Summer 2026 Calls For Ballet Flats in Three Specific Colors

Ballet flats are the quintessential spring shoe. In fact, those who can’t—or simply don’t want to—wear sandals continue to wear them throughout the entire summer season. When you think about it, it’s not surprising; few flat shoes are as versatile as ballet flats. So much so that we’ve even seen some of the most stylish guests wearing them with midi and maxi dresses during event season.

Their styling guide is clear: they go with everything, from slip skirts and küçük dresses to trousers in all their variations. But what about colors? In the past, we would have told you to stick to neutral tones like camel, black, or cream—the chromatic holy grail for the most classic—but in the era of maximalist aesthetics, the tables have turned, and trends invite us to play with other shades. Some of them quite unexpected. From cobalt blue to brown, and even red ballet flats: these are the must-have colors of the season.

Cobalt blue ballet flats

YAZA HAZIRLANIN

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In Berlin.

Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

As Vogue predicted earlier this year, cobalt blue is shaping up to be the color of 2026. Cobalt (also known as Yves Klein blue , an intense shade developed by the French artist in the 1950s) is a color that, after being relatively uncommon in recent years, has become a major trend on the runways in the last two seasons. In terms of accessories, we first saw it in handbags, and now it’s coming for footwear. Specifically, ballet flats, which are available in suede, mesh, and even trendy jelly styles.

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Mesh Ballet Flats

$60

Zara

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Suede Ballet Flats

$100

Mango

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Blaine Suede Ballet Flats

$298

Reformation

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Steve Madden Grove Jelly Flats

$49

Nordstrom

$48 (19% off)

Reformation

Red ballerinas

In Amsterdam.

Christian Vierig/Getty Images

It should surprise no one that red ballet flats have made the list. Frankly, any red shoe—from sneakers to mesh flats—offers an opportunity to spice up our most basic outfits. Just look at the image above to see for yourself. A monochromatic look can be much more interesting with a touch of tomato red—in a minimalist style, of course.

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ZJGZF Woven Ballet Flats

$35 (13% off)

Amazon

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Migpuel Mesh Flats

$43

Amazon

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Zara Leather Ballet Flats

$80

Zara

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Madewell Mylie Ballet Flats

$128

Madewell

Brown ballerinas

Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Last but not least, the color we keep seeing on the streets: brown. While rich chocolate and espresso shades are the most prominent, we’re still seeing brown accessories take center stage in all its forms. Of course, the perfect match for these shoes is white or light wash jeans.

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Sam Edelman Ruthie Ballet Flats

$150

Nordstrom

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Old Navy V-Cut Ballet Flats

$30

Old Navy

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Crackled Leather Ballet Flats

$180

Massimo Dutti

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Soft Leather Ballet Flats

$80

Zara

A version of this article was originally published by Vogue Spain.