Is there life after the takeover of the Alaïa mesh flats? Yes, there is, and it comes in the form of Ferragamo ballet shoes. We’re talking about the lace-up sandals and pumps that were spotted on the runway at Ferragamo’s Spring/Summer 2025 show in Milan, which are already proving to be among the most coveted shoes of the season.
On an Instagram post by Ferragamo creative director Maximilian Davis, stylist Law Roach has declared them to be “THE SHOE OF THE SEASON” (so, how long before we see them on Zendaya?). On Tiktok and Threads, fashion enthusiasts are finding ways to recreate the Ferragamo ballet sandals with their own shoes and ribbons.
Trust Ferragamo to make ballet-inspired shoes so desirable. After all, the Italian luxury brand has been doing so for 70 years now, since founder Salvatore Ferragamo created his first pair of ballet flats in 1954. His shoes were embraced by both dancers and Hollywood stars, including Audrey Hpeburn and Marilyn Monroe. It was this part of the brand’s heritage that Davis tapped into for Ferragamo’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection. On his moodboard were photos of the queer Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev and Black-American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham. Both of them wore Ferragamo ballerinas.
“I’ve always incorporated different historic eras in my work—eras which feel relatable to me and my heritage,” said Davis about his inspirations. “At Ferragamo, I’ve sought out similarities—and the beauty of this brand is that there are so many different stories you can relate to. Every shoe has a meaning behind it. Every shoe has a story.”
With his ballet inspirations, Davis refreshed Ferragamo’s signature Eva pumps, which are based on an archival design from 1947 and feature tapered toes and slanted ‘F’ heels. For Spring/Summer 2025, Davis softened the sharp, sculptural design of the Eva pumps with matte silk ribbons attached to the sides. For an open-toe option, he also offered thong sandals with the ribbons. Ferragamo’s ballerina shoes came in light shades of pink, but also deeper colours like khaki green, burgundy and black.
On the runway, the shoes were worn with off-duty ballerina ensembles, featuring pieces right out of a dancer’s wardrobe (think wrap tops, leotards and tights that would appeal to balletcore fans). But they looked especially compelling when styled, unexpectedly, with pieces like lightweight, twisted dresses; billowing parachute dresses; glitzy sequin dresses; and trench coats and outerwear in crumpled fabrics.
Davis showed us that the Ferragamo ballet shoes can be worn with elevated everyday looks, or for dressier occasions in the evening. Depending on how you style them, the shoes can be sophisticated, or edgy, or sexy—which is what truly gives them their “It-shoe” quality. And we can’t wait to see how else they are worn on the streets next season.
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