How ballet flats became the summer shoe that signals you actually follow fashion

The ballet flat has done something interesting: it has graduated from reliable wardrobe staple to genuine taste signal. The specific model you choose, the construction underneath it, the brand DNA behind it, these details now speak louder than the silhouette itself. Wearing the right flat this summer communicates something a generic slip-on simply cannot.

That gap between a basic flat and a fashion person ballet flat isn't purely about price. It's about materials chosen with intention, a design language with actual depth, and the styling instinct to make it all cohere. As EDLA puts it, the philosophy is "Own your Step", footwear as intentional, grounded presence rather than passing style. The brand's own framing captures it precisely: "It's not about standing out, it's about pulling everything in."

As summer ballet flats consolidate their place across runway and street style, Vogue has noted that "the flat you choose has become as much a statement of taste as any heel," pointing toward a next wave that pushes further into statement hardware and luxury materials. The detail-led picks you invest in now are the ones that will still read as current two seasons from today.

The EDLA Mars flat is the one insiders are actually wearing this summer

Gigi Hadid was spotted wearing the EDLA Mars ballet flats in black across Paris and LA in July 2026. Two cities, two entirely different outfits, one flat. That kind of organic repeat wear, two cities, two outfits, speaks to the flat's genuine versatility.

The construction behind those sightings is worth understanding. The Mars flat (€255) is crafted from black nappa lambskin with a leather lining and rubber sole, a squared toe, a front buckle-fastening strap, bow detail, EDLA's hot-stamped moon-and-star logo, and the brand's signature cosmic insoles. Every element earns its place: the rubber sole grounds the flat in practical wearability without cheapening the upper, and the buckle strap lifts it just past the expected. You can browse the full EDLA collection at edlaworld.com.

What the Hadid sightings also illustrated is the Mars flat's genuine range. She styled the black EDLA Mars flat two ways: with a black top and butter-yellow relaxed trousers, and with a white tank and a cream lace-trimmed skirt with ruby print. The first reads downtown and effortless; the second reads summer dressing at its most considered. The same flat, completely different registers.

EDLA positions its ballet flats as polished everyday shoes for women whose days move between work and leisure, investment-worthy pieces that elevate a wardrobe without sacrificing comfort. That positioning is precisely the fashion girl flat register that women building intentional wardrobes are gravitating toward right now.

A fair question is whether €255 is too much to spend on a flat when the high street offers alternatives. The honest answer is that it depends on what you're actually buying. Nappa lambskin with a rubber sole and leather lining will outlast several rounds of fast-fashion replacements, and when cost-per-wear enters the equation, the calculus shifts considerably. Materials and longevity are what separate an investment piece from an expendable one.

GIGI HADID

EMILIA SILBERG (PHOTOS BY ANASTEISHA DANGER)

More ballet flat styles worth knowing about from EDLA's planet collection

The Mars in black is the entry point, but knowing the wider line is where real fashion literacy starts. EDLA's planet-named collection gives you a considered vocabulary of choices rather than a single hero piece.

• Mars in red calf hair (€325): A bolder material choice that signals trend confidence. Red calf hair worn as a summer ballet flat style is a statement without effort, and it works as a colour anchor for an otherwise neutral outfit.
• Saturn ballet flat: EDLA's second flat in the planet collection. Its presence alongside Mars shows the brand is building a coherent flat language, which is worth paying attention to when choosing between them.
• Mercury kitten heel (€295): The natural next step for those who want to extend the EDLA aesthetic beyond flats. The same elevated-everyday register, a few centimetres higher.
• Venus velvet mule: An adjacent option for days when the occasion calls for something slightly more relaxed in construction but no less considered in feel.

EDLA's ballet flat line comprises the Mars in black nappa lambskin (€255) and red calf hair (€325), and the Saturn, all part of the planet-named shoe collection. The wider line extends to the Earth loafer (€325), the Jupiter loafer in calf hair (€425), the Mercury kitten heel (€295), the Venus velvet mule, and the Uranus pointed-toe slingback. Choosing deliberately within that range, rather than picking a random flat from a mass retailer, is itself a mark of the kind of wardrobe thinking that defines a true fashion-girl flat approach.

The informed summer wardrobe doesn't need more options. It needs better ones, chosen with a clear point of view.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a ballet flat a 'fashion person' choice rather than just a basic flat?

Construction, brand DNA, and styling instinct: premium materials, intentional design details, and a flat with a coherent aesthetic identity behind it.

How do you style the EDLA Mars ballet flat for summer outfits?

Wear it with butter-yellow trousers for a casual look, or pair it with a lace-trimmed printed skirt for something more elevated.

Are investment ballet flats like the EDLA Mars worth the price compared to high-street options?

Yes. Nappa lambskin with leather lining and a rubber sole outlasts fast-fashion alternatives, making cost-per-wear genuinely compelling.