Who said ballet slippers were just for women? While first picked up outside the world of dance by women, these days ballet slippers are increasingly showing up on men's feet. And they're not the only shoe style making their way from women's feet to those of men; certain styles of clogs, ankle boots and flat sandals are also giving men more choice when it comes to footwear.
A good hour's walk down the street is enough to realize that the boundaries between men and women in terms of clothing are becoming increasingly blurred. Even if retailers' shelves still stock collections according to gender, man or woman, girl or boy. These distinctions could eventually disappear, or at least be reduced, with the explosion of unisex collections. But while ready-to-wear finally seems to be adapting to the 'non-gendered' movement, what about the shoe segment?
While brands are not yet proposing 12-cm stilettos to gentlemen -- though that said, why aren't they? -- there are numerous designers who are creating masculine versions of models originally designed for their female clients. Ballet slippers are a notable example and have been for a few months a key accessory for some stylish men, who seem to appreciate the comfort and timeless look they offer.
Men In Ballet Slippers On The Runway
For the spring-summer 2020 season, brands focused on so-called feminine shoes for men, and the ballet slipper reigned supreme on the catwalks. Dries Van Noten is one of the daring houses that did not hesitate to offer models for men. The remarkable presentation did not leave male fashion fans indifferent and it also seemed to get noticed by fast-fashion brands, which also entered the segment. The e-shops of many major brands generally now offer them in "slip-on" or "mule" categories.