Following in the Steps of Ballet Flats, These Irish Dance Shoes Are Inspiring a New Fashion Trend

Dance and athletic shoes are having quite a moment.

After ballerina sneakers and ballet-inspired shoes were among this year’s most popular footwear styles, and soccer shoes like Adidas Sambas took over the sneaker industry for the last few years,the Ghillie shoes are next in line to become a trend in the footwear space.

The Irish dance shoe is going through its own fashion transformation. Brands like Ganni and Chloé have released their own versions of the Ghillie shoes in recent seasons, which are traditionally wornby women in Irish dance.

The Scottish Ghillie brogues are a similar style that is worn by men and women in Scottish country dance and in Scottish highland dance. The shoes are soft and bendable, similar to ballet shoes, and were designed to be used for several types of dance. They are also known as “soft shoes” among dancers, and are typically made with a supple leather that forms to the foot.

But the laces are the shoes’ signature detail, and it’s what sets them apart from a classic ballet shoe. Ghillie’s laces are used to secure the foot in place, and they crisscross the top of the foot and wrap around the ankle, but are tied together across the vamp, similar to a sneaker.

The Ghillie shoe had a previous trending moment in fashion.

Vivienne Westwood‘s Ghillie heels, especially the designer’s “Super Elevated Ghillie” that Naomi Campbell fell off of, were released in the 1990s and were inspired by traditional Scottish footwear. They were first seen in the Vivienne Westwood fall 1993 Anglomania collection, and their design was her take on the traditional Scottish Ghillie brogues, which were known for their laces and open construction.

Westwood added a towering high platform and sky-high heel, and they continue to be one of her most recognizable and beloved silhouettes.

Chloé Ghillies Ballerina

Now, luxury footwear brands are blending the style of a Ghillie shoe with the ballerina shoe trend, creating a more intricate fusion of the two dance shoes.

Chloé is selling their Ghillies ballerinas in both a flat and a heeled pump version. The light shoes feature an almond toe shape with an open-back silhouette and corset-inspired lacing that wraps around the ankle, and gold-tone hardware on the eyelets.

Simone Rocha has released its own Ghillie-inspired ballerina pump, featuring a sporty trek sole, a multilace bow detail, and a buckle detail throughout. Ganni’s Ghillies-inspired shoes were spotted at their fall 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week in March and were worn by influencer Maïna Suarez.

Though they refer to the shoes as their lace-up ballerina flats, the shoes feature a crossover lace detailing that ties at the front like a Ghillie, as well as metal eyelets that make the shoe pop. Jeffrey Campbell’s Martine flats are also Ghillie-inspired and feature a soft leather upper with an ankle wrap tie closure and a rounded square toe.

Jeffrey Campbell Martine Flats

Other brands have blended the Ghillie silhouette with the design of a sneaker.

The Ecco Biom C-trail, designed in collaboration with Natacha Ramsay-Levi, features the upper and lace style of a Ghillie shoe with the rubber outsole and a rugged tread pattern of a sneaker, giving them a more casual edge.

The brand Buffalo Boots also offers a similar pair with their Binary Ghillie ballerina style. The shoe is made from a vegan satin material that molds for extra comfort. The shoe features a lace-up fastening, a round toe shape, and you’ll experience maximum comfort all day long, while its 2-inch sole provides a bit of a boost.

While a return to glamorous high heels is also on the horizon, there is still time and space for a new flat to take over for those still looking to blend comfort and style.