The toe-cap ballerina flat, an invention turned into fashion staple

Exactly 55 years ago, Coco Chanel launched her famous two-tone showstopper pump: a sleek beige chassis with an trendy black toe-cap, inspired, like most of the designer's innovations, from men's sportswear. Now, a half-century later, the toe-cap has turned into one of Chanel's trademarks, featuring almost on every pair of shoes designed. The ballerina toe-cap flat is quite possibly the most popular piece out of them and reappears each season, as a classic or reinterpreted with added edge. Indeed, it is so dearly coveted that other fashion brands have borrowed the toe-cap ballerina concept and restyled it in their own way. This Fall/Winter season has surely welcomed Giuseppe Zanotti's reinterpretation of the staple, embellished with crystals and a T-bar strap. 

crystal embellished ballet flats: Giuseppe Zanotti

Now to you glamorous city girls out there, what could be more comfortable and stylish than a sleek pair of Chanels or Zanottis (like mine), equally laid back with well worn jeans and vintage tees, happy to attend midnight suppers, then get up early the next morning for a long trek to the office? I mean seriously, it is difficult to imagine any other single shoe that so seamlessly takes the place of both sneakers and evening sandals, while managing to look effortless and fabulous.