Why the ballet shoe must go on

A long time ago I decided to stop suffering for the sake of fashion. This is a tough stand to take specially when you work in a world where discomfort equals style. But during a particularly arduous trip to Paris where shoe bites dogged every step, I chucked my heels in favour of flats. You would think this is a simple enough switch but finding a comfortable pair proved to be my Achilles heel. Over a decade ago ballet pumps were not to be found in the pages on fashion magazines. Yes, it had had its magical moments of style - Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face immortalised the flat shoe in a pair designed especially for her by Salvatore Ferragamo – but trend gurus hadn’t given it a serious comeback nod. Luckily, around 2005 the ubiquitous ballet stepped out again and now there is no putting it aside. Today, every brand showcases a version – from Zara to Chanel– you can pick one according to your budget. Or taste. The modern ballet while not too different from its original avatar comes in a variety of colours and embellishments.

But given that I am a classicist my loyalties still remain with the French brand Repetto. About $200 they aren’t inexpensive but then they were made for ballet and are incredibly flexible and lightweight. Created by Rose Repetto in 1947, in a workshop near the National Opera of Paris, for her son Roland Petit, a dancer and choreographer – they also found favour with Rudolf Noureyev and Maurice Bejart. In the later years the brand partnered with designers like Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Karl Lagerfeld to create different versions of the flat shoe but its most iconic creation remains the "Cendrillon", created in 1957 for Brigitte Bardot for the film Et Dieu crea la femme (…And God created Woman).

Of course if you are building a shoe closet I would recommend investing in a pair of Ferragamos. More than double the price of say your Repettos, these are perhaps the most beautiful shoes you will ever own. All because of a commitment to comfort by the man behind the brand. At 17, Salvatore went to find his fortunes in Hollywood and within a few years became a hit with movie stars. But he always wondered why shoes were not comfortable. Which is why he studied anatomy at the University of Southern California, LA and discovered the need for arch support. Recounting the history of his career, author Rachelle Bergstein in her book Women from the Ankle Down: The Story of Shoes and How They Define Us shares that, “Ferragamos became the first Italian shoes ever to be exported and sold internationally.” At Saks Fifth Avenue.

When I visited the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, in Florence – opened to public in 1995 it has the photographs, patents, sketches and wooden lasts of all the famous feet the shoemaker worked on - I was told that this is where other designers also come for inspiration. It is easy to see why.

Situated in a 700-year-old palazzo, the museum contains 10,000 models of the shoes designed by the “shoemaker to the stars” between 1927 to 1960. And the range is staggeringly creative and innovative. For me, the most remarkable distinction remains their comfort. There are other shoe brands that are regarded more stylish, more desirable but they are incredibly hard on your feet. In your Ferragamos, push comes to shove, you can literally play a sport.

Ballet Box

Ballet flats made their debut in the 16th century. And soon were adopted by men and women alike. They fell out of fashion when Marie Antoinette wore them to her beheading! It seems women were losing their head over shoes as far back then.