I’m a fashion writer and River Island’s £30 flats are best alternative to £650 pair

Ballet pumps are back and like many other fashion fans, I’m desperate to add a pair to my wardrobe.

There are so many styles to choose from, including leather and studded styles, but one more contemporary take on the trend is the mesh ballet pump - which is way more wearable than you might think.

The mesh ballet flats have been popularised in large part by designer brand Alaia, with their fishnet flats being inspired by classical Japanese footwear. But at £650, they’re quite the investment, so I went on the hunt for a high-street alternative.

After searching for a pair that were just as chic for a fraction of the price, River Island came good on an affordable pair that looked strikingly similar for £620 cheaper. The high-street favourite’s Black Mesh Buckle Ballet Pumps are considerably cheaper at £30, but have an uncanny resemblance to the Alaia pair.

Complete with a similar mesh fabric, buckle fastening and black edging, it could be argued that they even look more expensive than their price tag suggests. I asked my dad - a former cobbler and shoe enthusiast - which pair looked as though they cost more, and he thought the River Island shoes were the pricier ones.

The Alaia flats, £650, on the left and the River Island £30 flats on the right

As for styling them, you can treat a pair of ballet shoes like your usual black sandals, pairing them with jeans, skirts, dresses. They’re quietly dressier than sliders and sandals, giving them a slightly more luxurious feel without trying too hard.

But River Island isn’t the only retailer dipping their toes into the mesh ballet flat trend, with COS releasing a pair of Leather-Trimmed Mesh Ballet Flats for £110, which have a similar silhouette but no strap, while Mint Velvet’s MJ Black Mesh Ballet Pumps cost £99.

Though if you’re looking for something a little more affordable, Mango are stocking these Mesh ballerinas with buckle strap for £45.99, with ASOS DESIGN Wide Fit Lou mesh mary jane ballet in black coming in at £20.

But at £30, with a more luxurious look about them, I think River Island’s twist on the ballet flat trend are the best alternative to the designer styles, and are a great way to hop on the hottest footwear trend of 2024 without breaking the bank.