Margot Robbie Confirms the Mesh Ballet Flat’s Staying Power
All the cool girls have been wearing them.
Reported by Vogue.
Mesh ballet flats have had their moment threatened — flip-flops took over last summer, beaded sandals dominated every rooftop, and the barely-there flat quietly lost its top billing. But trends have a way of reasserting themselves through the right person at the right moment, and right now that person is Margot Robbie. Spotted in mesh flats paired with clean tailoring and a stripped-back sensibility, she made the case without saying a word: this shoe still has it.
According to Vogue, the mesh flat's cultural footprint actually dates back to 2019, when The Row first pushed the "naked shoe" into the fashion conversation. The style didn't fully blow up until 2024, but its devotees — Jennifer Lawrence, the Olsen twins, editors with discerning taste and strong opinions — never really let it go. The appeal was always the same: a shoe that disappears into an outfit while quietly elevating it. Airy enough for summer, minimal enough to never compete.
The Flat Has Evolved — and So Has the Shopping List
What's changed is the range. The mesh flat has splintered into distinct variations, each with its own personality. Crochet styles — think Zara's accessible take or Alaïa's more considered version — lean into a craftsperson aesthetic that pairs naturally with Bermuda shorts and poplin. Classic pared-back mesh in unexpected color is where brands like Dear Frances and Mansur Gavriel are doing their best work this season. For the prep-meets-fisherman crowd, netted flats from Staud and Proenza Schouler offer varying levels of commitment. And if you want something with more presence, embellished versions — crystallized, bedazzled, lace-up — from Le Monde Béryl to Bottega Veneta are less understated ballerina and more full-volume statement.
The through-line across every iteration is wearability without sacrifice. These are warm-weather shoes designed to breathe, to move, to work with the kind of effortless dressing that looks intentional without being labored. Margot Robbie didn't reinvent anything — she just reminded us that the best shoe in the rotation is usually the one you forgot you loved.
The mesh flat isn't making a comeback — it never actually left, and its new range of interpretations means there's finally a version for everyone.
Read the original at Vogue.
