How FitFlop is giving the ballerina pump a makeover

The brand’s new Allegro range combines comfort with timeless style

Although footwear technology has been around for decades, until now it’s been the domain of elite sportspeople and keen runners, rather than everyday walkers. And while not everyone is a regular marathon runner, many of us clock up our steps by walking as much as possible each day. Despite this, style often wins over substance when it comes to shoe choice, with comfortable and supportive options being overlooked.

Ballerina pumps are the go-to footwear selection for many outfits, thanks to their classic simplicity and versatility. Yet they can cause problems once wearers start walking, as their dainty style means feet end up close to the ground with little to cushion them. The narrow constraints of ballerina pumps also mean that feet are unable to adapt to a natural way of walking, as they would if the wearer was barefoot.

Since 2007, FitFlop has been busy working on a new approach to traditional footwear design. By combining style and science, it has made it a mission to turn popular trends – such as ballerina pumps – into shoes that can be comfortable and supportive while still being fashionable. With a team of in-house experts who study the movement of the body and the science behind shoes, the brand’s unique approach to design keeps customers returning.

This month sees FitFlop launch its Allegro Ballerina shoe. Two years in the making, the shoe is the result of research and development aimed at eliminating the discomfort ballerina pumps can cause, without affecting the shoe’s timeless style. Dr Kim Lilley, FitFlop’s in-house Biomechanist, achieved this by hollowing out a pump’s rubber sole and filling it with cushioned material to provide hidden protection from the ground beneath. The footbed was then sculpted to mirror the shape of a foot and provide better support for arches. The final addition of a flexible leather upper gives good support, while allowing the foot to move as it should.

Dr Lilley explains: “Without shoes on, your feet flex, rotate and adapt to terrain. But introduce a bad shoe and the foot can over-work itself, so it might have to call in other parts of the body to help. We design each of our shoes to make sure your feet are in contact with the sole at all times, so they can move naturally and keep the rest of your body in alignment.”

The new Allegro ballerina, £75, is available exclusively at fitflop.com in four classic colours: black, nude, silver and gold.