It Girls Are Elevating Their Outfits With This Subtle Twist On The Classic French-Girl Shoe

Zoë Kravitz may be engaged to Harry Styles, but she hasn’t taken a break from her full-time job as the It-girl’s It-girl.

The actor and perpetual style muse stepped out in New York over the weekend wearing a dream off-duty ensemble: low-slung distressed denim, a perfect white tee, a Saint Laurent bag, and a perfectly elevated pair of black heeled ballet flats. Equal parts polished and effortless, the style has been top of mind for fashion editors — and we think we’ve ID’d her exact pair: the Maryam Nassir Zadeh Roberta Leather Ballet Flat ($650).

Zoe Kravitz wearing a heeled ballet flat — Image: Zoe Kravitz wears the Maryam Nassir Zadeh Roberta Leather Ballet Flat ($650) in New York. Getty

There’s a reason fashion insiders can’t stop talking about the heeled ballet flat. Sitting neatly between a classic flat and a low pump, it offers a subtle lift while keeping the casual ease we’ve been gravitating towards in trending shoe styles. It brings the elegant girlishness we love about traditional ballet flats, with a little more polish (and comfort for the flat-footed amongst us). Its current revival is inseparable from fashion’s ongoing love affair with French-girl style sensibility — a trend underpinned by heritage labels like Repetto, which are back in heavy rotation on well-shod stars like Lily-Rose Depp, Kaia Gerber, Alexa Chung, and Jennifer Lawrence.

Zoe Kravitz wears a heeled ballet flat — Image: Maryam Nassir Zadeh Roberta Leather Ballet Flat ($650) in New York (Getty)

Kravitz’s weekend appearance makes a compelling case for the silhouette: the delicate almond toe and soft leather balance elegance and practicality, while the low stacked heel gives the off-duty uniform a subtle structure. Alongside stacked iterations from fan-favourites like Maison Margiela’s Tabis, one thing is clear — the everyday flat is officially getting a lift.

Scroll on for our edit of the best heeled ballet flats to shop right now, with styles to suit every budget and wardrobe.

Read: The Sandals You’ll Spot In Every It-Girl’s Summer Wardrobe Right Now