Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner Style Summer Ballet Flats in Completely Opposite Ways

Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner prove there’s no wrong way to wear ballet flats.

For most of my life, I’ve convinced myself I can’t pull off ballet flats. To me, the style of footwear shined when worn with more twee, preppy items and flowing skirts—especially back in the early aughts when Tory Burch flats reigned supreme. As the years went on, the flat was also claimed by effortlessly chic, New York crowd who make The Row’s foot-hugging black slippers and capsule wardrobe staples reek of generational wealth in the same way polo shirts and TB flats did in 2007.

As someone who favors exaggeratedly large jeans (often of the barrel variety) and statement shoes, I’ve always struggled to see the vision of a tiny summer ballet flat, chalking up my every-day options to sneakers and chunky sandals. Then, I saw this photo from Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner’s latest outing:

Of course, Jenner perfectly exemplified that aforementioned formula, styling a pair of The Row’s black flats with a nondescript straight-leg jean, an elevated ivory tank top from Mango—which retails for $60, btw—and simple gold hoops. Timeless! Sophisticated! Not in my repertoire!

Then there’s Hadid, who reached for a pair of baggy camouflage cargo pants, an equally baggy white top, a slouchy red Chanel carry-all, and a smattering of chunky jewelry—including a funky ankle bracelet. Like many of Hadid’s looks, this eclectic ‘fit played with color, patterns, and a mix of masculine and feminine pieces that are currently clogging up my own closet.

However, where I would have finished off this look with a slim sneaker like the Adidas Tokyo or Puma Speedcat to counteract the volume of the baggy pant, Hadid achieved even better balance by adding olive green satin ballerinas by Miu Miu, which adds another feminine touch to the look without sacrificing the casual vibe.

It turns out, summer ballet flats are way more versatile than I tend to give them credit for.

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