Patent Ballet Flats

Find an extraordinary variety of patent ballet flats available on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for black patent ballet flats and you’re unable to find the right fit, there are plenty of variations in beige, gray and more. Making the right choice when shopping for these accessories may mean looking at versions that date from different eras — you can find early iterations from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century, all of which have proven very popular over the years. There have been many classic iterations of patent ballet flats over the years, but those made by Chanel, Valentino and Christian Louboutin are often thought to be among the most stylish. There aren’t many items for unisex if you’re seeking these accessories, as most of the options available are for men and women.

On average, patent ballet flats on 1stDibs sell for $447, while they’re typically $99 on the low end and $1,350 for the highest priced versions of these items.

Whether they’re Hermès sandals, black Jimmy Choo boots, ivory-leather-and-pink-daisy heels by sublime shoemaker Manolo Blahnik or Christian Louboutin platform pumps, you can find your next pair of legendary luxury vintage and designer shoes today on 1stDibs.

Shoes offered by the likes of Versace, Chanel, Charles Jourdan or Prada are integral to completing your carefully orchestrated street-style or evening ensemble these days, but footwear wasn’t always the big deal it is for your average Adidas enthusiast.

The decorative floor-length gowns that upper-class women of the 18th century wore meant that their shoes, then likely featuring high curved heels finished with woven or embroidered silks — a sharp contrast to the heavy, rudimentary form of the era’s footwear for men — were partially or entirely obscured by the base of their ornate dresses. What good is fashion if it’s tucked away?

Our modern age’s legions of sneakerheads might have trouble tracking down a pair of black-and-gold vintage Jordans but can at least fill their dream closets with original Adidas Gazelles or 1980s New Balances if they put the time in, while 1990s-era Prada pumps or a good pair of mid-20th-century jewel-tone heels in satin or silk haven’t lost their allure with today’s nostalgic fashionistas.

A pair of shoes can commemorate an achievement, mark an important trip overseas and is sometimes a rich manifestation of a hard-won physical feat. On 1stDibs, find Chanel flats or two-tone heels, Christian Dior pumps, vintage Margiela Tabi boots and many more designer shoes today.