Work Flats - Chic, Versatile and Comfy Black Leather Ballet Flats

When I started Cocorose in 2007 the ballet flat was the shoe of choice for women, away from the heel that many of us were forced to wear at work and social occasions. And the black leather ballet flat was the queen of them all, ready to help us through the day and the night for that matter.

It seems strange now the trainer or sneaker has found its way into everyday work wear, but the ballet flat was the place to start by design ideas for a foldable shoe. Although as many know I designed a foldable trainer too - thanks Pippa Middleton for literally running with that design!

Designs and colourways come and go, but allow me to walk you through the leather ballet flats that never go out of trend, the designs that have been with for years, and I know that as long as we are here there will stay in the collections and be customer favourites.

• The Sandringham leather ballet flat
• The Buckingham leather ballet flat with bow
• The Clapham woven leather flat
• The Piccadilly quilted leather ballet flat

Made with the finest leathers, our ballet flats have comfort in their soul. Explore these designs in a classic yet smart design - perfect for everyday wear - but more than that, will help you step forward with confidence.

I originally write this in June 2020 .. remember, our heads were all over the place, and many of us were venturing back to the workplace again. This article is about the designs of our ballet flats, in black so what I wrote in 2010, 2020 and today is just as true. I have left my thoughts of what was happening around that time in, as I often go back and read what we wrote and experienced.

Black Leather Ballet Flats by Cocorose London

This past Monday marked the pivotal return to 'normality' for many of us, so I thought a round-up of our smart, chic and versatile black leather foldable flats would be rather celebratory.

Whether you're still working from home or if you're commuting in, hopefully a pair of shiny, new and comfy black flats would help to brighten up your day.

The Buckingham - black work flat with grosgrain bow.

First up are the Buckingham - sheep leather ballet flat with a bow on the toe. We don't have many styles that have bows or adornments so this is rather special. The leather is so, so soft and the bow is hand-made using grosgrain ribbon and finished with a CR branded buckle detail. Just gorgeous. Here is is an image of the style, but you can also visit the designs page here - the Buckingham Black leather ballet flats. The style features a 6.5cm vamp so you have full of toe coverage and the Cocorose double cushioned insoles and padded achilles heel.

The Harrow - black leather flat with black patent toe

Our Harrow back style ballerina pumps are so incredibly smart, you'll be wearing these for your Zoom meeting, just to get into work mode! I designed the first iteration of these in 2011 or 2012. With a patent black toe cap and concealed wedge heel for an extra lift, these black leather ballet flats are streamlined and super chic. They are crafted from 100% premium black nappa leather, they are so soft and caring. Now the Harrow has the 6.5cm vamp like the Buckingham, but also a concealed 1.5cm wedge heel, offering a subtle lift. Of course it has the signature fully flexible sole with support, our double cushioned insoles and padded achilles pillow at heel.

The Clapham leather flat in black woven leather.

Our Clapham style needs little introduction, to those who know the brand, please see the whole clapham collection here. One of our signature best-sellers, these woven leather ballet flats are loved by so many Cocorosers all over the world and are a favourite amongst the celebs and socialites. Incredibly chic and they look amazing teamed with work-wear. A key feature of the style is the hand woven leather upper, and as such is made by our team in small batches., by hand, one by one. Please read more detail on the features of this great leather flat for work. Which include a gently elasticated topline, cushioned in soles and padding in all the right places!

Piccadilly Black - quilted leather ballet flat

Our latest style to hit our virtual shelves, these Piccadilly ballet ballerinas are hand-crafted using quilted black leather. They're very Chanel-esque and are just super chic and very smart. Soft and flexible, the leather is stitched for a quilted effect and finished with a black toe cap. They have a gently elasticated topline, a pillowed Achilles heel (no pinching!) and a double cushioned insole, ensuring your feet are well cared for and comfortable. This and the Pimlico are two of our newer styles, the Pimlico is available in navy and red and the Piccadilly is also available in a nude and a tan.

Which is your favourite? Well before you decide, sorry I have to add some more choice for you. I have created a collection, which you can view here, of Black Leather Ballet Flats that also include the Harrow black, but with a glitter toe cap, see it here and the Sandringham, which I designed in many colours but you can view the original black ballet pump here.

Please use the Code JOLLY10 for 10% off your first order.

Should you lean towards an alternative colour ballet flat, please take a look at all of our leather flats here. 

Some FAQ's about Black ballet flats

Q: What makes these black leather flats stand out?

A: Well they are made from soft genuine leather, sheep leather in fact, they have double-cushioned insoles and flexible outsoles with a padded Achilles heel. I've tried many many pairs of ballet flats, these most definitely stand out - and with designs like the glitter toe, you will sand out too.

Q: How comfortable are they compared to standard flats?

A: Designed, some may say engineered, to feel supportive from the moment you slip them on, these ballet flats have a memory‑foam like footbeds, flexible out soles; yet thick enough to cushion your tread, soft lining and padded heel - no sacrificing comfort for portability and style. Comfort was at the forefront of our design process.

Q: Can they be worn in more formal settings?

A: Definitely. They’re are black baller flats, just because they over deliver on comfort and can be folded in required - they are perfect for work or an evening out where a heel is not required. Our customers have worn them to the Ballet, the horse racing at Sandown, Wimbledon and even in Glastonbury ! 😉

Q: Will these foldable flats fit in my already overstuffed handbag?

A: If your handbag can fit a mystery tangle of headphones, three lip balms, and that granola bar from last year, it can definitely fit these. Each pair folds neatly into its own little pouch - like a chic origami miracle.

Originally written in 2020, updated for 2025 when I have written many pieces on leather ballet flats, like should I be wearing ballet flats in 2025 and what are the best ballet flats also we have new collections like Ballet flats launching.

A selection of customer 5 star reviews on our black ballet pumps.

Anna - "The very best ballerina shoes you can have! So nice and so soft and beautiful too!! It will be used a lot now when the summer’s coming!!"

Cheryl - "Really pleased with my latest Ccorose purchase. They arrived swiftly and the leather is so soft. They are much admired by my friends.

Jennifer - "Perfect pair of black ballet flats. I needed a new pair of black ballet flats as I finally wore out another pair of Cocorose black flats. These were comfortable to wear right away - no need to break them in - and they are perfect for work and casual wear. Love the reliability and quality of Cocorose shoes."