For years, Indian men have been trained in the language of hard shoes. Brogues for weddings. Sneakers for weekends. Loafers for that one friend’s engagement party at Olive. Even the rare “experimental” pair—usually a white high-top or a Chelsea boot from Zara—comes with a certain ruggedness baked in.
But there’s a new silhouette gliding in, lighter than air and unapologetically soft. Enter: the ballerina sneaker. A strange, sensual little hybrid that looks like it belongs in a ballet studio but somehow works just as well with linen pants in Bandra or even in an oversized kurta.
This isn’t your usual flex. It’s not hypebeast-y or overtly “fashion.” It’s quiet. It’s weird. It’s chic. And in the right hands—or rather, feet—it’s one of the coolest things you can wear right now.
How It All Started (And Why It’s Not As Random As It Sounds)
Blame Miu Miu. Their 2022 ballerina flats revival was supposed to be just another Social Media fashion moment, but it ended up kickstarting balletcore: a soft, ultra-feminine aesthetic full of ribbed leg warmers, wrap tops, and satin shoes. Initially worn by women, of course—but as always, the lines blurred fast.
Soon, men were in on it too.
Bad Bunny made headlines when he debuted his unreleased Adidas Ballerina sneaker on stage in 2024—an offbeat cross between a Taekwondo shoe and a ballet slipper. Styled with knee-length shorts and a trench coat, it looked like a gentle rebellion against every chunky sneaker and performance runner we’ve been force-fed for the last five years.
In the months since, designers from Balenciaga to Lemaire to Maison Mihara Yasuhiro have unveiled their own takes—some with split toes, others with satin bows, and a few that look like they pirouetted straight out of a ballet rehearsal. In India, while the ballerina sneaker trend hasn’t quite taken off yet, there’s been a clear shift towards sleeker silhouettes—Puma Speedcats, Adidas Sambas, and Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66s are all having a quiet moment.
Balenciaga Leopold Flats
What Is a Ballerina Sneaker, Anyway?
Imagine this: the silhouette of a ballet flat (low profile, almond-toe, glove-like fit) mashed up with the comfort and soul—pun intended—of a sneaker.
They’re soft, low to the ground, often minimalist, and they refuse to shout. No chunky soles. No colour explosions. No visible air units. Just a slipper-like shoe designed to move gracefully through life—and Instagram feeds.
They look delicate, yes. But that’s their strength. They’re anti-hype. Anti-macho. Anti-trying-too-hard. Which makes them the perfect flex in 2025.
Louis Vuitton Sneakerina
Who’s Making Them?
- Adidas x Bad Bunny
- Balenciaga’s Leopold Flats
- Simone Rocha x Crocs
- Maison Mihara Yasuhiro
- The Row and Lemaire
- Louis Vuitton Sneakerina
On the street, you’ll soon spot these shoes on guys who look like they just came from a Loewe campaign shoot: loose trousers, tucked-in tank tops, vintage sunglasses. Think Delhi stylists, Bombay art directors, Bangalore tech bros who’ve discovered SSENSE.
Simone Rocha x Crocs
How To Style Them
This isn’t a shoe you wear with skinny jeans and a band tee. This is a shoe that thrives on contrast. A little theatre. A little poetry.
- Drape It Down: Flowy trousers, oversized linen shirts, nehru jackets unbuttoned. Think Fabindia meets Margiela.
- Understatement Works: Slim, cropped trousers. Monochrome fits. A Uniqlo tee and a jute tote.
- Go All In: A silk kurta and ballerina sneakers for a summer sangeet?
- Play the Irony Card: Baggy cargos, college hoodie, satin ballerina shoes. You’ll look like a fashion-forward architecture student.
So… Why Now?
Because men’s fashion is finally softening. Because the bulky sneaker is tired. Because we’ve done dad shoes, gorpcore, ugly runners. We’ve done maximalism. This is the comedown. The breath in. The little pirouette after the stomp.
And maybe because, after years of everyone trying to out-shoe each other, it’s kind of nice to wear something that isn’t shouting. Something a little delicate. A little elegant. A little strange. The ballerina sneaker doesn’t need to prove anything. It just is. And that might just be the boldest move a man can make in 2025.
