If you’re lucky enough to have flat feet prone to blisters, I have good news for you. Your spring shoes are about to get a lot more comfortable, because ballet flats are officially over. Yes, that’s right, those flimsy, uncomfortable bits of faux leather masquerading as legitimate footwear have passed their expiration date, making space for something both stylistically and orthopedically superior: pumps.
I know, the word is ambiguous. So allow me to explain this simple but deeply chic (and comfy!) shoe. Picture a ballet flat except with a short block heel and more structure. Now, make the front part (technically, this is called “a vamp”) higher, so that it stretches to one-third of the length of your foot. Make the toe square-shaped, ideally, and that, my friends, is your perfect pair of spring pumps.
They’re versatile, comfortable, and carry a subtle European nod that makes them feel even more sophisticated, as if they might’ve once belonged to Jane Birkin – the late American-French fashion icon often wore variations of the style – or your insouciant, well-dressed photography teacher with a penchant for minimalism.
Part of the appeal is that these shoes seem to elevate literally every outfit. You can wear them with cropped jeans and a T-shirt for a casual daytime look that has been tacitly upgraded, or they also go very well with the season’s other standout trend: the full-flowing white circle skirt.
Naturally, pumps were all over the spring/summer 2026 runways, with notable appearances at Celine and Gucci, and earlier this month, Vogue declared “polished pumps” a “staple” for the season, pointing to other high-end examples at Prada, Balenciaga, and Aeyede. Over London Fashion Week, street-style stars paired theirs with midi satin skirts, lace-trimmed slip dresses, and even knee-length denim shorts. Meanwhile, celebrities including Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber have been recently photographed dressed in the style.
“The rise in popularity of pumps such as the Inez over the last few months may reflect how hyper-feminine shoes, such as ballet flats, are becoming more practical,” says Laura Widdows, who is a buyer and shoewear expert at Daniel Footwear. “Ballet flats dominated in 2024 and 2025, and as we move out of the bulky winter months, people are returning to them with a more functional twist. The addition of micro block heels offers ergonomic support, and a higher vamp covers more of the foot, providing a more streamlined use of materials to elongate the leg.”
Occasionally, the heel is stiletto-lie: pointed and sharp. But for the most part, you want to go for a block heel to embrace the comfort of this shoe; part of the point should be that this is something you can actually wear all day without feeling the pinch on your toes and ankles.
The gold standard seems to be set at Khaite, whose Cecilia leather pumps feature a deliciously pointed square toe with a classic high vamp and central lining. But, as is often the case with shoes of this ilk, the real credit should go to Maison Margiela, whose Tabi pumps quite literally changed the footwear industry. First launched in 1989, the split-toe designed shoes take their name from the traditional 15th-century Japanese sock and now come in a range of styles, from flats and boots to pumps. At £990 or so a pop, though, these shoes aren’t exactly accessible to the masses.
But not to worry, as this trend is so ubiquitous, there’s a version of it available at almost every other major fashion retailer. Our more affordable favourites include the Inez pumps at Reformation; they come in a black vinyl texture that gives the style an underground edge, but we also love the patent “almond eel” shade as well as the dalmation print version. The Livia pumps at Vagabond are another solid choice, with a classic leather shape that will undoubtedly last you a long time. There’s also Miista’s Bibi courts, and even M&S has an offering by way of its cream leather block heel pumps.
They might only just be entering the mainstream, but pumps have been a mainstay among fashion’s It Girls for some time – Alexa Chung has been wearing shoes like this for decades. It’s an ongoing part of the wider move away from heels, and the clunky platform shoes that replaced them for a short time. The pump feels like the perfect middle ground for those wanting something structured and smart that also feels rooted in a trend.
So, put your ballet flats on the shelf for now and get yourself a pair of pumps, stat. Your feet will thank you for it.