Repetto's Camille makes a comeback this fall, followed by newcomers like the sneakerina
A pair of black ballet flats with a modest heel has become one of the harder items to get a hold of this fall.
Jennie of Blackpink wore Repetto's Camille in the music video for her solo single, “Less Than a Lover,” and since then, shoppers hoping to buy the French label's shoe have faced a wait of several months.
"The Repetto Camille that Jennie wore in her recent solo music video now takes three to four months to get. It's a design that adds a few centimeters of heel to the familiar flat shoe," said fashion stylist Kim Ji-hye.
The effect shows up in online shopping data. Shein said that searches for "ballet" on its Korean site rose 796.6 percent between July 27 and Sept. 6. Searches for "flat shoes" in August jumped 1,410 percent from a year earlier, the highest level so far this year. Those searches had been rising gradually since April but spiked after the video came out on July 24.
"Interest in flat shoes that can be styled in many different ways has been especially strong this year," a Shein official said.
As fall wardrobes grow heavier, the low profile of a flat helps lighten chunky knits and tailored trousers, according to Kim, the fashion stylist. A simple pair of bright red or leopard-patterned flats can serve as an accent on otherwise dark-toned fall outfits, she said.
The shift extends beyond Korea. In the US, overall fashion footwear sales in the first half of the year were unchanged compared with a year earlier. In contrast, ballerina flats posted double-digit growth, according to consumer data firm Circana.
The popularity of balletcore, the ballet-inspired look that first took hold in clothing, has spread to footwear, turning flats and Mary Janes into a mainstay of the casual shoe market.
The styles gaining ground this season look noticeably different.
The Camille falls into a category known as the ballet heel. It keeps the rounded toe and bow of a classic ballet flat but adds a short, kitten-style heel. Beyond Jennie, TV personality Kim Na-young has frequently been seen wearing the style with her everyday outfits.
Another category is the high-vamp flat, whose upper covers more of the top of the foot. The shape falls somewhere between a ballet flat and a loafer, giving a neater, more tailored look than a low-cut pump.
The simplest version is also returning. Flats with a single small bow at the toe are gaining attention over the ornate ankle straps of previous seasons.
Materials and colors have broadened as well. Beyond smooth leather, flats now come in suede and satin, as well as two-tone designs.
The trend has reached the sneaker market too. The sneakerina, a hybrid that pairs the slim silhouette of a ballet flat with the sole and comfort of a sneaker, is gaining traction among shoppers who want the look for daily wear.
With Repetto pairs on back order, some Korean shoppers are looking elsewhere.
Simple Rainbow, a Paris-based label, has become a popular buy among Korean travelers to the French capital, with waits at its store in the Marais district running longer than an hour. The brand offers classic soft-leather flats and Mary Janes, all at the price of 150 euros each.
yoohong@heraldcorp.com
