Fashion has long been enchanted by the artistry, intricate costumes, and rich storytelling of ballet—an enduring muse that has gracefully pirouetted its way into our wardrobes, time and again. From Coco Chanel’s 1920s collaboration with Ballets Russes to Mikhail Baryshnikov’s influence on men’s fashion in the ’80s, ballet has served as a subtle yet fascinating muse for designers. But for 2025, it’s anything but subtle.
Ballet flats, in particular, have made a remarkable comeback over the past year, sweeping the footwear world off its feet. This obsession kicked off with Alaïa’s studded ballet flats, which sparked a renaissance of the classic shoe. What began as an obsession with the embellished style has snowballed into a full-blown ballet shoe revival, with mesh and leopard print iterations now dominating the trend charts.
The fashion world, however, is far from being satiated. If anything, the chic crowd can’t seem to get enough of balletcore.Lucky for them, the Spring/Summer 2025 runways were punctuated with ballet-inspired clothes, shoes, and accessories, making us wonder whether balletcore will be one of the defining trends of 2025.
Runways for Spring/Summer 2025 didn’t stop at just giving us fresh ballet flat iterations (though it was hard to miss the rows of models practically floating down the catwalk in sleek tie-up satin numbers at Ferragamo). Designers pushed the theme further, drawing on ballet’s key elements of grace, control, and a certain restrained drama injected into everything from fluid tutu-inspired clutches and leotards to delicate layers of tulle skirts.
We spotted ballet references on the Spring/Summer 2025 runways of Simone Rocha, JW Anderson, and Ferragamo, among others. At Ferragamo, Davis drew from the brand’s legacy in ballet, referencing founder Salvatore Ferragamo’s connections with dancer Katherine Dunham and custom shoes made for Rudolf Nureyev. This season, models graced the Milan runway in pointe shoes with lace-up ribbons, pastel-colored leotards, and more ballet-inspired designs.
Simone Rocha, on the other hand, crafted a dreamy vision of ballet dancers. Tutus were reimagined and paired with deconstructed sweaters, while models clutched tulle handbags.
With its emphasis on soft silhouettes, whimsical details, and a touch of nostalgia, this movement captures the spirit of ballet in a modern context.
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