The subtle perfection of plain black flats
What makes a pair good, how to wear them and the best ones at market
A relic as simple as a plain black flat may not warrant the title of “trendy” as reasonably as like, a paracord accent will, but I’d go so far as to say that they’re sticky based on (1) the frequency with which iterations are cropping up all over the shoppable internet, even in the heat of summer (2) the volume of interest that Phoebe Philo’s drastically low-vamp style received upon launch ~15 months ago
and (3) the purely subjective, emotional pull I feel towards them when I see them.
If you look at the broader vista of trends and in particular how we’re dressing these days in a post-quiet-luxury reality, especially as it pertains to the summer of surf on one hand, pareo on the other, it makes sense that we’d look to anchor our looks full of color and print and the dizzying mix of both with the simplicity of a simple, grounding, black shoe.
But it’s not any black shoe I’m inching towards — not a brogue, not a loafer, definitely not a boot. It’s a low vamp, unvarnished ballet flat. The period at the end of a sentence, the final word, the last, unbothered laugh. Maybe also the closed toe equivalent of summer’s key-man? (A simple t-strap sandal.)
Could be almond shaped at the toe or a subtle point. Think Manolo Blahnik reimagined by The Row and sharpened by Gianvito Rossi or Jimmy Choo, then softened by Phoebe, Christen (split toe; these are from the great new brand by Nina Christen; nuts about these too) or — and these ones are so good: Jamie Haller.
So what makes a pair good? Quality of material (supple leather). Shape of shoe (almond to pointed toe). Ratio of toe cleavage to toe covered (you don’t want too much toe cleavage, but some is good — nasty in a hot way).
And how are you going to wear them? Well, it depends. On a hot summer day, you might choose to style them with a canvas hat and nightgown style mini dress —
They’re how you’d choose to anchor an in-between look, serving as the element that makes the outfit seem more appropriate to wear out.
Alternatively, while taking a risk, you might prefer them like this —
Styled with a graphic tee and unconventional shorts. What’s great about such a simple shoe is that it provides a good amount of flexibility to challenge the “take one thing off before you leave home” theory and instead, in fact, adds one more. (Which is what I did with the raffia belt/necklace.)
The ease with which they will nestle into an all-black look that takes its own subtle risks (see: capri cat-suit below) is confirmation, too, that you don’t have to get so weird for them to make you feel a little weird (in the good way).
As a matter of fact, I return to the point that because the shoe is so simple, there is more opportunity to be subtly creative or to try something less usual for yourself, like a tight-to-the-head-band or, idk, a bare midriff?
Can’t say enough good things about this tee.
Anyway, if you’re more of a keep it light, keep it white kind of summer dresser, try the flats with a camisole-style top/boudoir jacket combo a la:
It’s like a dressed-to-be-out version of what you’d wear to lift yourself out of bed and saunter down to the kitchen at ~the royal manor.~ But with more functional pants.
But back to the original point about summer and color and bla bla bla:
Do you see how the flats (and sunglasses) ground this one?
Last one’s this:
With more cargo pockets but also whimsy in the form of a halter top and a silk scarf, ends hanging down behind me.
The shoes dress up the shorts and contextualize the glamour I’m trying to get at up top
In conclusion, I add these as an ideal alt.
Might not make the most sense right now as we enter 4th of July territory, but I’m pretty sure this is going to matter by the time we hit Sept!!! Until then,
dusting off my ol ferragamo varinas, which look good even with my pajama bottoms
Old Céline ballet flats.