Ballet pumps are back and like many other fashion fans, I’m desperate to add a pair to my wardrobe. There are so many styles to choose from, including leather and studded styles, but one more contemporary take on the trend is the mesh ballet pump - which is way more wearable than you might think. The mesh ballet flats have been popularised in large part by designer brand Alaia , with their fishnet flats being inspired by classical Japanese footwear.
But at £650 , they’re quite the investment, so I went on the hunt for a high-street alternative . READ MORE: “I’m a size 22 - this £45 M&S dress hugs my body and makes me feel amazing” After searching for a pair that were just as chic for a fraction of the price, River Island came good on an affordable pair that looked strikingly similar for £620 cheaper. The high-street favourite’s Black Mesh Buckle Ballet Pumps are considerably cheaper at £30, but have an uncanny resemblance to the Alaia pair.
Complete with a similar mesh fabric, buckle fastening and black edging, it could be argued that they even look more expensive than their price tag suggests. I asked my dad - a former cobbler and shoe enthusiast - which pair looked as though they cost more, and he thought the River Island shoes were the pricier ones . As for styling them, you can treat a pair of ballet shoes like your usual black sandals, pairing them with jeans, skirts, dresses.
They’re quietly dressier than sliders and sandals, giving them a slightly mor.