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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Olivia Rodrigo's Outfit at Wimbledon Is Giving Uniform of the SummerA preppy spin on one of the biggest emerging trends of the season.
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Black Heels Are Fine, But in France, Everyone Knows This Shoe Color Looks Better With White DressesSpotted at Versailles.
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Hailey Bieber Says Butter Yellow Is "Played Out"—Meet the Color Trend She's Backing InsteadIt's citrusy.
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Black Skinny Pants Are Nice, But Another Skinny-Pant Trend Is Winning With Fashion People RNAlexa Chung is one of them.
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I'm a Shopping Editor—These 31 Under-$50 Amazon Finds Are Giving Main Character EnergyThese were really hard not to gatekeep.
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The $140 Boots London Fashion Girls Take Out of Storage Every Summer to Wear With Shorts and DressesFrom Kate Moss to Daisy Edgar-Jones.
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A Black Amex, Flip-Flops, and This "Dated" Pant Trend—Meet Mary-Kate Olsen's Hamptons-Summer UniformYou'll never guess the pant trend.
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Hold the Sneakers—This Is the Classy Flat-Shoe Style French Women Wear With 3 Different Casual PantsThe chicest look.
