Trend Alert – The Mesh Flat Is Summer’s It Girl Shoe

See-through shoes are in. A flood of mesh, caged and diamanté styles have flooded our social feeds and are fast becoming the shoe of the summer. Plus, with an appearance on the SS24 runway, this trends has legs to go into next year.

  • The humble ballet flat has had a makeover, popping up on social feeds in sheer and mesh fabrications and, thanks to influencers, this updated style is fast becoming the It shoe of the summer. Supported by the popularity of Balletcore and Barefoot Boy Summer, the sheer shoe is a must-have investment for SS24.
  • The Row, Sandy Liang and ALAÏA are the cult brands to know. ALAÏA’s fishnet pump has replenished seven times since June 2022, noting its price increase from £490 to £580 in June 2023 as demand peaked.
  • As a trend in its infancy in the mass market, retailers should act quickly to be early adopters. In SS23 arrivals, mesh has been favored on heels, with slingbacks accounting for 46% of options and, sell outs at Mango, Zara and H&M, show that consumers are reacting well to the sheer fabric – a good indicator for next year.
  • Pre-Spring 2024 collections championed mesh on pointed pumps, but several designers, including Anna Sui, Blumarble and M21, opted into the trend with sheer socks, a commercial, low-risk alternative. JW Anderson’s SS24 show debuted crochet slip-ons, a sub-trend likely to gain momentum ahead of next year.
  • The mesh ballet flat fits into some of 2023’s biggest promotional stories that we expect to make a reappearance next year, including topical Balletcore as well as the Reveal & Conceal theme, and also slots perfectly into vacation edits alongside crochet, straw bags and hats.

Trend Accelerators

The Influencer Community

While designers have landed sheer shoes practically under the radar in SS23, the influencer community has propelled them into the spotlight. Trending brands ALAÏA and Chanel have been fan favorites, noting mesh, leather and rhinestone materials used to update the humble ballet pump.

@mayastepper
@lizzyhadfield
@hanneketsujimaru

The Rise of Balletcore

Since the Miu Miu Fall 2022 show, the ballet flat has made its comeback. Once the untrendy sister to the chunky shoe, its minimalist aesthetic has won over consumers. The mesh trends reinvention of the style further extends its longevity in the market.

@bellahadid

Barefoot Boy Summer

An unlikely trend to rear its head in SS23, Jacob Elordi and Mike Sabath, have been spotted walking the streets barefoot. Seen as the outdoor trend in its purest form and rebelling against years of chunky, its bodes in favor of sheer shoes.

@shawnmendes

The Cult Models

ALAÏA Mesh Ballet Flats

Mesh and patent-leather ballet flats
Black
Azzedine Alaia at Matches (US)
USD850.00

The Row Sock Mesh Flats

Sock mesh flats
Red
The Row at Mytheresa (US)
USD690.00

Chanel Mesh Mary Jane

MARY JANES
Black/Silver
Chanel at Neiman Marcus (US)
USD2,175.00

Le Monde Beryl Lattice Flats

Regency Ballet Flats
Black-black
Le Monde Beryl at Harrods (US)
USD384.00

Mass Market Interpretations

Wide Fit Black Mesh Spot Pointed Ballerina Pumps
Black
New Look at New Look (UK)
GBP19.99
Sandals with red heel
Green
Mango at Mango (UK)
-38%
GBP49.99
Mesh-Detail Slingbacks
Black_001
H&M at H&M (US)
USD30.99

Spring 2024 Direction

Launchmetrics/Spotlight
JW Anderson Spring 2024
Launchmetrics/Spotlight
Tanya Taylor Pre-Spring 2024

Launchmetrics/Spotlight
Anna Sui Pre-Spring 2024

How to Promote

Vacation Shop

@jwanderson
Nordstrom Email US – Jun 17, 2023
Mesh Design Fashionable Black Sandals
SKU name as stated on retailer’s website may not match colour displayed in image.
SHEIN at Shein (US)
USD14.50

Balletcore

@sandyliang
Mytheresa Email UK – Jun 23, 2023
Leonie crystal-embellished tulle ballet flats
Camel
Loeffler Randall at Net-a-Porter (US)
USD275.00

Reveal & Conceal

Vogue
Free People Email US – Apr 10, 2023
Sparkle Stretch Lace-Up Flat Sandal
Black
Bottega Veneta at Bottega Veneta (UK)
GBP1,210.00

Date analysis
Products new in Jan 1 – Jun 23, 2023

Categories Analysed
Shoes, Sandals

US & UK retailers considered
Womenswear: & Other Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch, ALDO, Cider, Dune, Free People, H&M, lulus, Mango, Mint Velvet, NA-KD, Nasty Gal, New Look, PrettyLittleThing, Pull&Bear, River Island, Stradivarius, Zara