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Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Lifestyle
Brooke Knappenberger

I’m Retiring My Ballet Slippers—The Under-$150 High-Vamp Flats I'm Shopping at Nordstrom Instead

Model wearing Brown suede mango flats with brown pants .

As a minimalist, ballet flats are some of the hardest-working footwear in my collection. Sure, they are comfortable walking shoes, but each new iteration, from sneakerinas to chic almond-toe styles, is cooler than the last. The latest shoe trend to steal my heart? High-vamp flats.

As Marie Claire's fashion editor, Lauren Tappan, puts it, high-vamp flats are "defined by a glove-like construction and an extended upper." They made a splash during the Spring 2026 fashion month, and now It Girls like Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Lawrence are trading in their sneakers for the sleek shoes. Admittedly, I'm easily influenced because I'm craving a rich-looking pair of my own.

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