Motorcycle Boots Are In. Is It Because of Ballet Flats?

Jul 12, 2023

By Hannah Jackson

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Fall is upon us and I am positively quaking in my red patent leather Repettos! While it’s no secret that ballet flats have been on the come up and show no signs of disappearing, we do need to take into account the fact that the weather will turn at some point, and nobody wants to trudge through rain and snow in dainty shoes. So a few weeks ago, when my friend Dani showed me a pair of vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle boots—a hand-me-down from her mom’s friend—my interest was instantly piqued.

While motorcycle boots seem like the complete antithesis of the girlish summery shoe, I’m convinced that the rise of the tough, hearty boot springs from our current fixation on flats. Every brand has been on a mission to reinvent the sweet, simple shoe. Be it Miu Miu, Alaïa, or Celine, many leading brands are hoping to elevate a versatile staple shoe with hardware, crystals, chains, sequins, and fishnets. The gamble seems to have paid off: some of the most popular interpretations of the simple ballet flat this season have been those with edgier twists and more embellishments.

Ganni has found success with their wide welt buckle flats. With a slingback and a pointed toe, the shoes are inherently feminine, while the hefty metallic accents give the shoe an industrial feel. The same can be said of Miu Miu’s studded flat, an edgier approach to a shoe that would otherwise look at home at the ballet barre. It’s no shock, then, that brands are translating these facets into fall- and winter-friendly footwear. The logical next step? Motorcycle boots.

When it comes to biker boots, we’re seeing similar fanfare from ballet flats: an edgier, hardware-laden version of an otherwise simple shoe. Brands are taking note—including several who jumped on the embellished flats train. While there are a variety of boots at different price-points, when it comes to the luxury market, Miu Miu, Jimmy Choo, Celine, and Alaïa (all of whom tried out hardware embellished flats), as well as Paris Texas, Michael Kors, and Acne Studios are all purveyors of buckled and harnessed boots, in a variety of heights. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with the original Frye boot. Celebrities are already on board: SZA donned a pair of Demonias in her “Snooze” music video. Elsa Hosk, Dua Lipa, Sienna Miller, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Miranda Kerr, and more celebs rocked the boots during their last wave in the trend cycle.

Like their ballet flat counterparts, moto boots are both practical and chic. The flat sole (or, at most, very minimal heel) will spare your feet, and its tried-and-true durability will come in handy for future seasons. Plus, the hardware will instantly elevate even the most basic outfit, and lend an edge to ultra-feminine pieces. So, even if you’re not exactly the motorcycle-riding type, consider swapping your flats for a pair of biker boots this fall. Shop biker boots and flats, below

Stuart Weitzman

Maverick Bedford moto ankle boots

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Alaïa crinkled patent-leather ballet flats

NET-A-PORTER

Proenza Schouler textured-leather ankle boots

NET-A-PORTER

The Row Ava leather flats

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Dr. Martens 1460 boots

NORDSTROM

Cos leather Mary Jane flats

COS

Dolce & Gabbana combat boots

BERGDORF GOODMAN

Khaite Marcy crystal-embellished mesh ballet flats

NET-A-PORTER

NORDSTROM