When you find yourself stuck in a fashion rut—perhaps the pieces you’ve worn on repeat don’t hit as hard or the pressure to adjust your wardrobe to suit seasonal demands has you struggling—the simplest way to break free from a humdrum routine is to strip things back to basics.
This is exactly what one of the season's biggest footwear trends, lace-up flats, has encouraged.
What Is the Lace-Up Flats Shoe Trend?
After Miu Miu revived ballet flats—an arguably sleepier Y2K fashion trend— in 2022, it’s been a solid few years of flat shoes stealing the spotlight. This has involved everything from trainer pandemonium, with the rise of Wales Bonner X Adidas Samba to Cecilie Bahnsen X Asics, to The Row-approved slipper-shoe trend and even the reign of candy-coloured, wobbly textured jelly sandals, elevated flip-flops and fisherman styles.
One of the most prevailing styles, and the one that currently has my attention, is none other than laced flats. Leading luxury brands and expensive-looking high-street heroes are reconfiguring in-demand shapes to feature some sort of tie-up detail. The best lace-up flats do this through unexpected, albeit delightful and sophisticated, methods. Take Chloé’s Ghillies flat, which is a French interpretation of a traditional Celtic dance shoe, for instance.
As debuted in the French maison’s spring/summer 2025 collection, the leather silhouette took the shape of a moccasin—not too dissimilar to the patent style that originated in Chanel’s Resort 2025 show—altered to feature studded grommets that allow for a piece of string to criss-cross across the top of the foot and up the ankle. Best of all, the trim of the flat tapers closest to the front, revealing a slight hint of toe cleavage from underneath the cord.
Paired with long bloomers or a billowing, boho-chic lace romper as on the runway, the best lace-up flats bring a pretty and ageless element to outfits. If you're into this summer's rope accessory trend, lace-up flats distil the theme into a more delicate and discreet form, bridging the gap between timeless and trendy.
Like polished boat shoes and experimental Mary-Jane-sneaker hybrid, the best lace-up flats also have the ability to bring a fresh feel to any existing outfit in your rotation. The addition of this braided element to conventional shapes is like a factory reset if you're feeling uninspired, because when in doubt, you can always rely on trusty styling techniques like these.
Get ready to put your best foot forward and see the best lace-up flats below.
The 6 Best Lace-Up Flat Shoes
1. Ballet Flats
Style Notes: Just when you think we've exhausted every possibility of what a ballet flat could look like, along comes these stylish lace-up versions. The silhouette reminds me of the charming ribbons on pointe shoes, though far more wearable in everyday settings.
Shop the Trend:
Update your baby-pink ballet slippers with this suede, lace-up style from Chloé.
Woven shoes certainly scream summer, but if paired with structured staples like jeans or a leather jacket, you can easily take the balmy crochet style with you into the cooler months.
Suede ballet flats have been on our radar since Gucci's Resort 2025 show, but lace-up versions really are the most innovative in the category.
If you love Chloé's pair but don't have the means to invest in a pair of designer shoes, this Mango style should fulfil that desire.
2. Loafers
Style Notes: From chunkier lug-sole styles to the penny silhouettes preferred by minimal dressers like Zoë Kravitz, loafers will always have a place in the wardrobes of elegant and pared-back dressers. Whilst we don't always see a lace-up element added to this slip-on style, a small bow or tie-up detail is quickly becoming the preferred way to wear this uptown look.
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I love how these are already slightly worn-in, meaning you don't have to be too precious with wear and upkeep.
On the other end of the spectrum, this deliciously velvety pair from Aeyde is high-maintenance in the best way.
Even subtle lace-up details like this bow motif can do so much to enhance a timeless style.
I can't decide what I love more: the woven lace around the trim or the fringe accent.
3. Sandals
Style Notes: Sandals are usually always finished with a neat buckle detail, but for 2025, I've seen so many fashion insiders swapping out this delicate fastening for something more striking. Those under 5"3' will particularly enjoy this styling hack, as it helps draw the eye down and therefore elongates the frame, without having to wear a heel.
Shop the Trend:
A really playful and summery way of doing the T-bar shoe trend.
Strappy sandals might give you flashbacks to the Gladiator styles of yore, but this discernibly chic Ancient Greek Sandals pair offers a really elegant way of wearing the trend.
Pair with a white dress for a cool, pared-back look.
Snake print is both super tasteful and underrated. Trust Australian sandal brand A.Emery to bring it to the masses in sandal form.
4. Sneakerinas
Style Notes: From Broadway Market to Brooklyn, everyone who prefers to buck the trend cycle is wearing unconventional sneakerinas. Of course, the mainstream has since cottoned on, so whilst this mash-up may seem too radical for more classic dressers, it still earns the title of one of the best lace-up flats for its popularity and impact alone.
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The lace-up flats version of Adidas's viral Taekwondo trainer.
The leather makes these look less of an obvious sneaker, which is perfect for anti-trainer people like myself.
The contrast between the suede body and sporty laces makes this a really on-trend iteration.
The chocolate-brown colour is so decadent.
5. Boat Shoes
Style Notes: After years of being reserved for boat days and dads manning barbecues, boat shoes have quickly been claimed by the style set as a sturdy but sophisticated alternative to sneakers. If the past few years have proven anything, it's that this trend is anything but fleeting.
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These would look so elegant peeking out from under the hem of wide-leg pants.
The elongated shape of this Reformation pair makes them look designer.
If boat shoes feel too polished and preppy, dress them down with anklets or slouchy jeans, like this.
I've been looking to invest in white boat shoes all year, and this Mango pair have just convinced me they're the ones.
6. Trainers
Style Notes: When it comes to the best lace-up flat shoes, trainers will always be the style that instantly comes to mind. Functional, comfortable and orthopedically beneficial, if it's not broke, why fix it?
Shop the Trend:
Objectively one of the more in-demand trainers this year.
Inspired by Prada's collapse sneakers, but at a fraction of the cost.
I predict these to be the new It trainer next season.
Suede is dominating in every category, especially suede trainers.
Lace-Up Flats on the Runway
Style Notes: For Celine's Spring 2026 show, newly appointed creative director Michael Rider commenced his tenure with a collection inspired by subtle interpretations of French daywear and American athleticism, as seen in these glossy lace-up derby flats.
Style Notes: Irish designer Simone Rocha embraces dark romanticism and folklore in her saccharine creations. For her spring/summer 2025 collection, she speckled ghillies with ruby-red rhinestones—something Dorothy would wear if she landed in Dublin, not Oz.
Style Notes: Vivienne Westwood has always been ahead of the curve. Whilst these are technically "flatforms", the London-based fashion brand presented these lace-up shoes all the way back during its autumn/winter 1993 runway.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.
We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.
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