The 10 Best Mesh Flats, According to Fashion Editors and Designers

"Our Balla shoe is designed with a classic silhouette," Frances tells Marie Claire. "The upper is cut low on the foot and trimmed delicately in soft tonal leather, so they're easy to style and feel light and breezy in the warm summer months."

These shoes are hand-made in Italy and designed to fit snugly to the foot for a glove-like feel. Offered in both white and black colorways, the minimal mesh shoe is a testament to a less-is-more philosophy. 

If you're not a fan of neutrals, or hoping to push yourself out of your color comfort zone this season, try Loeffler Randall's Leonie mesh flats in sky blue. With their dainty toe bow and elasticated front strap, this pair leans into the classic look of a ballet slipper—but with a see-through, 2024 twist, of course. Their sizable glass rhinestones will catch and reflect the light, making everything from jeans and a T-shirt to a floaty sundress feel infinitely more dressed-up.

The mesh flat that started it all. The Row's sock-like style comes in black and beige and offers an unexpected sultriness akin to the effect of lingerie. Plus, given their no-fuss silhouette and design, they feel like you're not wearing a shoe at all.

"Feel like slippers, look like shoes," writes a pleased Nordstrom shopper. "These are incredibly comfortable and surprisingly cute. They don't have any support, but they fit like a glove (true to size) and look very cool." Jennifer Lawrence is also a fan, having worn them on the streets of New York City in late 2023.

"I'm going to be honest, when mesh ballet flats first came onto the scene I wasn't sure if I liked them or not," Marie Claire E-Commerce Analyst Sophie Cookson says. But with a few glances at street style, she's changed her tune. "I've done a complete 180 now that I've seen all the ways you can style them, though, especially with spring around the corner. These rhinestone flats from Mango feel really current and come a a great price point."

I loved these flats from Reformation when they initially launched with the rest of the brand's collaboration with the New York City Ballet, but I love them even more now as a non-sandal alternative for spring and summer. The large buckle strap is so distinctive—and layered with a white sock, it's an edgy update on the Mary Jane.

"When you work in fashion, you are acutely aware of every trend. But when you work in fashion, you also cannot afford every trend. That's exactly why these Sam Edelman mesh flats are so perfect—the Mary Jane style buckle and timeless cream hue make them very of the moment, but they also won't break the bank, so you won't feel bad when they go out of style in a few seasons," Entertainment Director Neha Prakash says. "The non-mesh toe also makes them more wearable, especially in the gross—and often wet—streets of New York City. They do run big, so I would recommend sizing down."

Behold, the very flats worn by half of Hollywood. These Alaïa flats are having a real moment, worn by insiders like Sofia Richie Grainge and countless fashion editors. The thicker mesh material reveals less of your foot than some of the other finer mesh options on this list, for one, and the thicker strap across the top won't stretch or wear over time. They come in three other colors, but the classic black is a fun twist on your ballet flats.

The red color trend is still going strong into 2024. If you're ready to commit to a burst of the color, this pair of mesh flats from cool-girl New York-based brand Proenza Schouler is perfect. You could very easily transition from winter to spring by teaming them with a pair of matching red socks now, then styling them on their own later. The bow-tie silhouette also allows you to adjust the fit how you see fit.

Everlane's best-selling Day Ballet Flat gets a timely upgrade via this sleek mesh material for 2024. These have everything you already love about the usual Day Flat—half-sizing, an inclusive range, and a cushioned insole—just in a fine mesh material as opposed to the usual buttery-soft leather.

The Gucci logo on this pair of slingback flats is so chic when it peeps out of a pair of trousers or jeans. While the kitten-heel version is perfect for nighttime wear, this demi-flat option is ideal for more casual styling—and it has landed itself on the wishlists of more than one Marie Claire editor.

Maybe rhinestone adornments aren't quite your style, but you're still interested in a mesh flat with oomph. Consider the pearls on this pair from Stuart Weitzman. The fine mesh material has a sparkly thread running through it for added flair. Shop them now sizes 5 through 12, including half-sizes, and watch the compliments on your blingy flats roll in.