It is no secret that ballet is my favorite art form. I often channel my inner ballerina by wearing a bateau neck top or a pair of ballet flats. French shoe company Repetto makes the most beautiful pair of ballet flats you have ever seen. The company was started in 1947 when Rose Repetto, whose tiny workshop was located next to the Paris Opera House, created the first pair of ballet shoes for her son, a ballet dancer and choreographer. The company grew slowly and locally until 1956, when Brigitte Bardot donned a pair of Repettos in the film "And God Created Woman." After this Repetto started making "petites ballerines" created for street wear, and thus glamorized the style for the masses.
A few years after Bardot's film debuted, Rose opened her first store on the Rue de la Paix in Paris, which remains the flagship boutique to this day. The company has stayed true to its historical roots, making each pair by hand in Repetto's atelier in the Drodogne region.
I have long wanted a pair of Repetto's to call my own, but with the ballet flat trend still so en vogue there are many other brands that offer a similar look for a fraction of the price. In addition, outside of New York City and L.A., Repetto's are quite hard to come by.
The other day I was walking through Saks Fifth Avenue and found this elegant gray pair on sale in my size. Packaged in the most lovely black box with a pink satin ribbon, these shoes live up to their reputation. My feet feel graceful and light!
{images: 1- via kirna zabete; 2- via easy fashion}
Labels: Fashion
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