These £19 alternatives to Alaïa’s £650 braided mesh ballet flats are flying off shelves

With sunny days finally on the horizon, now is the time to start preparing your spring wardrobe ready for the warmer weather. If you’re already sick of your feet being smothered by pair after pair of chunky boots, you’ll be pleased to know that spring’s footwear of choice is altogether… breezier.

Love them or hate them, ballet flats are back and they’re here to stay for at least a couple more seasons. However, the iconic shoes have been given a 2024 upgrade, with mesh ballet flats set to be the must-have footwear this spring.

Plenty of our favourite high street brands have been bringing out their own versions, but one ultra-affordable pair that’s caught our eye is Simply Be’s Angelina Mesh Ballerina Shoes, £19 here.

Similar to Alaia’s Patent Leather-Trimmed Mesh Ballet Flats, £650 here, Simply Be’s mesh flats are made from a lightweight airy fabric, and even have a quilted sock liner that helps tackle that dreaded aching feeling you often get from wearing ballet flats all day. They also have a Mary Jane-style design with an adjustable strap over the arch that has added stretch to make it extra comfortable, giving them a similar vibe to the luxury pair.

Simply Be’s mesh ballerinas are designed specifically for wider feet, and come in wide E fit and extra wide EEE fit . You can also snap them up in a chic white version that are perfect for pairing with lighter coloured outfits.

If your feet are on the narrower side, there are plenty of other options out there that’ll give you the Alaia look for less. Mango’s Ballerinas with Mesh Bracelet, £49.99 here, swap the arch strap for an ankle one but are finished with a patent (faux) leather trim that’s similar to the luxury pair. The ankle strap fastens with a fully adjustable buckle and have a rounded toe design and fishnet upper.

Another of our high street faves, H&M, has also brought out its own version, but they’re proven to be so popular (and budget-friendly) that they’ve already sold out. The Braided Ballet Pumps, £21.99 here, are currently out of stock but you can set up a notification when your size is available again.

We’re also loving these & Other Stories Mesh Ballerina Pumps In Black, £95 here, which have a slightly edgier twist on the mesh look. Rather than a single strap, the & Other Stories pair have two faux leather straps crossing over each other with an adjustable buckle and silver hardware-clad holes studding each strap.

Finally, if you want to combine the two biggest ballet flat trends of the moment – mesh and rhinestone-covered – Loeffler Randall has just restocked its sell out Leonie Cream/Clear Ballet Flats, £216.79 here, and we are officially obsessed with them. You can also shop the brand’s full range of ballet flat styles, and trust us – you’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice.

Whether you want to splurge on Alaia’s original iconic pair, or opt for one of the slightly more budget-friendly pairs, mesh ballet flats are guaranteed to give your wardrobe the spring-ready upgrade it needs.

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