Alaïa's ballet flat gets interesting once mesh replaces some of the leather. The Suede-trimmed mesh ballet flats keep enough structure at the toe and heel to still look considered, while the mesh panel softens what could otherwise be a very sweet shape. The Metallic leather-trimmed mesh ballet flats push that same idea toward evening, trading the quiet suede for a finish with more shine. Fishnet flat sandals and mules take the mesh idea even further, stripping the shoe down to almost nothing but an outline. I would test any of these against a full day of walking before deciding how delicate a shoe you actually want.

Once the shoe becomes a pump, the mesh detail changes its job entirely. The 55 leather-trimmed mesh pumps use the sheer panel to lighten a heel that could otherwise look severe, keeping the silhouette wearable for more of the day. The 90 leather pumps drop the mesh altogether and commit to a single dramatic line, which is a different kind of decision than anything mesh-adjacent in this lineup. Slides, espadrilles, and satin mules round out the range for when a pump feels like too much shoe. I would only bring home the highest, most sculptural option if I already knew the outfit and the evening it was meant for.