The Row Ballet Flats and Mary Jane Shoes Too Expensive ? Check Out These 12 Affordable Alternatives
In recent years, The Row has become one of the most sought-after brands. As it opened physical stores in China, expanded its presence in boutique shops, and appeared frequently in influencers’ outfits on Xiaohongshu, its popularity has only increased.
Founded in 2008, The Row only began gaining significant traction in 2014, despite facing financial difficulties before the pandemic. Today, even though its prices are comparable to traditional luxury brands like Versace, Valentino, and Dior, many still choose to buy its products.
The Row’s shoes, whether ballet flats, Mary Jane shoes, or fisherman net shoes, are priced around 7,000 to 10,000 RMB. In this article, I’ve compiled 12 other brands that offer ballet flats and Mary Jane shoes, giving you more options to explore beyond The Row’s Ava and Boheme collections.
Overall, I haven’t distinguished too much between ballet flats and Mary Jane shoes. Ballet flats are typically strapless, flat, and soft, while Mary Jane shoes are usually leather, sometimes patent, with a thicker heel.
These two types of shoes have been trending on Instagram and Xiaohongshu for the past two years, and since the distinction between them is not that pronounced, I’ve grouped them together here.
The Row
The Row offers three styles of Mary Jane and ballet flats, all priced above 7,000 RMB.
The first is the Ava series, featuring a leather sole and lambskin upper. The Ava shoes have a slightly narrow and pointed toe, giving them a more vintage feel, especially the white pair, which exudes the aura of an 80s Shanghai aristocratic lady. They resemble Mary Jane shoes more closely.
The Boheme series has a more rounded toe, making them more comfortable. They sit between ballet flats and Mary Jane shoes, which is why I’m discussing them together.
The most popular ballet flats from The Row have to be those with elastic straps. They’re a must-have for fashion influencers, worn by the likes of Kendall Jenner abroad and Bai Baihe in China. Made entirely of lambskin, they’re incredibly soft but not ideal for long walks — best for days when you don’t exceed 7,000 steps.
The only ballet flats I’ve found more expensive than The Row’s are from Chanel and Alaïa, both luxury powerhouses with unique designs.
Valentino
Valentino’s ballet flats are slightly cheaper than The Row’s, around 7,000 RMB. I love the metal logo buckle, which adds a touch of sophistication. The white pair is a milky white, very clean and gentle, while the red pair is Valentino’s signature shade, reminiscent of their iconic red heels.
Valentino also offers leopard-print ballet flats, which exude quality and style.
Versace
This pair of ballet flats is the pinkest in the entire list. Made of fabric, they embody a girlish charm akin to Sandy Liang’s designs.
They also come in silver, blue, and black, though I find the front opening design a bit awkward.
Maison Margiela
The ballet flats from Maison Margiela and the Sandy Liang shoes I’ll introduce next are priced between 4,000 to 5,000 RMB.
Margiela’s most iconic ballet flats are from the Tabi collection, available in four different styles.
The first type is a slip-on without straps, available in red, black, brown, and white.
The second type has beige straps, which I find mismatched with the shoe color. The straps are intentionally frayed, adding to the design’s disjointed feel.
The third type is Mary Jane style, with a more rigid leather.
The fourth type is an unusual high-heeled Tabi, which has garnered a lot of attention from fashion-forward women.
Sandy Liang
Sandy Liang, a brand by a Chinese-American designer from New York, is known for its pleated skirts, ballet flats, and bow accessories. Last year, Jennie’s endorsement and store appearances helped Sandy Liang gain global recognition.
Though the brand’s most iconic ballet flats are the pink and white square-toed leather shoes below, a search on Xiaohongshu mostly turns up the Salomon x Sandy Liang collaboration shoes, which speaks to the brand’s marketing prowess.
If the pink Versace flats are girlish with a bold, sensual flair, these Sandy Liang flats offer a softer, gentler sweetness. The rounded shape is reminiscent of a youthful face, soft as cream. It’s easy to see why Jennie picked this brand.
From The Row to Sandy Liang, the brands mentioned so far all feature leather uppers, linings, and soles. The materials are solid, and the texture is superb. The shoes I’ll introduce next, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 RMB, don’t use as much leather. Some have fabric linings, while others even use synthetic leather.
Below are some lesser-known brands, many of which are Italian handmade, despite not using as much leather.
Le Monde Béryl
Founded in 2016 by Lily Atherton Hanbury and her friend Katya Shyfrin, Le Monde Béryl specializes in Italian handmade shoes, inspired by a pair of local fisherman shoes Lily bought during a trip to Venice.
Their Mary Jane shoes are made from a variety of materials, including suede, corduroy, mesh, satin, leather, and linen, all handcrafted by skilled Italian artisans using traditional techniques.
This brand offers the most variety among the 12 brands listed, with designs that are truly on point.
Below are a few of their mesh and corduroy options. The mesh pairs are somewhat reminiscent of Khaite.
Suzanna Rae
Based in New York and established in 2010, Suzanna Rae’s shoe designs are avant-garde and performance-oriented, so they’re not particularly minimalist. Expect to see rhinestones, dopamine-inducing colors, and various prints.
Their ballet flats are mostly pointed or square-toed, with many featuring heels, giving them a retro yet unique design. They are generally comfortable, with leather soles and linings.
Besides ballet flats, their 70s-inspired vintage sandals have also become quite popular across various platforms.
Ayede
Ayede is a Berlin-based footwear and accessories brand founded in 2015.
They specialize in heels and boots, handcrafted in Italy with leather soles and uppers.
Some users on Xiaohongshu have commented that the shoes can be uncomfortable, causing blisters, while others find them well-fitting and comfortable. It seems opinions vary, so it’s best to judge for yourself.
Available in China through SKP-SELECT and Lane Crawford.
Repetto
Repetto is well-known in China for its ballet flats, and most people who know a little about ballet flats are familiar with this brand. However, in terms of comfort, it falls short according to those who have tried it on Xiaohongshu — thin, hard soles that easily cause sprains, and fabric linings that don’t quite measure up to the next two specialized ballet shoe brands, Carel and Portelli.
The most iconic style is the red ballet flat below, probably the most frequently seen red ballet flat.
Carel
Carel is a brand known for handmade ballet flats, with all shoes crafted in Italy using calf leather. Founded in Paris in 1952, it’s often compared to Repetto. Both brands, being old and established, are sold in major department stores like SKP and Lane Crawford, and they also have standalone stores in China.
The most popular Mary Jane series is the Kina, especially in silver, with dozens of color options available.
Margiela’s ballet flats might have been inspired by Carel.
In recent years, the red Kina and Ariana have also gained popularity, frequently picked by influencers abroad. Ariana has a thinner heel compared to Kina.
Portelli
Portelli is an Italian handmade ballet shoe brand that, despite having only one small store in Italy, is quite popular in Japan.
These are professional ballet shoes, worn by many dancers, capable of withstanding 20,000 steps.
Most reviews online suggest they’re more comfortable than Repetto and offer good value for money, costing just over 1,000 RMB. They feature leather soles and uppers, though the lining is fabric.
In addition to ballet flats, they also offer Italian-style handmade leather boots.
Idée Fixe
Idée Fixe is a brand founded by three young women in Tbilisi, Georgia, to make shoes they wanted to wear themselves. All shoes are made from locally sourced natural leather and handcrafted by local workers.
The most popular style is the white ballet flat shown below, though it’s currently sold out on the official website, with only the black version available, which is velvet and looks a bit aging.
Though primarily a shoe brand, the best-selling item in China is this hand-woven leather bag, which is also handmade. Currently, besides this bag being available through resellers, other items from the brand are hard to find in China. (Chinese consumers really love buying bags.)
Ganni
This Danish brand, whether it’s clothing or shoes, is not known for its quality materials, but it gained popularity thanks to Instagram influencers and the #GANNIGirls tag.
Their shoes range from 1,000 to 3,000 RMB, with the lower-end models made from synthetic leather or recycled materials, and only the higher-end models using genuine leather.
These ballet flats stand out for their design, often described as “punk ballet.” They come in various colors, including red, black, green, pink, silver, and off-white.
For styling, you can wear them barefoot, with socks, or with tights. For a laid-back look, pair them with long pants or a maxi dress. If you want a sexier vibe, wear them with a mini skirt to show off your legs.
Simple Rainbow & Yuul Yie
Lastly, I want to mention two brands that I came across while searching for ballet flats: Korea’s Yuul Yie, which mainly focuses on heels, and Simple Rainbow from Shanghai.
Yuul Yie is available in select Chinese boutiques, but overall, the brand lacks quality, and its designs often copy Cult Gaia. The brand’s ethos isn’t great either, with ads that place shoes on people’s heads.
Simple Rainbow from Shanghai has a poor reputation, with many Xiaohongshu users complaining about thin, hard soles that are uncomfortable, and poor customer service. One review succinctly summed it up: “Pretty colors, copied designs, mediocre comfort, and terrible value.”
These two brands give me the impression that, in East Asia, the intense competition and pressure might be driving some brands to cut corners on quality. They seem more concerned with making a quick profit than with craftsmanship.
Final Thoughts
This article covers many brands, so I haven’t gone too in-depth with each one. Overall, besides The Row, my favorite is Le Monde Béryl.
Ballet flats and Mary Jane shoes are best suited for those with a more delicate and slender physique. If, like me, you have a stockier build, it’s best to be cautious when choosing these styles.
I’ve selected brands that each have their unique characteristics. Looking through them all, it’s clear that every brand’s ballet flats and Mary Jane shoes have their own distinct designs. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have included them. I hope you find your favorite and most suitable pair of ballerina and Mary Jane shoes.
