Alaia Ballet Flats: Every Version, How They Fit and Which to Buy

The Alaia ballet flat is the shoe that made a lot of people discover the house. It has a round toe, a thin rubber sole and a single buckled strap across the instep, and it is best known in fishnet, a see-through mesh that shows the foot. The brand says the design is inspired by classical Japanese shoes. Under Pieter Mulier the flat went from runway to everyday uniform, and US Google searches for “alaia mesh flats” peaked at 9,900 a month in March 2026. Coveti now carries 60 pairs of Alaia ballet flats, from $1,300 to $2,470, in fishnet, strass fishnet, Vienne suede, shearling, satin cord and more. This guide explains each version and how to choose a size.

Key facts

• At Coveti: 60 pairs of Alaia ballet flats on 14 October 2026, $1,300 to $2,470, in 16 colour families.
• The design: round toe, buckled strap on top, rubber sole; the brand cites classical Japanese shoes as the inspiration.
• Fit: Alaia recommends taking half a size down in its fishnet ballet flats; it recommends half a size up in the paper straw pair.
• Sizes: Italian EU sizing, with half sizes on most styles; Coveti lists only the sizes the house makes.
• Made in: Italy, on every Alaia shoe, bag and accessory product page we checked.
• Vienne: the house laser-cut perforation, which the brand describes as inspired by lace and mashrabiya openwork.

The fishnet original

The fishnet ballet flat is the one most people picture: a fine mesh upper trimmed in patent calfskin, with the buckled strap and a rubber sole. It comes in 9 colours at Coveti, from black and nude to carmine, lemon yellow and electric blue, all at $1,300. The mesh shows the foot, so a bare leg and a pedicure are part of the look, and a sheer sock under the mesh works in colder months. mesh ballet flats compares it with other mesh flats.

Fishnet with suede, crocodile and strass

The same shape is made with suede trims (8 colours, $1,300), with crocodile embossed calfskin ($1,520) and in strass fishnet, a mesh set with rhinestones (7 colours, $1,930). The strass fishnet flat is the evening version: it catches the light at dinner and works with tailoring by day. The laminated fishnet flat has a metallic finish.

Vienne, satin cord and the closed versions

If you want the shape without the mesh, the Vienne ballet flat is cut in suede and lambskin perforated with the house Vienne pattern ($1,610). The satin cord flat is woven from cord, and the shearling flat is the winter version ($1,770 to $1,930). There is also a paper straw flat for summer, a braided La Ballerine and two criss cross flats with straps crossing over the foot.

How Alaia ballet flats fit

Alaia recommends taking half a size down in its fishnet ballet flats, which means a 39 wearer usually takes a 38.5. In the paper straw flat it recommends half a size up. Every other pair is listed with no fit advice from the house, so take your usual EU size. Coveti shows the exact sizes made for each pair, EU 35 to 42 on most and up to EU 45 on some, with half sizes, and any size the house has sold out of appears as unavailable. the Alaia size guide has the full conversion to UK and US sizes.

How to wear them

Alaia ballet flats look best with clothes that have some shape: a full midi skirt with a fitted knit, straight jeans with a white shirt, cropped tailored trousers. The fishnet pairs suit bare legs in summer and a fine sock in winter. A colour like a bright fishnet is an easy way to add one strong note to a plain outfit. For more, read how to style Alaia and Mary Jane ballet flats.

Are Alaia ballet flats worth it?

At $1,300 the fishnet flat is one of the more accessible ways into Alaia, and it is made in Italy with a leather lining. The mesh is delicate, so treat it like a dress shoe rather than a trainer: rotate it, keep it away from rough pavements and store it in its dust bag. If you will wear one pair every day, a closed version such as the Vienne suede and the shearling flat are the harder wearing choice.

Alaia ballet flats to buy

1. Ballet Flats in Fishnet, Black, $1,300

Signature Alaia ballet flats inspired by classical Japanese shoes. Buckle strap on top. 90% polyamide 10% calfskin leather. Made in Italy.

2. Ballet Flats Vienne in Suede, Dark Brown, $1,610

Signature Alaia ballet flats inspired by classical Japonese shoes. Buckle strap on top, round toes, rubber sole. 100% goatskin leather. Made in Italy.

3. Criss Cross Ballet Flats in Crocodile Embossed Calfskin, Black, $1,520

Signature Alaia criss cross ballet flats inspired by classical Japanese shoes. Cross buckle strap on top. 100% calfskin. Made in Italy.

Buying Alaia at Coveti

Every piece is authentic and checked before dispatch, and ships worldwide by insured express courier (DHL Express and FedEx International Priority). On US orders Coveti covers the majority of import duties, and the delivery FAQ has the detail; most other regions ship Delivered Duty Unpaid. Shoes are listed in the EU sizes the house makes, with sold out sizes shown as unavailable. Full terms are in the logistics and returns protocol.

Frequently asked questions

Do Alaia ballet flats run small?

The house recommends taking half a size down in its fishnet ballet flats, so they run slightly large rather than small. It recommends half a size up in the paper straw flat. Other pairs carry no fit advice.

How much are Alaia ballet flats?

$1,300 to $2,470 at Coveti on 14 October 2026. The plain fishnet flat is $1,300.

What are Alaia flats made of?

The fishnet flat has a polyamide mesh upper trimmed in calfskin, a lambskin lining and a rubber sole. Other versions use suede, lambskin, shearling, satin cord and paper straw.

Where are Alaia ballet flats made?

In Italy, according to every product page we checked.

Are Alaia mesh flats comfortable?

The mesh is soft and the sole is flexible rubber, so they bend with the foot. The strap holds the shoe on, which stops the heel slipping.

What colours do Alaia ballet flats come in?

At Coveti they come in 16 colour families, including black, nude, white, red, yellow, blue, pink, brown and silver.

Can you wear Alaia fishnet flats in winter?

Yes, with a fine sock and sheer tights under the mesh. The shearling ballet flat is the version made for cold weather.

Read next

Mesh ballet flats, red ballet flats, the Alaia shoes guide, the Alaia size guide.

More Alaia guides

Who was Azzedine Alaia, the Alaia ballet flats guide, the Alaia bags guide, the Alaia shoes guide, the Alaia size guide, and the full Alaia collection at Coveti.

Sources and method

Checked on 14 October 2026 by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti. Product facts (materials, heel heights, dimensions, sizes and country of manufacture) are the brand’s own product-page text; prices and counts are the live Coveti catalogue on that date and move with stock. Where a claim could not be checked it was left out.

• maison-alaia.com, Shoes: product pages read on 14 October 2026 (heel heights, materials, sizes, Made in Italy)
• DataForSEO Google Ads search volume, United States, read 14 October 2026
• Wikipedia, Azzedine Alaia: the Paris house (1979), first ready-to-wear (1980), the King of Cling, Richemont (2007)
• Coveti, logistics and returns protocol
• Coveti live catalogue, 14 October 2026: prices, sizes and stock

Gemma Deeks is Fashion Editor at Coveti. Prices, sizes and stock on this page were checked against coveti.com and maison-alaia.com on 14 October 2026.