Simple Pleasures : Black Ballet Pumps

Thursday 3 October 2013




These are my current favourite shoes. A pair of black leather ballet pumps. They are simple and classic. They do not date and they will be still around when the latest obsession with pointy flats has exhausted itself. Do not get me wrong, I love a pointy flat as much as the next fashionista but there will come a point (no pun intended) when we will find ourselves marching back in to our little round toed ballet pumps again. 

These are incredibly soft leather and they have that all important squidge factor. Squidge, squidge, squidge. And I found them on a little sojourn through Maison Matalan. I squealed with delight (I didn't really but lets pretend I did - it's more fun) and squealed some more when I saw the £14 price tag. But do let me tell you, I did try a fair few pairs of them on till I found the perfect pair for me even though they were supposedly all the same size, same design and made the same. One pair was cut a little shallower round the vamp, one pair had a left which felt uncomfortable compared to the right and one pair made my feet look all funny. But the pair I eventually found were just right. Gosh - that sounds like some weird hybrid Three Bears meets Cinderella story doesn't it? I do love a happy ending though don't you? Granted some people might order these on line and they might be lucky first time with the fit but I'm telling a true story here and telling it like it is - you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince ... err I mean you have to try a few pairs on till you get the right pair.

So are there any ballerina die hards out there? What are your favourite brands and colours? And for those who are lucky enough to have some of the really nice expensive ones - are they worth the hype? When I win the lottery, I might treat myself to a pair!


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Last Note :

  • Link for the ballerinas is here. They also do them in nude.
  • My perfect ballerinas are here.  Dear Father Christmas, I have been a good girl, I am a size 4 in shoes and the damson colour is just divine .....





38 comments

  1. I have such a ballerina problem as my feet are wide and a half size so getting a perfect fit is tough - they rub if they are even slightly too big or small. Love them though and when you get the right pair they are the best shoes in the world x

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    1. Hi Pearl! I'm pretty sure I have one foot slightly bigger than the other but not noticeably so and probably only by a quarter size if that. It's one of those things you notice when you try something on sometimes and one side feels that little bit more squeezed but is not usually a deal breaker. But I can imagine it's a pain if you don't know which size to go for consequently. I've never really thought about ballet pumps that much until I became a stay at home mum and then they pretty much became a wardrobe staple for their ease of putting on and also purely because they are flat and great for running after small people. I'm sure there's a pair out there for you - like me, it takes a bit of searching though. One people's perfection is another person's absolute horror.

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  2. Those toast ones are beautiful! The Matalan photo doesn't sell them at all does it. They look awful on the site, but they look surprisngly nice in your photos.

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    1. I'm going to put that down to my wonderful photography skills and the brilliance of an antique filter which makes my pic so much nicer than Matalan's. I don't use filters much as it detracts usually from the actual colours of clothes which I talk about but these are a black leather pump - I can't do that much to it. It's true, the photo online would do nothing to sell them but I was trying to show how soft the leather is on mine after a bit of wear. They were soft before I started wearing them but now they look a little more loved. And those Porsellis do look gorgeous don't they? I've heard good things about them.

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  3. Well, as you know, I'm all for the Porselli. Not sure if you saw but I replied to you on my blog x

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    1. I've just gone back to check. And I do love the look of the Porsellis. It's one of those shoes which I may have to scratch the itch by ordering and then hope that they are absolutely awful. Ballet pumps in general do look quite delicate unless they have a sturdier sole but in part, I like the thin sole for the look even if they do not offer quite as much support and cushioning. And the vamp looks to be just high enough. And that damson shade which they do it in - it's just too much.

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  4. Such a good price for leather, but the one problem I have with ballerina's is that they are usually so flat and thin soled, that, they are actually more uncomfortable than a heel! So just wondered how thick is the sole on yours? xx

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    1. Well I had a good look at the Topshop ones and they are doing faux leather ones at a starting price of £16, so I've got to hand it to Matalan for doing such a nice pair of leather ones for £14. Besides which, I really struggle with Topshop ballet pumps - they just look all wrong on my wide feet and are usually cut too shallow. The soles on mine are not the thickest but adequate and they are rubber which makes them a little tougher. I did think of getting them soled again to add an extra layer as I really like these and thought they would add extra cushioning and extend their life cycle. Or I might just buy a spare pair and park those for when these give up the ghost.

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  5. I love the idea of wearing a simple pair of black ballet flats with cropped pants and a striped top. For days I want to pretend I'm either Audrey Hepburn or Coco Chanel

    x karen
    www.thechicndamned.blogspot.com

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    1. Hi Karen. Thanks for stopping by. I hear you on that classic silhouette and you can't beat a pair of ballet pumps to finish the whole outfit off can you? Hopefully one day, I can get my perfect pair.

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  6. I agree with you that ballet flats are just the type of shoes to go back to every now and then, or when you don't feel inspired today and want to put on something quick and easy. It is both comfortable and can look elegant, I love that!

    My very first pair of ballet flats were a rich dark red pair of Repettos that I saved six months for, and I recently parted from them after wearing them weekly for over two years. I have to admit, after getting used to their soft leather and comfortable feel, I hardly could go for any other brand. If you can save up for a pair of Repettos, I strongly suggest you to try it out, it is a dream.

    You have to size up though, and I suggest you to try them on as you did for yours, because they are hand finished and two pairs of the same size might be slightly different. Also, to take them to the cobbler after a few wears to put waterproof soles, and impermeabilize them often. I made the mistake to do these things too late on my pair, which is why I had to throw them away after 2 years...

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    1. I fall in and out of love with ballet pumps but they are the perfect slip on and go shoe. I've struggled finding a nice black pair and this pair came along and totally converted me. Yes they are light and they are not heavy soled but there is something about the way they feel which makes them very right. I think it's the softness of the leather - I hate having to break shoes in and rule out shoes purely on inital fit sometimes. Gone are the days when I bought a pair of shoes purely for their aesthetics.

      Your Repettos sound divine but whenever I've looked at the brand, they look very shallow around the vamp and there would be too much toe cleavage on show with me. I have wide feet which makes it much harder to find a pair which actually flatter as well which can strangely alter the way your legs look. I have heard about the resoling to extend their life span - I'm even considering it for this little pair cheap as they were. I like them a lot - can you tell?

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  7. The satisfaction of finding something so perfect at such an amazing price is huge, I think it actually just gets better if you had to do a little hunting or try on a number of pairs before you found the one with your name on them. I once had a pair of Repettos that I loved so much, they were a soft dove grey suede with a black tip, as if it was the box of a pointe shoe or something. I loved them, but then the tie got lost inside and I took them to many shoe repair places who said that because of the way they're constructed they would have to completely take them apart in order to fix them, and by then they were looking a little shabby anyway so I let them go. This was maybe 7 years ago. I honestly haven't had a pair of ballerinas since. Partly because the cheaper ones can't hold a candle to those, but also partly because I like a little more shoe to my shoes. I need to feel like I'm being supported and protected a little bit, and even with the Repettos I never did.

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. I have to admit to being more than a little delighted especially when you think you might have to go the expensive route to finding what you want. So when it turns up when you least expect it - the satisfaction if almost off the scale especially for the price I got them. I've tried on expensive and inexpensive pairs and they've just never been right. As I was saying to Kali above, the Repettos sound lovely - I think those who have had them, adore them but somehow, I don't think they are quite right for me going on look alone. The Porselli's however look a little different and have a slighter higher vamp which I think would flatter my fat feet. And that damson colour is a killer. For some reason I think they would go with every thing. Or maybe that's just what I want to think.

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    1. Hi Iwona. Lovely of you to stop past :o)

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  9. I have quite a few pairs of ballet flats, New Look, Bloch, even had Lanvin but had to sell on ebay as they cut my heels up. I've just got a fab pair from coco rose too but I must say yours look fab! I'm tempted!

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    1. Ah so you've done the rounds of all the different ones then? Which ones are your favourite? I've had some super comfy New Look ones which have only just been thrown away and they would have lasted a lot longer if it wasn't for the fact that my boys kept standing on my feet and eventually trashed them. And I'm really surprised about the Lanvin ones - they always look the bees knees to me especially with the cushioned inners. But looks can be deceiving obviously.

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  10. Love these! So pretty and they look much more expensive. I've decided it's boot time now though - the ballet flats have been pushed to the back of the shoe selection. But that's not to say I won't be picking up a pair of these in both colours for next year! You can't go wrong with them :)

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    1. We've had some warm days round here so I've been able to wear mine still. I'm loathe to give in entirely to the boots so soon. And a pair in both colours - why not indeed? I'd go for the nude ones as well except they weren't in my store and they've sold out of my size online.

      They don't look like much at all online and possibly not even that good in store but somehow this pair just worked on my feet. So what's a girl to do?

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  11. I love a ballet flat and these look like a terrific buy for leather!! They are a great inbetween shoe, great for this warm Autumn weather and fantastic in Spring when we are all desperate to break out of the Winter boots! I am after a snakeskin pair to go with the blacks and greys for now...mind you a damson pair is starting to sound very appealing too!

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    1. I was after a snakeskin pair earlier this year and then I lived in my espadrilles and forgot all about them. But now that you've reminded me ... but no, I need a pair of damson ones first! I will not be side-tracked!

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  12. I probably have more ballerinas than any other kind of shoe. My favorite are the Tory Burch Eddie's. Love my Zara simple black ballerinas, too. Got them in the last sale and are my go tos!

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    1. See - you can't beat a simple pair of black ballerinas can you?

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  13. Awe, those are so cute! I need to get a pair of black ballet flats.

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    1. Hi Mackenzie. Thanks for stopping past. And yes, definitely get yourself a pair of black ballet pumps. Such a great addition to any girls wardrobe.

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  14. OMG they are leather??!! I want them! I have had cheap & expensive (although I lucked out and the £120 price tag managed to be £20 to me...) and so far I am in the middle. I have an amazing pink Jones Bootmaker pair that originally were £60, I paid £17.50, entire shoe leather, including lining. They have worn well but after heavy wear are starting to look a little tatty. New Look used to do amazing pumps for £20 odd but they stopped lining them with leather and my feat got sweaty in the cheaper ones. My French Sole so far are probably my favourite but at £120? Mmmm, the £20 I paid, definitely yes but I need to wear them more to see how they last. I say expensive ones but in the sale!!!!x

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    1. Yup they are leather. They don't look like very much but they kind of looked nice once I got them on. They have some synthetic ones there too and to be honest, to look at, there isn't that much in it but the leather is the pair to go for but it all depends on how it fits on you. I've had little New Look pumps too but weren't leather but honestly speaking - they were fab. I couldn't fault them for comfort or anything. It was the boys stamping on my feet because they weren't looking where they were going or what they were doing which eventually killed them off. I haven't had any really expensive ones yet or when I've tried any - I can't say it's made me want to pay the money. If they don't fit right, they don't fit right. And yes, your French sole ones are a total bargain. Lucky!

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  15. They are really cute. I love ballet flats on everyone else. There's something very satisfyingly neat about them and they're about the only shoe that works with skinnies during the summer. But I just can't wear them :( Quite apart from any skin issues, I just find them too flat (if that makes sense!) and really need a heel of some sort. Shame .. but lovely photo!

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    1. I look ten times better with a small heel but comfort wins for me. I have to say these are quite flat and I'm thinking of buying a couple of gel inserts for shock absorption. That should sort everything out for a couple of pounds.

      And I'm pleased with my photo too - can't believe I managed to take something half arty farty.

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  16. I love ballerinas and tory burch do some really comfy ones! i have two pairs of their eddie flats and they travel really well too.

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. Do you know - I've never even seen a pair of Tory Burch ones yet. But I do hear good reviews about them. And goodness - I'm still getting over your shoe collection!

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    2. There's a store in New Bond St! I buy mine online tho, there aren't any in Sydney. Specifically these ones (though I haven't honestly owned any others)

      http://www.toryburch.com/flats/shoes-flats,default,sc.html#?prefn1=collection&prefv1=4900

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  17. Funny that. I've been so ballet flats obsessed up until recently. It's all about finding a pair of smoking slippers in my size now :P

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    1. Dont ... or you will have me obsessing over them too. My favourite leopard print slipper shoes are from Hobbs that I've spotted. Lush.

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    2. I too was obsessed with ballet flats until lately, I started diverting. I'm now dreaming of a pair of Tod's loafers.

      Then again in my heart, I think ballet flats will still be the classic..

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  18. I am Mary Mary Quite Contrary as I like a lower cut toe - I like a little toe cleavage. But not bosom cleavage, though. And I am also drifting towards pointed flats, but I think they need to be good quality to avoid that dreadful creasing they can get. The Banana Republic ones look good and are on my wish list. But lovely you found what you like at such a terrific price!

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    1. I love the look of the pointy ones - they really bring an outfit bang up to date but for those quick school runs - you can't beat a pair of ballet pumps. I think there is something quite comforting about their classic styling. But it doesn't stop me coveting a lovely pointy pair in Jigsaw that I spotted the other week. Just call me fickle.

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Susie So So