Ballet Sneakers: What the Sneakerina Is, How to Wear It, and the Pairs Worth Buying

The short answer: a ballet sneaker, also called a sneakerina, is a low, soft shoe that crosses a ballet flat with a lace-up trainer. It has the thin sole and close foot shape of a ballet slipper and the laces and padding of a sneaker. Wear it with skirts of every length, cropped trousers and straight jeans. Our pick is the Dries Van Noten Leather ballerina sneakers in Bordeaux, lamb leather with a black collar, white laces and a signature soft thin sole. Browse every pair in our sneakers edit and the full Dries Van Noten collection.

The shape grew out of two trends at once: the return of the ballet flat and the move to slim, low-profile trainers. Searches show how fast it has grown. “Ballet sneakers” now draws about 50,000 searches a month worldwide, “ballerina sneakers” about 40,000 and “sneakerina” about 22,000, with the peak in spring 2026.

Ballet sneaker, ballet flat and sneaker compared

For the slip-on version, see our guide to how to wear ballet flats.

How to wear ballet sneakers

With a midi skirt

The best pairing. The low shoe shows the top of the foot under a midi hem. Try a wrap; see how to wear a wrap skirt.

With a maxi skirt

A slim shoe stops a long skirt looking heavy. More in how to wear a maxi skirt.

With a cargo skirt

Keeps the utility skirt feminine. Read cargo skirts.

With cropped trousers

Straight trousers that stop at the ankle, with a white sock showing above the shoe.

With straight jeans

Turn the hem up once so the laces show.

With socks

A fine white sock is the styling detail of the season with a coloured ballet sneaker.

Sizing and comfort

• Size like a ballet flat, not a trainer. The foot shape is close, so most people take their usual dress-shoe size.
• Expect a soft sole. A thin sole is the look; add a slim insole for long walking days.
• Leather gives. Lamb and calf leather soften and shape to the foot within a few wears.

The Dries Van Noten pair is made in EU 35 to 41; see the Dries Van Noten shoe size guide for the conversion.

Our picks

1. Dries Van Noten Leather ballerina sneakers in Bordeaux

Lamb leather in bordeaux with a black collar and white laces, on the house’s soft thin sole. Made in Italy.

2. MM6 Numeric Anatomic Ballerina in Bordeaux

The anatomic ballerina in the same deep bordeaux.

3. MM6 Anatomic Travel Ballerina in Black

A soft travel ballerina in black.

4. MM6 Anatomic Travel Ballerinas in Suede in Mud

Suede in a muddy brown, the autumn colour of the shape.

5. Zimmermann Carousel Ballerina in Black

A classic black ballerina for when you want the flat, not the sneaker.

6. St. Agni Ballerina Flat in Black

A minimal black ballerina flat with a close fit.

Frequently asked questions

What is a sneakerina?

A sneakerina is a hybrid of a sneaker and a ballerina flat: a low, close-fitting shoe with a thin sole and laces. The term is used interchangeably with ballet sneaker and ballerina sneaker.

Are ballet sneakers comfortable?

They are lighter and more flexible than trainers. The thin sole has less cushioning, so add a slim insole if you walk a lot.

Do ballet sneakers run small?

Most fit like a ballet flat, so take your usual dress-shoe size. Check the brand guide; leather pairs give a little with wear.

What do you wear with ballet sneakers?

Midi and maxi skirts, cargo skirts, cropped trousers and straight jeans. A fine white sock is the styling detail of the season.

Are ballet sneakers still in style?

Yes. Search demand peaked in spring 2026 and remains high, and designers have added the shape to their autumn winter 2026 collections.