Not a Boot, Not a Ballerina—This In-Between Alt Is Cooler Than Both

It’s not quite boot season, but ballet flats aren’t feeling right for right now, either. I’ve been caught in that tricky in-between lately as I stare down my wardrobe each morning. More often than not, I end up slipping into loafers or boat shoes, but patiently, I’ve been waiting for something fresher to bridge the gap.

Tuning into my needs, Katie Holmes stepped out this week in the very shoe trend I didn’t realise I’d been searching for, wearing a pair of black leather flats that, at first glance, could have passed for classic ballerinas. But on closer inspection, in fact featured a higher vamp designer that offered more coverage and structure, while maintaining the smooth finish and minimalist lines that give ballerinas their timeless charm.

Paired with cropped trousers and a striped, collared knit, her shoes were a harmonious pairing, neither overwhelming nor clashing with her look.