Gigi Hadid backs mesh ballet flats with straight-leg jeans

Gigi Hadid made a very clean case for why mesh ballet flats deserve space in a small closet: they can take straight-leg jeans from plain to pointed in one move. On Friday, June 13, 2025, in New York City, Hadid wore the white Alaïa pair with denim and kept the rest of the look easy, which is exactly why the shoe works. It adds texture, not bulk. It gives jeans a finish without asking the rest of the outfit to do any heavy lifting.

The pair was the brand’s cult-favorite fishnet flat, the kind of shoe fashion people clocked immediately because it had already gone viral in 2024 and stayed in the conversation. Marie Claire noted that Hadid had owned the white pair for about a year before pulling them back out, which is the whole point of a good capsule buy: it earns repeat wear, not just a single flash. At $990, the Alaïa version is not shy, but it delivers a specific silhouette that feels sharper than a flip-flop and less obvious than a sneaker.

That specificity is what makes mesh flats the rare summer shoe that actually replaces something. They do the job of sandals when you want the foot to look dressed, but they outclass sandals at dinner, at the office, and anywhere bare straps start to feel a little too casual. They also beat sneakers when you want straight-leg jeans to hang cleanly instead of being dragged into a sporty, bulky mood. Marie Claire’s shopping coverage called the style breathable, lightweight, and workplace-appropriate, which is exactly the point: it solves summer dressing without adding visual weight.

The trend did not come out of nowhere. WWD traced the ballet-flat comeback to New York Fashion Week’s spring 2024 runways, while Who What Wear pointed to The Row as an early leader in the mesh-flat space. The Row’s Sock Shoe Black in semi-sheer nylon mesh is priced at $690, and its Round Ballet Flat sits at $890, proof that luxury brands have turned the idea into a serious wardrobe category, not a novelty. Zendaya and Sofia Richie Grainge have already backed the look too, which only strengthens its case as a real rotation piece instead of a one-off celebrity gimmick.

Still, this is not the shoe for everyone. If you need serious arch support, want full coverage, or live in a closet that already runs heavy on sneakers, mesh flats may feel too precious. For everyone else, Hadid just showed the smartest use case: one sheer, low-profile flat that makes straight-leg jeans look intentional, modern, and finished without adding a single ounce of bulk.