Mesh Shoes, Really? We Took 6 Pairs for a Test Drive

From the sidewalk to social media, mesh flats are seemingly everywhere this summer. One editor aims to find out if they’re actually comfortable—and who makes the best. BLESS THIS MESH The writer with all six pairs of mesh flats that she rigorously tested for this story. By Katharine K. Zarrella / Photographs by Isobel Rae for The Wall Street Journal, Styling by Lizzy Wholley, Styling Assist by Christina Middleton July 28, 2023 11:00 pm ET IF YOU haven’t been bombarded by ads for mesh ballet flats this summer, you probably aren’t on social media. Lucky you. The rest of us are left wondering: What are these? Are they made of mosquito netting? Are they comfortable? Can you wear them out

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Opinion Jul 29, 2023 Add to Reading List

Mesh Shoes, Really? We Took 6 Pairs for a Test Drive

From the sidewalk to social media, mesh flats are seemingly everywhere this summer. One editor aims to find out if they’re actually comfortable—and who makes the best.

BLESS THIS MESH The writer with all six pairs of mesh flats that she rigorously tested for this story.

By Katharine K. Zarrella / Photographs by Isobel Rae for The Wall Street Journal, Styling by Lizzy Wholley, Styling Assist by Christina Middleton

July 28, 2023 11:00 pm ET

IF YOU haven’t been bombarded by ads for mesh ballet flats this summer, you probably aren’t on social media. Lucky you. The rest of us are left wondering: What are these? Are they made of mosquito netting? Are they comfortable? Can you wear them outside?

Fueled by curiosity and my desire for an airy summer shoe that’s not a sandal (naked toes and Manhattan streets make a poor match) I decided to test six pairs, ranging from crystal-dotted ballerinas by Khaite to Dear Frances’s minimalist set. But before plunging my toes in, I wanted to better understand mesh mania. Liane Wiggins, head of womenswear at e-retailer MatchesFashion.com, reported that the website swiftly sold out of mesh flats by Alaïa and Le Monde Béryl. And online shopping platform Lyst reports that year to date, searches for mesh flats are up 86% compared with the same period last year.

Lucila Saldana, an editor at trend-forecasting firm WGSN, said the appetite for the Balletcore and stealth-wealth trends are bolstering the fad, and she touted the shoes’ day-to-night versatility. Jacqueline Wulwick, 41, an executive at an insurance company, ordered a Mary Jane pair to wear to her Manhattan office. Her advice: Consider sizing down. If the flat is too big, an awkward gap between the shoe’s edge and your toes will be visible through the mesh.

I encountered that problem during my trials. My little piggies couldn’t fill the long, narrow toe bed of the sleek Le Monde Béryls, crafted from firm red mesh.

While more successfully snug, the white Dear Frances pair—mere wisps of superfine mesh—left me wanting for support.

The mules I tested, both Bally’s tan crystal take and Reformation’s pointy ones, earn full marks for style, but I struggled to walk with dignity in them. Backless designs and thin mesh proved a crummy combo.

Also a struggle? Slipping into the Row’s seductive sock-boots—basically a pair of thigh-high fishnet stockings with soles. Impatient types should spurn these shoes. Still, once I untangled my toes from the netting, they charmed me. The flattering (if impractical) style was, surprisingly, as comfortable as it was chic.

Khaite’s crystal-embellished version ticked all my boxes. With a squishy leather insole and supportive-enough netting, they survived the subway and the office, eliciting compliments. I’d happily wear this unflimsy, semi-sheer pair on New York streets. Provided it’s not raining. And I have a pedicure.