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Even though ballet flats have reached new heights this year, classic ballerinas might be (ever so slightly) waning as we move into fall. Flat shoes are increasingly taking the place of our heels, and that’s only set to continue as more and more cool flat-shoe styles arise. Case in point: the latest It flats to emerge. Meet derby shoes, the lace-up flats that are set overtake ballerinas in popularity for fall 2026. Not quite as formal as loafers or oxfords but with more sophistication than your average ballet flats, derby shoes are the surprising new style that’s just right for a dose of everyday polish.
We first saw the shoes nearly a year ago on the Celine resort 2026 runway, where Creative Director Michael Rider sent out model after model wearing a pair of the slim-soled glove-like flats. They arrived in black, white, and bright cherry-red hues and were styled with billowing trousers and shift dresses, always with a layer of ankle socks to give extra dimension. Fast-forward to the present day, and sleek derby-shoe styles are popping up all over with versions from Margaux, J.Crew, and Zara anchoring the affordable end of the market.
Not only is the trend saturating the market, but it’s already beginning to pop up on the street, so while you peruse the best derby flats to shop for your own closet, I’ve put together an outfit guide for how to style the shoes so you’ll be ready to go with ideas once they arrive on your doorstep. I expect to see fashion people wearing them straight-leg jeans but also with all manner of cool trousers from slim cigarette pants to billowing barrel shapes. Ahead, see how to wear derby shoes for fall, and then shop pieces to re-create the looks for yourself—if you want to be ahead of the curve, that is.
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How to Style Derby Shoes
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)
Style Notes: Michael Rider has sent out three collections since derby shoes first appeared on his resort 2026 runway, and nearly all of them have included look with the lace-up flats, styled in increasingly innovative new ways, I might add. On the fall 2026 runway, however, the shoes were styled with slim cigarette trousers and a fringed knit sweater. The combination of cropped pants and derby shoes immediately felt fresh.
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Lisa Yang
Bon Cashmere Fringe Cardigan
rag & bone
Irina Ankle Cigarette Pants
Celine
Ballet Lace-Up Shoes
(Image credit: Who What Wear)
Style Notes: Showgoers attending Celine during Paris Fashion Week were among the first of the fashion set to test out the derby shoe look IRL. On the street, the shoes were styled with preppy staples like khakis, denim shirts, and leather belts for a dose of cool polish.
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NILI LOTAN
Travis Denim Shirt
Celine
Disc Buckle 18mm Belt
COS
Pleated Wool-Blend Culottes
Celine
Ballet Lace-Up Shoes
Aritzia
Daily Rib Ankle Sock 3-Pack
(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)
Style Notes: Since fashion people love to pair classic denim with ballet flats, this is the perfect example of an outfit combination I expect to see repeated over and over in the fall with derby shoes: a sleek leather jacket, contrasting layers, straight-leg jeans, and derby shoes.
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MANGO
Faux Leather Jacket
Cos
Merino Wool Turtleneck Top
AGOLDE
90s Pinch Waist High Rise Straight Jeans
J.Crew
Verona Lace-Up Flats in Eel-Embossed Leather
Style Notes: Whilst black trousers are a year-round staple, summer calls for a lighter, slightly cropped iteration. Styled with white derby shoes, they lose the heaviness that full-length tailoring and boots can bring, instead offering a look that feels just as refined but far more seasonally appropriate. Add a blazer, and you have an outfit that’s polished yet breathable enough for warmer days.
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LOULOU DE SAISON
Donau Double-Breasted Wool Blazer
Khaite
Roma Rounded Virgin Wool Crop Pants
Style Notes: For a more relaxed and casual feel, a pair of baggy white jeans offsets the shoe’s preppy polish. I expect to see fashion people in cities like NYC and L.A. adopting this vibe in their derby-shoe outfits.
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Saint Sirene
The Girlfriend
ZARA
Zw Collection Mid-Rise Baggy Jeans
ZARA
Leather Lace-Up Loafers
Style Notes: Of course, Celine being the originator of the trend means that the brand’s campaign styling is a strong reference point on how to wear the shoes. Here, a model poses in barrel-leg trousers with a leather bomber jacket and tonal ankle socks. It’s a nod to the designer’s modern prep aesthetic with an ’80s bent.
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FRAME
+ Sotheby’s Cotton-Twill Jacket
ST. AGNI
Tailored Barrel Pants
COS
Contrast-Tipped Silk Scarf
