To store ballet flats, clean and fully dry them, stuff the toe with plain acid-free tissue, put each pair in a breathable cotton bag or its box, and keep them somewhere cool, dark and dry, never in an airtight plastic bin or a hot attic. Vegan leather needs air and steady temperatures, patent needs to be kept from touching other shoes, and satin needs to stay out of the light.
Most storage advice online is written for real leather and real shoe trees. Tieks (around $210 and up in 2026) designs its flats to fold and ships them with a pouch; Repetto's care advice centers on tissue paper and keeping its leather flats away from heat and light. Neither covers what to do with a structured vegan flat, glossy patent, satin or sheer mesh. This guide gives a step order, a material table and the answer to "should I keep the box?".
How to store each type of ballet flat
| Material | Stuff with | Container | Main risk | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth vegan leather | Acid-free tissue | Cotton bag or box | Heat and damp break down the coating | Cool, dry, with some air |
| Patent or patent-look | White tissue, no print | Separate bag per shoe | Color transfer and sticking | Never let patent touch anything |
| Satin | White tissue | Box, lid on | Fading, yellowing, snags | Keep in the dark |
| Mesh and lace | Loose tissue, lightly | Box | Crushing, snagging beads | Never stack on top |
| Vegan suede | Tissue | Cotton bag | Flattened nap, dust | Brush before storing |
| Foldable flats | Nothing | Their pouch | Creasing in the wrong place | Fold only if designed to fold |
Step 1: clean before you store
Dirt, salt and skin oils left on a shoe sit there for months. Wipe the outside of smooth and patent flats with a barely damp cloth. Brush vegan suede in one direction. Wipe the footbed with a cloth and a drop of mild soap, then leave the pair to air dry at room temperature for a full day. Never store a shoe that is still damp inside: trapped moisture leads to smells, mildew and lifting insoles. Our guide to cleaning vegan leather shoes has the details.
Vivra Strap Leather Ballet Flats
Smooth black vegan upper that only needs a damp cloth before going into storage.
Step 2: keep the shape
Ballet flats have a soft heel and a low toe, so two things go wrong in storage: the heel back folds inward and the toe flattens. Stuff the toe with a loose ball of acid-free tissue until it holds its shape without stretching. Add a little tissue at the heel if the back is soft. Avoid newspaper, because the ink can transfer onto light linings and pale soles.
Cedar shoe trees are useful for leather shoes you wear often, because unvarnished cedar takes up moisture. For lightweight flats they are usually too stiff and can stretch the toe. Tissue is the better choice.
Adora Square Toe Studded Ballet Flats
A square toe holds its shape best with tissue pressed into the corners, not a rounded shoe tree.
Should you keep shoes in the box?
Yes, if the box is cardboard and the room is dry. Cardboard breathes, keeps out light and stops pairs from being crushed. Label the end or tape a photo to it so you can find the right pair. Avoid sealed plastic bins and plastic bags for long-term storage. They trap moisture, and humidity is the main enemy of vegan leather coatings. If you prefer clear bins, choose ones with ventilation holes and add a silica gel sachet.
No box? Use a cotton dust bag per pair, or an old pillowcase.
Where to store them
A closet in the main part of the home is ideal. Attics get hot in summer, basements and garages get damp, and window sills get direct sun. Heat and damp together are the conditions that make synthetic coatings flake or peel, so store away from radiators, heating vents and outside walls.
Vegan leather flats: give them air
Most vegan leather is a polyurethane (PU) coating on a fabric backing. It does not need conditioning the way animal leather does, but it dislikes heat, damp and being sealed in for a long time. Take stored pairs out once or twice a season, flex them gently and wear them for an hour. Shoes that are worn now and then usually last longer than shoes left untouched for a year. See how long vegan leather shoes last for more.
Romy Lace-Up Ballet Flats
Lace-up vegan flats: undo the laces before storing so they don't leave pressure marks on the upper.
Patent flats: no touching
Glossy patent and patent-look finishes can stick to each other and to other surfaces, and dark shoes can transfer color onto light ones. Wrap each shoe separately in plain white tissue, then put the pair in a bag. Keep patent out of sunlight, which can yellow pale shades.
Cerise Patent Ballerina Pumps
Crinkled brown patent: wrap each shoe separately so the finish never touches another pair.
Satin flats: keep them in the dark
Satin fades and pale satin can turn yellow when left in the light. Store satin in its box with the lid on. Don't hang satin shoes by their ribbons or straps, and keep them away from anything with hooks or Velcro that could catch the weave.
Evelyne Black Satin Tabi Ballet Flats
Black satin keeps its sheen longest when stored boxed, out of the light.
Mesh and lace flats: nothing on top
Sheer mesh and embroidered lace have no structure of their own. Fill them lightly with tissue and keep them on the top of the pile, never underneath heavier shoes. Check that beads and sequins are not caught on the tissue before you close the box.
Lace Embroidered Mesh Ballet Flats
Embroidered mesh with beading: store boxed on top so nothing crushes the embroidery.
Florence black Lace Ballet Flats
Sheer lace with micro sequins: tissue inside, nothing pressing on the outside.
Boots need a little more
When you swap flats out for winter boots, the boots you put away in spring need the same steps, plus support for the shaft. Use a rolled magazine wrapped in tissue, or a boot shaper, so tall shafts don't fold over and crease.
Larkin Knee High Riding Boots
Tall shafts crease where they fold, so stand them upright with a shaper when they are not in use.
Storage and sizing
Storage does not change your size, but a pair that has sat for months can feel stiff for the first hour. If a pair felt snug when you put it away, wear it with a thin sock around the house for an evening before taking it out. If you are still deciding on size before buying, most of our flats run EU 35 to 40, some to 42 or more, and tabi styles have their own advice in do tabi shoes run small.
Tieks, Repetto or Lil Cacti?
Tieks are designed to fold in half and travel in a pouch, which makes storage almost effortless, and the brand is known for its foldable leather flats and wide color range. Repetto makes ballet flats with a dance heritage, sewn in a way that gives them a soft, flexible feel, and they reward careful storage with tissue. Both are leather and cost considerably more.
Lil Cacti flats are structured rather than foldable, so they should be stored flat with tissue, not folded. All our flats are vegan and run $46.99 to $68.99, with free shipping over $90.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fold ballet flats to store them?
Only if they are designed to fold, like Tieks or other travel flats. Folding a structured flat creases the upper and weakens the heel.
Is it bad to store shoes in plastic bins?
For long-term storage, sealed plastic can trap moisture. Choose ventilated bins with silica gel, or cardboard boxes and cotton bags.
How do you keep vegan leather from cracking in storage?
Keep it cool, dry and out of direct sun, avoid airtight containers, and wear the shoes from time to time instead of leaving them untouched for a year.
Should I use shoe trees for ballet flats?
Usually not. Acid-free tissue holds the shape without stretching a soft toe. Cedar trees are better suited to sturdy leather shoes.
How do I stop patent shoes from sticking together?
Wrap each shoe in plain white tissue and store the pair in a bag, away from heat.
Where is the best place to store shoes?
A closet in the main living space, away from radiators, damp walls and windows.
Read next
- How to Clean Vegan Leather Shoes: 6 Materials, One Routine (2026 Guide)
- How Long Do Vegan Leather Shoes Last? What Wears Out First and How to Make Them Last Longer
- How to Waterproof Vegan Leather Shoes: Rain, Snow and Salt Guide by Material
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