Flats for Fall: The Styles to Wear This Season

The flats to wear this fall are ballet flats, loafers and flat boots. Ballet flats lead the season in suede, leather and patent, and now come in burgundy, chocolate brown and animal print as often as black. Loafers bring polish to the workweek, and flat knee-high and ankle boots take over once the temperature drops. Here's how to choose each one, and how to wear it.

Ballet Flats, the Fall Essential

Ballet flats were the shoe of the summer, and they're carrying straight into fall. What changes is the detail: richer materials, deeper colors and outfits built around tights, denim and tailoring. If you only add one pair of flats this season, make it a ballet flat.

Suede, Leather or Patent: Choosing Your Fall Finish

Suede is the most autumnal option. The soft, matte texture looks right next to knits, wool and corduroy. Give suede flats a coat of protector spray before the first wear and keep them for dry days.

Leather is the everyday workhorse. Smooth leather handles a light drizzle better than suede, wipes clean in seconds and gets softer the more you wear it. The Luisa Leather Ballet Flat, in light brown leather with delicate elastic lace-up detailing, is an easy place to start.

Patent brings shine, which makes it the dressiest of the three. Patent ballet flats look especially sharp with black tights and are the easiest to wipe down after a wet commute.

Pointed, Square or Round Toe

Round toe: the classic ballerina shape. It's the most relaxed of the three and the easiest to wear with jeans.

Pointed toe: lengthens the leg line and reads more polished. Choose it for trousers, midi skirts and the office.

Square toe: a more modern, slightly '90s look with extra room for your toes. It works well with straight-leg denim and minimal outfits.

Fall Colors Beyond Black

Black ballet flats will always work, but fall is the season to branch out.

• Burgundy and wine: a dark, rich red that pairs with black, gray, camel and denim as easily as a neutral.
• Brown, from toffee to chocolate: warmer and softer than black, and a natural match for suede, knits and tweed.
• Animal print: leopard and calf-hair finishes add texture and count as a neutral in a simple outfit. Try them with black tights or dark denim.

How to Wear Ballet Flats in Cooler Weather

With tights. Yes, ballet flats and tights belong together in fall. Sheer black tights work with almost any color of flat. For a long, unbroken line, match opaque tights to your shoes (black on black, burgundy on burgundy).

With denim. Straight or barrel-leg jeans that hit at the ankle show off the shoe. With wide-leg jeans, let the hem skim the top of the flat.

With tailoring. Wool trousers, a pleated pant or a suit with pointed ballet flats look polished without trying too hard. A slightly cropped hem keeps the proportions clean.

Loafers

When the goal is polish, reach for loafers. They cover more of the foot than a ballet flat, which makes them warmer on cold mornings, and their structured shape holds its own with suits, trousers and midi skirts. A classic penny loafer is the safest bet for the office. Moc-toe and lug-sole versions bring a more casual, weekend feel.

Loafers in black or brown leather are the most versatile. For a fall update, try suede or a croc-embossed finish. Pair them with trouser socks or let a sliver of ankle show with cropped pants.

Flat Boots

Once it's too cold for bare ankles, flat boots give you the same comfort as a flat with more coverage.

Flat Knee-High Boots

Flat knee-high boots are the riding-boot look of the season. Wear them over skinny or straight-leg jeans, or under midi skirts and dresses so only a little leg shows between the hem and the shaft. Without a heel, they're easy to wear all day, from errands to dinner.

Flat Ankle Boots

Flat ankle boots are the most practical shoe on this list. Chelsea styles, lug soles and pointed-toe booties all work. Pair them with cropped trousers, let wide-leg jeans fall over the shaft, or wear them with a knit dress and opaque tights.

How to Style Flats for Fall

Office. Wool trousers, a fine-knit sweater or a crisp shirt, and leather loafers or pointed ballet flats. Add a blazer and a structured bag for meetings.

Weekend. Straight-leg jeans, a chunky cardigan or a trench coat, and suede ballet flats in brown or burgundy. On colder days, switch to flat ankle boots.

Evening. Flats can absolutely go out at night. Pair a slip dress with sheer black tights and patent Mary Janes, or a leather mini with flat knee-high boots. For extra impact, choose flats with studs, buckles, metallic leather or bold animal print. The shoe is doing the work, so keep the rest of the look simple.

FAQ

Are ballet flats still in style for fall?

Yes. Ballet flats are one of the key shoes of fall. This season's versions come in suede, leather and patent, in deeper colors like burgundy, brown and animal print, and are styled with tights, denim and tailored trousers.

Can you wear ballet flats with tights?

Yes. Sheer black tights work with almost any ballet flat. For a sleek, leg-lengthening look, match opaque tights to the color of your flats. Brown or animal-print flats with black tights add contrast.

What flats are best for cold weather?

Flat ankle boots and flat knee-high boots offer the most coverage and warmth. For shoes, loafers cover more of the foot than ballet flats. Leather and patent handle damp weather better than suede.

Loafers or ballet flats for the office?

Both work. Loafers look more structured and pair best with suits and wide-leg trousers. Pointed-toe ballet flats feel lighter and more feminine with cropped trousers, pencil skirts and midi skirts. Many people keep one pair of each in rotation.