How to Tie Lace-Up Ballet Flats: 5 Wraps That Stay Put, Plus 7 Outfits

Lace-up ballet flats slip because the knot sits on the front of the ankle, where the joint flexes every step. Tie it at the side or the back, cross the straps once above the ankle bone, and they stay up all day. That is the whole secret. Everything else, the number of wraps, how high you go, the size of the bow, is styling.

Search for "how to tie lace-up ballet flats" and you get dance-slipper drawstring tutorials and DIY sewing posts. Nothing about the fashion flat that Miu Miu, Alaïa and Repetto have all sold versions of. So here are five wraps, photographed on our own ankle-wrap and lace-up flats, then the fit notes and seven outfits.

Our lace-up and ribbon flats

How tight is right

You should be able to slide one finger under any wrap. Tighter than that and the straps dig in by lunchtime and leave marks; looser and they slide. The straps hold the shoe on by friction across the ankle bone, not by squeezing, which is why the crossing point matters more than tension.

Five wraps that stay put

Wrap 1: the single side cross (everyday)

1. Cross the straps once over the front of the foot, just below the ankle bones.
2. Bring them behind the ankle and cross them again at the back.
3. Bring them to the outside of the ankle and tie a small knot and bow on the side, above the ankle bone.

Why it holds: the crossing above the bone cannot slide past it, and the knot sits on a spot that does not flex.

Mara Leather Lace-Up Ballet Flats
Wrap 1 on Mara: one front cross, one back cross, knot at the side.

Wrap 2: the double ankle wrap (the classic ballet look)

1. Cross at the front as above.
2. Wrap fully around the ankle twice, keeping the second loop above the first.
3. Knot at the back, tuck the bow under the top loop.

Higher and more visible; needs the straps to be long enough for two loops, which Mara's are.

Mara Leather Lace-Up Ballet Flats
Wrap 2: two loops above the ankle bone, knot tucked at the back.

Wrap 3: the low wrap (for trousers)

1. Cross once at the front, low, at the join of foot and ankle.
2. Wrap once around, sitting on the ankle bone.
3. Knot at the back with a small flat knot, no bow.

Disappears under a cropped trouser hem so only the crossed vamp shows.

Wrap 4: the calf wrap (skirts and shorts)

1. Cross at the front, wrap once at the ankle.
2. Cross once more on the front of the shin, then wrap again 5 to 8 centimeters higher.
3. Knot at the side of the calf.

This one does slip a little by evening because the calf tapers; retie once after lunch or stop at Wrap 2.

Mara Leather Lace-Up Ballet Flats
Wrap 4 with a mini skirt: two crossings up the shin, knot at the side of the calf.

Wrap 5: ribbon heels (satin ribbons)

1. Satin is slippery, so cross twice at the front before going round the ankle.
2. One loop around, sitting above the bone.
3. Knot at the back, then a bow at the side; a double knot under the bow stops satin loosening.

Prima Lace-Up Ballerina Heels
Satin ribbons need a double knot under the bow. The evening version of the wrap.

Front-laced flats: no wrap needed

Romy and Iris lace across the vamp like a sneaker. They do not slip; the only decision is sock or no sock. A fine ribbed crew under the laces is the current look.

Romy Lace-Up Ballet Flats
Front-laced, low profile. A ribbed sock under the laces, a cropped hem above.

Iris Lace-Up Sneaker
The sneaker-flat hybrid: square toe, mesh and faux-leather upper, front laces.

Elodie is the tabi version: a cord laced across the vamp with the bow set off-center, so the split toe and the bow are not competing for the same spot.

Elodie Lace-Up Tabi Flats
Cord across the vamp, bow off-center, split toe. Lace-up and tabi in one.

Seven outfits for lace-up flats

1. Mara, Wrap 1 + black slip skirt + white tee. Bare leg, one cross visible.
2. Mara, Wrap 2 + cropped wide-leg trouser + fine knit. The loops show above the hem.
3. Mara, Wrap 3 + cigarette trousers + blazer. Office: only the vamp cross shows.
4. Mara, Wrap 4 + tailored shorts + shirt. Summer, the calf wrap fully visible.
5. Romy + ribbed gray sock + straight jeans + sweatshirt. Weekend.
6. Elodie + sheer black tights + wool mini + cardigan. The tabi-balletcore outfit.
7. Prima, Wrap 5 + satin trousers + camisole. Dinner.

Fit and sizing for lace-up flats

Ankle-wrap flats are the one style where sizing down half a size, if you are between, is right: the straps hold the shoe, so the shoe itself can be snug, and a roomy lace-up slides forward and puts pressure on the wraps. Front-laced styles fit like any flat. Mara runs EU 36 to 43 and is the widest size range we make.

Care: keeping straps and ribbons neat

• Untie fully every time. Slipping a tied flat on and off stretches the straps at the knot.
• Store with the straps loosely coiled inside the shoe, not dangling.
• Satin ribbons: iron on low through a cloth if they crease; never wet them.
• Vegan leather straps: wipe with a damp cloth.

How ours compare with Miu Miu, Alaïa and Repetto

Miu Miu's ballerina with ribbon ties popularised the look at about $950. Alaïa's ballet flats, mesh and leather, are from $900. Repetto's Sophia ribbon flat is the classic at around $400. All three are leather or mesh and made in Europe. Ours are vegan, $47 to $88, and use the same wrap geometry; the tying method above works on all of them.

Frequently asked questions

Why do my lace-up ballet flats keep slipping down?

The knot is on the front of the ankle, where the joint flexes. Cross once above the ankle bone and knot at the side or back.

How tight should lace-up ballet flats be?

One finger slides under every wrap. The straps hold by crossing the ankle bone, not by pressure.

Can you wear socks with lace-up ballet flats?

With front-laced styles, yes, a fine ribbed crew. With ankle-wrap styles, use sheer tights instead; a sock bunches under the wraps.

How high should the laces go?

Ankle bone for trousers, one or two loops above it for skirts, up the calf only for shorts and minis, and expect to retie a calf wrap once.

Do lace-up ballet flats run big?

Ankle-wrap styles can feel roomier because the straps do the holding. If between sizes, size down for wrap styles and stay true for front-laced ones.

Read next

• How to Wear Ballet Flats With Socks in 2026: The Sock-by-Flat Matrix, 10 Outfits and the Two Mistakes
• Balletcore Outfit Ideas for 2026: 12 Looks Built From the Shoes Up
• How to Style Mesh and Lace Ballet Flats in 2026: 8 Outfits, What Shows Through, and Sizing

All lace-up and ribbon styles are in balletcore flats.

Shop the pieces in this post

• Mara Leather Lace-Up Ballet Flats
• Prima Lace-Up Ballerina Heels
• Romy Lace-Up Ballet Flats
• Iris Lace-Up Sneaker
• Elodie Lace-Up Tabi Flats