The story of Brigitte Bardot's ballet flats

Actress, singer, model, animal rights activist, and 60s French icon: Brigitte Bardot wore many hats throughout her career. But the one she wore perhaps most naturally, sometimes without even realizing it, was that of a muse. She was adored by Yves Saint Laurent, idolized by Alain Delon, the singing partner of Serge Gainsbourg, the lover of various actors, but today, what we are interested in are ballet flats. Yes, in addition to crediting the French actress with the discovery and popularization of the Tarte Tropézienne, it is also thanks to her that the streets of Paris and other French cities are filled today with little pairs of ballet flats of all colors, once reserved exclusively for «petits rats de l'opéra» and dance halls. Let's take a look back at Brigitte Bardot's ballet flats, their history, and their popularization.

The story begins in Saint-Tropez, in 1956. Brigitte Bardot, a former dancer but already a very fashionable it-girl, had difficulty strolling peacefully through the streets of the French Riviera, which were not suitable for high-heeled shoes, made of cobblestones and slopes. Without hesitation, the actress turned to the Repetto store, which she used to frequent during her ballet years, asking them to create a flexible model suitable for walking. Thus, under the scorching heat of the south of France and to the sweet sound of «do you do you Saint-Tropez,» ballet flats worn as city shoes were born. The model, then called Cendrillon, was quickly renamed Brigitte Bardot and was thrust into the spotlight in the film And God Created Woman, officially launching the trend internationally. Her stage partner (and somewhat life partner, despite her claim of never having been in love with him) Serge Gainsbourg also succumbed to Repetto's charm, making the Richelieu Zizi model his emblem.

But what makes Repetto ballet flats successful is also their quality and unique character. Indeed, the magic of Repetto comes from the way they are made: first inside out, the shoe is stitched around the sole before being turned right side out once everything is secured. The shoe is then placed on a wooden form, where it rests for several hours to take its final shape. This process gives a flexible and pliable shoe that adapts to any foot shape. Although a ballet brand, Repetto quickly showed its desire to make a place in the fashion world and offer a fashionable twist to tutus and pink pointe shoes. Since 2002, the brand has initiated collaborations with other houses like Issey Miyake (aimed at reaching the Asian market), followed by Comme des Garçons and Marine Serre. The latest collaboration is between Repetto and Jacquemus, released last January as part of the young Marseille designer's collection Les Sculptures, in which he reinterprets the timeless Richelieu Zizi in a new geometric play.

Brigitte Bardot made them her favorite shoes, wearing them with tight-fitting capri pants and low-cut cotton tank tops, mini-dresses, and flared skirts, taking them off on the beach and putting them back on just as naturally once the day was over. The slip-on shoe phenomenon was inevitable: women loved the ballet flat that Brigitte Bardot had custom-made and which later became accessible to everyone. Today, one of the most iconic souvenirs to buy when traveling to Paris or online are Brigitte Bardot's shoes, religiously shiny indigo red. It's an opportunity to leave with a little piece of history but above all a fashion essential that will always come back, to be paired with a beautiful gingham dress for a picnic or capri pants and a headband for an aperitif in the city.