailed in the nineteenth century.
In the 20th century, American fashion designer Claire McCardell commissioned Salvatore Capezio to make ballet flats with rubber soles in fabrics matching her designs, creating the modern ballet flat.<ref>White, Constance C. R. (1998-11-17). "Celebrating Claire McCardell". The New York Times. {{ISSN|0362-4331}}. Retrieved 2016-07-06.</ref> They were displayed at an exhibition of twenty years of McCardell's garments at the Frank Perls Gallery in Beverly Hills in April 1953.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GmFAAQAAIAAJ|title=Claire Mccardell|last=Yohannan|first=Kohle|date=1998-10-15|publisher=Abrams Books|isbn=9780810943759|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWNRmz3E1H4C|title=Minding the Store|last=Marcus|first=Stanley|date=2001-01-01|publisher=University of North Texas Press|isbn=9781574411393|language=en}}</ref>
In 1947, Rose Repetto hand stitched her first ballet flat for her son, famous dancer and choreographer, Roland Petit. Once actress Brigitte Bardot donned a pair of Repetto's flats, variations of ballet flats became popular and returned as a fashion trend.<ref>Casa Couture. [https://casacouture.co/2012/12/19/the-history-of-the-ballet-flat/ "The History of the Ballet Flat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133723/https://casacouture.co/2012/12/19/the-history-of-the-ballet-flat/|date=2016-11-08}}. casacouture.co. December 2012. November 2016.</ref> Repetto flats continue to be made and are designed for outdoor wear, using a variety of fabrics and usually with a rubber sole. In 1957, Audrey Hepburn wore ballet flats with cigarette pants in ''Funny Face'', which also raised a wave of popularity.
Some dance schools allow ballet flats as part of their uniform requirements and some school bands require black ballet flats as part of the dress requirements for performances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jcpenney.com/p/arizona-girls-willow-ballet-flats-slip-on-closed-toe/ppr5007819829?pTmplType=regular&catId|title=Arizona Girls Willow Ballet Flats Slip-on Closed Toe|date=2019-07-29|website=JCPenney|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2023-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101042955/https://www.jcpenney.com/p/arizona-girls-willow-ballet-flats-slip-on-closed-toe/ppr5007819829?pTmplType=regular&catId|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newhartmusic.com/concertdress.html|title=Concert Dress|website=www.newhartmusic.com|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvusd.org/Page/31217|title=Concert Attire Expectations|website=HILLCREST Middle School|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2022-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117064612/https://www.dvusd.org/Page/31217|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stevensonbands.org/news/post/student-attire-requirements-dec-5-concert|title=Student attire requirements - Dec 5 Concert|last=Program|first=Stevenson Instrumental Music|website=www.stevensonbands.org|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2019-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730001933/https://www.stevensonbands.org/news/post/student-attire-requirements-dec-5-concert|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wmsband.blogspot.com/p/concert-dress-code.html|title=Weddington Middle School Band: Concert Dress|website=Weddington Middle School Band|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=2023-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101042956/http://wmsband.blogspot.com/p/concert-dress-code.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Around 2005-2010 ballet pumps became highly fashionable, popularised by the wear of top models including Sienna Miller, Kate Moss and Mischa Barton.<ref name="times 2022">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-04 |title=The best ballet pumps and how to wear them {{!}} Times2 {{!}} The Times |website=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/best-ballet-pumps-jk6lqvzlk |access-date=2024-06-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504030624/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/best-ballet-pumps-jk6lqvzlk |archive-date=2022-05-04}}</ref> The trend had a revival in 2022,<ref name="cosmo">{{cite web | url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/g46568412/ballet-flats/ | title=The best ballet flats you can possibly add to your spring wardrobe | date=25 March 2024 | publisher=Cosmopolitan}}</ref> included in the "ballet and trench" style.<ref name="times trench">{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/fashion/article/trench-plus-ballet-pumps-the-tres-chic-combo-c9zw6zcgd | title=Trench plus ballet pumps: The très chic combo | last1=Walker | first1=Harriet | publisher=The Times}}</ref>
== Health concerns == A condition known as "turf toe", where the joint of the big toe becomes inflamed due to strain,<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Turf Toe? |url=https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17590-turf-toe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212082540/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17590-turf-toe |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Cleveland Clinic |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref> is associated with wearing ballet flats to walk on hard surfaces due to the lack of support and shock absorption in the shoe combined with the way a foot's natural shape is contorted to fit within the toe box.<ref name="times 2022" /> Fashion writers advised wearing them sparingly.<ref name="instyle">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.instyle.com/fashion/shoes/ballet-flats-health-risks#:~:text=Unfortunately%2C%20ballet%20flats%20typically%20don,lead%20to%20longer%2Dterm%20issues.|title=Ballet Flats Are Trending — But They're Actually Terrible for Your Feet|access-date=26 April 2024|date=2 August 2022|author=Julia Guerra|journal=InStyle}}</ref>
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed" widths="180" heights="120" caption=""> File:Professional ballerina - ballerina for hostesses, pilots and other professionals.jpg|Plain black File:Proyect 365 - Day 13, Like Girl with new Shoes - Flickr - Lolo ^ Olé^ (Inma).jpg|Ballet flats featuring a cutout design File:DKNY Bella Ballerina K3404034 Kalbsleder schwarz (5) (15979739794).jpg|Embellishments on toe File:Michael Kors Fulton Moc Ballerina 40T4FUFR1H Animal Print Tigerlook (1) (16406844367).jpg|Prints or solids File:Paar roodgelakte damesschoenen, lage hak, “Corbeau”, objectnr 87051-1-2.JPG|Bright red </gallery>
==See also== * List of shoe styles
==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * N. Rexford. Women's Shoes in America, 1875–1930. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University, 2000. page 65 * P. McGinnis. Biomechanics of Sports and Exercise, second edition, Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics, 2005. page 139. * Thompson and R. T. Floyd. Manual of Structural Kinesiology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004. page 232.
==Further reading== * [http://www.unshod.org/pfbc/pfrossi2.htm W. Rossi: Why Shoes Make 'Normal' Gait Impossible] Podiatry Management, March 1999: pp 50–61. Unshod.org. 25, October 2006.
==External links== * {{Commons category-inline|Ballet flats}}
{{Footwear}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballet Flat}} Category:Dance shoes