The halls have been decked, the mulled wine is flowing, and the sun, as repellent and objectionable as it sounds, is setting at 4 PM. This can only mean one thing, which is that we’re well and truly in the throes of party season. To some, the festive period is the most wonderful time of year. To others, the chintzy tinsel and bell-laden music played around now is absolutely repellent. Regardless of where you stand on these quintessential displays of merriment, there’s one thing that I’m sure we can all agree on, and that is the fact that winter is not a time to don heels.

With your calendar filling up with parties aplenty, it can be tempting to use the open bars and cocktail events as an excuse to dip into your arsenal of towering heels and wear all the stilettos, kitten-heels, Mary Janes and mock crock pumps that have been desperately waiting for an outing. But in my opinion, the sleet, snow and heavy rainfall that plagues December is not worth risking these decorative styles and, frankly, there are far more superlative options that look just as ornamental and are far more comfortable. Enter: The best ballet flat party shoes.

Indeed, ballet flats are rarely seen worn with opulent little black dresses or fancy maxis. However, after noticing so many style insiders adopt them this year, I’m here to act in their defence and make a case for wearing your pretty satin styles or bow-adorned numbers.

You see, this all began after noticing the rise of tasteful dressers wearing one style in particular—The Row’s Velvet ballet flats.

There’s truly nothing that the Olsen Twins couldn’t convince me to try, and after seeing this sumptuous style finish many stylish outfits, I knew the biggest party fashion trend would be to hold your heels in favour of these generously relaxed numbers.

The luxury label’s own iteration features smooth velvet and a grosgrain ribbon trim that creates a cinched effect when worn, making them resemble something worn by The Nutcracker’s Clara Stahlbaum. (Talk about serving Sugar Plum Fairy realness.)

In fact, these ornate silhouettes still make as much of a statement compared to their taller counterparts, but ensure you won’t chance rolling your ankle or leaving you in pain after several hours on the dance floor. These shoes are already going viral on social media, and after trawling the designer collections and expensive-looking high-street stores, I’ve uncovered several alternatives that are just as elegant.

From Gucci’s sequin-spangled number to a metallic option from Reformation that’s already earned the approval of It girls like Devon Lee Carlson, uncover the best ballet flat party shoes ahead.

Shop the 13 Best Ballet Flats Party Shoes

Cool, elegant and timeless—Alaïa’s Le Teckel bag has invoked a seismic shift in the handbag space ever since it was first spotted on the Spring/Summer 2024 runways. The sharp east-west style immediately caught the eye of fashion insiders, and so followed a thousand dupes and the revival of a unique silhouette across the industry. With expert design, luxurious fabrics and a bold sculptural shape, what could have been a fleeting It bag has already become a legacy buy.

Rarely does a day go by when I don’t catch sight of the Le Teckel bag. In part, that's due to how eye-catching the bag is. A striking horizontal body with those instantly identifiable straps—when you see one, you know one. Naturally, the more affordable copies followed, but none have been able to capture the level of luxury, refinement and understated appeal that comes so naturally to the Alaïa label. A year on from its first unveiling, it’s evident that this bag isn’t a passing trend but a style we’ll be seeing a lot more of, worthy of becoming a treasured heirloom passed on to the next generation.

The Le Teckel feels incredibly true to the identity of Alaïa. Sculptural forms have always been a noticeable feature of the brand, with designs that play with bold proportion or texture. The key to Alaïa's commercial success is that its pieces also remain elegant and wearable. Consider the recent buzz that erupted around the brand's mesh flats— a style totally unique in design but easily paired with jeans and a T-shirt. They continue to be in favour many seasons on.

For the Le Teckel, the striking shape and handles of the bag instantly grab your attention but the simplicity of the design and refined finish bring a contrasting ease that cements its everyday appeal. It may not be a roomy tote, but this is not a bag you have to save for special occasions—it's one that you’ll see fashion people carrying for coffee dates and shopping trips as well as dinners out.

As the best It bags do, since its launch the Le Teckel has undergone some transformations to suit more preferences. Shortened straps form the clutch version, ready to be tucked under an arm or carried in hand. A smaller version is offered for those who love the appeal of a petite accessory on their arm.

In line with the recent appetite for more spacious silhouettes, Alaïa has seamlessly maintained the identifiable feel of the Le Teckel in two larger forms; the flap and the tote. The former is smaller, with a leather flap that conceals an inner zip pocket, but is still recognisable by the thin long straps and subtle brand stamp. The tote is the largest offering, again nodding to the east-west silhouette but with a more spacious compartment for those who need to carry a little more.

Along with the variety in size comes a variety in shade and fabric. Smooth leather offerings sit alongside supple suede, as well as a few studded options for a tougher look. The classic shades of black, brown and neutrals are embraced in all sizes, with some pops of colour like light pastel blues and deep burgundies available too.

Naturally, after its first release, tracking down this bag was on par with the elusive The Row Margaux and Hermès Birkin. As the initial hype has died down, making way for those interested in timeless appeal, I’ve managed to find a number of styles in stock you’ll want to explore. If you're considering the bag as your next special purchase, keep scrolling to see the dimensions and details of all of the Le Teckel sizes to help you pin down the exact style for you.

SHOP THE ALAÏA LE TECKEL BAGS:

The Alaïa Le Teckel Medium Bag:

Style Notes: The original size of the Le Teckel comes in a variety of fabric options and shades and features an internal pocket with a small mirror for on-the-go touch-ups.

Dimensions: 33 x 11 x 10 cm

Features: Inside pocket with small removable mirror, lining 100% lambskin

Materials: Nubuk, nubuk calfskin, canvas, denim, perforated leather, shiny goatskin, goatskin

Shop the Alaïa Le Teckel Medium Bag:

The Alaïa Le Teckel Small

Style Notes: A daintier take on the Le Teckel maintains the form, just shrunken down.

Dimensions: 27 x 9 x 8 cm

Features: Inside pocket with small removable mirror, lining 100% calfskin leather

Materials: Goatskin

Shop the Alaïa Le Teckel Small

The Alaïa Le Teckel Clutch

Style Notes: Featuring shorter tubular straps, this bag is primed to be tucked under an arm, carried in hand or toted by the straps.

Dimensions: 31 x 10 x 7 cm

Features: Inside pocket with small removable mirror, lining 100% lambskin

Materials: Shiny goatskin, suede goatskin

Shop the Alaïa Le Teckel Clutch

The Alaïa Le Teckel Flap Bag

Style Notes: The slightly larger size features a large flap which hides the zipped pocket beneath.

Dimensions: 40 x 17 x 13 cm

Features: The flap features magnetic closure with a zip closure concealed underneath

Materials: Shiny grained calfskin, leopard haircalf, nubuk calfskin

Shop the Alaïa Le Teckel Flap Bag

The Alaïa Le Teckel Tote Bag

Style Notes: The largest silhouette, the Tote, features two large compartments that are secured with a magnetic closure as well as a zipped pocket.

Dimensions: 42 x 21 x 19 cm

Features: Three large pockets, lining 100% calf leather

Materials: Nubuck calfskin, shiny grained calfskin

Shop the Alaïa Le Teckel Tote Bag

As editors, we constantly survey the moving trends to ensure that you're up to date with all the latest fashion news. The funny thing about the fashion world is that most of the time we're working ahead, so normally we have a pretty good idea about what trends will appear in the next six months. But, occasionally, a new trend appears that is completely unexpected, and I'll be honest, I never expected the mesh shoe trend to take off like it has in recent seasons.

Celebrities and influencers alike have been testing out the new flat-shoe trend, and with each image, I'm growing more convinced of their chic prowess. Take a look at Jennifer Lawrence, who stepped out in a pared-back ensemble that epitomises quiet luxury through the simple pairing of a white tee, black crossbody bag, blue jeans, and of course, mesh shoes, from none other than Alaïa.

When new trends seemingly appear out of nowhere, they're generally a metamorphosis of an existing must-have style that has developed into the latest iteration. Of course, ballet flats have been back on fashion's radar for the last couple of years, and the mesh shoe trend seems to be an evolution on this. Designer brands like Khaite, Alaïa and The Row have all been toying with the trend and have released early mesh versions; some embellished, some pure and simple. Since these designs arrived, there's been a slow and steady rise of styles appearing across more mid-range independent brands like Dear Frances and Loeffler Randall too. To start with, I can't deny the whole WWWUK team were a little taken aback by this controversial, toe-baring trend, but we can now officially say we've retracted our initial reservations and (most of us) have been fully won over by the surprisingly delicate and refined look that a sheer shoe shoe can add to an outfit.

Those of us with tighter budgets who still love to try a trend and have been waiting patiently for a high street alternative, you'll be pleased to hear that they have arrived in swathes. Across Mango, COS, Zara, & Other Stories, the new season trend is finally available at our favourite high street brands.

They may not be the most practical of shoes (they're not ideal for the rain, after all!). But for those of us who are ready to jump in feet first, keep scrolling to shop the mesh shoes we're loving this season.

Shop the Mesh Shoe Trend