How to style mesh flats, according to the street-style set

I don’t know if your workplace is the same, but at Vogue HQ, everyone’s shoes are missing. And by “missing”, I mean they have been replaced by a web of mesh that fits snugly around the foot. I’m talking, of course, about mesh flats, which have dominated both summer and autumn wardrobes for the past couple of years, starting around 2019, when The Row sold those barely-there slippers, and accelerating in 2023, when Alaïa’s fishnet flats started to become ubiquitous on the front row and beyond.

These days, the mesh flat is more like a classic shoe than a passing trend, worn with everything from slouchy jeans to tailoring and maxi skirts. “Unlike regular ballerinas, which have also taken prime position on the catwalks in recent seasons, these semi-sheer styles are gossamer thin, ensuring breathability,” senior shopping writer Alice Cary previously wrote for British Vogue, adding that, a bit like with the naked dress trend, it’s up to you how much you choose to expose.

So how best to wear these modern classics? You could take cues from the style’s biggest fan, Jennifer Lawrence, who wears them with pretty much everything. Or, you could make like Gigi Hadid and wear them for date night with luxe silver trackies and a ponytail. Or, of course, you could turn to the street-style set for pointers. See all the inspiration you need below.

White maxi dress