Plastic Shopping – Black Flats At Every Price

The black ballerina flat is an iconic staple found in most women’s wardrobes, and many of us have identified our favorite brand or designer. When I think of a black ballet flat, two images come to mind: Audrey Hepburn dancing in Funny Face (likely wearing Ferragamos) and Kate Moss in basic black French Sole flats (which I have been dying to own for years).

I am generally willing to try out new designers, and I opt for “slips” of a ballet flat (skimmers) that barely cover the foot, are comfortable and have a classic shape. I don’t care much about fabrication as long as they look great. In general I will go for a rounded toe but I also own a great pair of black pointed-toe flats that I bought in London nearly 8 years ago.

A friend of mine asked if I might write a post about black flats, and since I am in the market for a pair myself, I thought it was a great idea. I scoured the web for flats in every style – casual to dressy, embellished to die-cut, classic to trend.

Please note that I have gathered many of my choices into my fashion-focused Amazon store. I’ve done this for a few reasons; most importantly, Amazon works with a lot of retailers and offers up some of the best prices and customer service online. In addition, I am attempting to build up some great stores through the site and posts such as this are an ideal opportunity to guide readers to the things I love and/or recommend. If you have any input around this, please feel free to email me. I know my readers are savvy Internet shoppers and I do encourage you to hunt down the best deal if you’ve discovered an item you “must” have. I will also attempt, when possible, to mention some B&M retailers where a particular item may be found.

To view shoes in more detail, simply click on the Polaroids. Happy shopping!

Penny’s Recommendations

J Crew offers up a GREAT basic ballerina flat for a good value. The Majorie suede flat is available for just under $100 ($98, to be exact).

I love these Apepazza Nigeria modified sandal flats ($39). They look like an updated version of the sandals my mom wore in the 70’s, and they appear to be super comfortable.

You can’t beat the classic styling on these Te Casan Gladyssima pointed skimmers ($89). They may seem conservative, but paired with a great pair of cigarette pants, they would be positively Parisian.

Classic Ballet Flats

These Suziemas patent leather flats ($88) look pliable and incredibly comfortable.

French (sometimes known as London) Sole are famous for producing a perfect, classic ballerina flat, like the one shown ($150). As noted in the introduction, Ms. Moss is a huge fan.

I love the snake-skin treatment on these Sam Edelman flats ($70).

Steve Madden offers up a good quality classic flat for a reasonable price ($60).

Detailed

Delman is a classic footwear company who were incredibly popular in the 50’s and 60’s (Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy were fans). They are best known for their flats but also make beautiful heels. My 60-something-year-old boss at the shop I worked at in college lived in Delman and Ferragamo flats, they’re so deliciously retro. You can find Delman shoes for a steal at Amazon. The pair shown above are selling from $76 to $300, depending on the style, color and size.

I love the flash of silver across the toe of this shoe ($100) by All Black. The shape of the shoe is beautiful, and the space between the toe and the strap allows for a hint of toe cleavage (if you like that sort of thing).

Frye has a loyal following of fans who adore their boots, but they make some pretty cute flats as well. The style above ($118) features a brass buckle across the toe, and is a great alternative to those Tory Burch/Juicy Couture styles that have become so popular and which, by the way, are incredibly uncomfortable.

The lattice-style weaving on this shoe ($150) by Bloch London adds a bit of interest.

ECCO makes insanely comfortable shoes, great for city walking. The pair above ($130) is representative of the more fashion-forward styles they’ve been putting out in recent years.

Another nominee for the Comfortable Shoes category; Cole Haan’s Air shoes can take a bit of breaking in, but once you do, it’s so worth it. The flats above ($150) have a cute buckle and just a hint of a wedge.

Interesting Fabrication

The metallic glittery fabrication on these shoes ($75) gives an interesting twist to an otherwise basic flat.

Interesting Embellishment

Tiny sequins cover these basic slip-ons ($100), giving a subtle disco feel to the shoes! They actually remind me of the beaded Moroccan slippers you can buy at Portobello Market in London.

Cut-Out Detailing

The teardrop shaped cuts outs on these Marc Jacobs flats ($250) are super sweet.

The graphic floral cut-out design on these Corso Como flats ($130) make them a great option for spring and summer.

I love the romantic feel provided by the simple punch cut-outs on these Mossimo patent flats ($25).

I’m digging the 70’s vibe I get from these Corso Como peep-toe shoes ($42-$56).

Oversized Bows

A fun flat at a great price ($48).

The haphazard bow on these Poetic Licence – that’s how they spell it! – flats ($55) gives them a kooky feel.

I am really liking the architectural bow on these Dolce Vita flats ($70).

Basic

Basic, but with a nice ruching detail to add a bit of interest ($80).

A great basic and conservative flat by Tommy Hilfiger ($42-$80). They’re totally Heathers.

A great basic flat at an awesome price ($25).

Aldo has added a lovely cross-over leather addition on the toe to add some dimension to the flats ($40-$50).

Steal

You can’t beat the price ($13) for these classic ballerina flats from Target.

Splurge

I LOVE Sigerson Morrison shoes and these awesome patent leather flats ($244) are certainly no exception.

Tagged as: Luxe Amazon Store, Shopping