Vogue Makes the Case for Brown Ballet Flats as Fall's Go-To Shoe for Denim

Brown ballet flats are positioned as the season's most versatile shoe for pairing with jeans, according to Vogue. The style has gained ground throughout the year, with sporty sneakerinas, Miu Miu's technical iterations, the adidas Taekwondo, patent and Parisian double-strap versions, and platform styles all circulating. Brown itself has featured prominently in 2025's color story, spanning deep chocolate to sandy tones, after years in which navy, black, and gray dominated dark neutrals. Chloé and Bottega Veneta have deployed the earthy hue to contrast sexy silhouettes or ground feminine pieces. Catherine, Princess of Wales, pairs earth-toned ballet flats with tailored pants, while Katie Holmes has been photographed more than once in a textured woven pair from Dune, styled with dark gray straight-leg jeans, a gray rollneck sweater, and thick black socks. The ballerina's soft shape suits barrel jeans, wide-leg and flared bottoms, '00s skinnies, and cropped capri styles. Options range from refined T-bar and ladylike heeled designs to perforated-leather versions, with Alaïa, Gucci, and Miu Miu offering modern takes and Repetto and Margaux supplying classic shapes. Named favorites include the Cendrillon flats, foldable ballerinas, Prima ballet flats, Miriam ballerinas, the Fonteyn flats, shearling-lined flats, and criss-cross ballet flats.