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The barely there ballet flat may have taken off in 2024, but in 2025, mesh and crochet iterations are officially everywhere. While The Row first introduced the see-through flat as early as 2019, it was the Olsen twins who re-upped its relevance this spring.
In their March 2025 seasonal style guide with Vogue, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen named the must-have shoe of summer: the crochet flat. Ashley Olsen personally called out the “boho crochet flat” as a go-to, highlighting Alaïa’s metallic crocheted ballet flats — which retail for $1,500 — as the season’s it-pair.
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That endorsement had ripple effects. Jennifer Lawrence, a fan of the Alaïa silhouette since 2023, has been spotted multiple times in mesh and woven flats, often styled with neutral staples. Katie Holmes also stepped into the trend early in March. In New York, she was photographed wearing brown woven ballet flats with black tights and wide-leg denim trousers — a transitional pairing that’s now everywhere on Pinterest.
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By April, Hilary Duff followed suit in what appears to be Alaïa’s Fishnet Ballet Flats in Orange (though the color reads more cherry red online). The lambskin and polyamide design features calf-leather uppers and a rubber sole — breathable but sturdy enough for city sidewalks.
Then came Bella Hadid. In May, she posted a Cannes dispatch to Instagram, wearing Dear Frances’s red mesh Balla Flats ($490) in a few photos featured in the carousel. That same month, The Zoe Report declared mesh flats “the trend no one saw coming,” with fashion insiders like Dua Lipa and Leandra Medine also opting for see-through styles that put their toes — and pedicures — on full display.
Still, the mesh flat’s ultra-revealing silhouette hasn’t resonated with every shopper. For those leaning toward more structure — or simply less exposure — crochet versions have begun to gain traction. One of the earliest breakout styles came from Hvóya, a Ukrainian footwear brand whose hand-crocheted Riviera Merezhyvni flats feature a wider toe bed and a distinctive open weave.
Now, brands across the price spectrum are jumping in. On the high end, Simone Rocha introduced a bell-charm version, while Magda Butrym and Alaïa continue to offer intricately woven silhouettes. Miu Miu, Chloé and Gucci have their own takes, while Zara, Mango, Reformation and Ancient Greek Sandals are making the style more accessible. Mid-range favorites like Staud, Alohas and Toteme round out the options.
Whether you’re team mesh, crochet or even leaning jelly, it’s clear: in 2025, one of the hottest things in footwear is a barely there feel.
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