New York City used to house the best model off-duty style. Now, if you ask me, Los Angeles does. These days, whether they live in L.A. or are just visiting, models tend to mellow out in the California hub, leading to a laid-back street style that's easier to copy and more indicative of their genuine tastes. In New York, we see more special runway looks or rare, archival pieces, which, don't get me wrong, I appreciate as much as the next fashion person, but it's not exactly casual.
Kaia Gerber and Kendall Jenner's latest looks in L.A. are all the proof I feel I need to prove this point. Both were recently spotted out and about in the city sporting similar outfits featuring two things: black trousers and ballet flats. No, what they were wearing wasn't shocking or necessarily awe-worthy, but it was real. They're the kind of outfits I'd want to wear to run similar errands, which is why I bookmarked both for future reference.
On Kaia Gerber: Repetto Cendrillon Ballerina Flats ($380)
Gerber should be paid by Repetto given how often she wears her black ballet flats by the French footwear brand. She styled them effortlessly with a black sweater and trousers, adding glasses and a black tote bag to the mix. Everything about her look screams model off-duty to me, bringing forth memories from her mom, Cindy Crawford's modeling days, when simpler was better in terms of styling after shows and to fittings or castings.
On Kendall Jenner: The Row top, sweater, trousers, and Marlo Bag ($4300)
Jenner styled her black trousers and ballet flats similarly, trading in Gerber's heavier knit for a gray sweater-vest and layered tee, both by The Row from the brand's Summer 2025 collection. Closing out the daytime combo, she added black sunglasses and The Row's sold-out Marlo Bag, a great Margaux alternative for anyone who wants something a touch lesser known.
Clearly, there's one cool, model-approved shoe choice to wear with black trousers, and no, it's not sneakers. Shop a variety of chic ballet flats and pants to go with below.
Shop black trousers and ballet flats:
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Every Cool New Yorker Knows These Anti-Trend Flats Look Better With Jeans Than Boots and SneakersClassic and chic.
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FYI: Every Fashion Person Is Buying This Pretty Pant Color Trend Instead of White or Black RNIncluding celebrities.
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I Called the Cuffed Jeans Trend—7 Shoes Fashion People Are Wearing With the Chic Denim StyleStyle the jeans like a fashion person.
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Jennifer Lawrence Keeps Swapping Her Jeans for This Anti-Denim Pant TrendIt's not hard to understand her infatuation.
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Emma Roberts on the Denim Trend She's Reviving and Her Secret to Surviving Boots All DaySpoiler alert: Her style is the definition of effortlessly chic.
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I Found It: The Non-Denim Skinny-Pant Trend Fashion People Are *Actually* WearingAre you ready for this throwback style?
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High Sport's Viral Candy-Cane Pants and 8 More Non-Basic Bottoms to Buy This SummerJump right in.
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Spotted on Hailey Bieber: The Chicest Shoe Trend to Wear With Pedal Pushers This SummerPeriod.
