Women's Italian Round Toe Flats - Made in Italy

The versatility of round toe flats are a stylish addition to a woman’s wardrobe, creating a timeless and effortless look to your outfit. Whether it’s a glamorous night on the town or a quick trip to the grocery store, round toe ballet flats are perfect for any occasion.

Round toe flats have evolved over the years, with the original inspiration coming from the elegant ballerinas of years past. Today, they’re fashionable shoes that come in different colors and styles to make a unique modern style for any woman.

Luxury Round Flats in Italian Leather

But, what makes Italeau round toe flats unique? We believe in intelligently designed, luxuriously handmade footwear that is not only comfortable but stands out in a crowd. Handmade in the hills of Italy, we employ true Italian craftsmen to hand make our product, paying homage to the authentic craft of shoemaking passed down through generations of Italian artisans. The end result is a supremely comfortable and luxurious shoe for all ages and styles.

Read on to learn more about our cute flats for women and why we believe round toe flats are a valuable investment for any wardrobe.

Why are women’s round toe flats both trendy and timeless?

While round toe flats are a beloved piece of women’s wardrobe, they have been around for centuries, actually dating back to the 16th century. You might be surprised how this timeless shoe has evolved over the years, evolving into the fashion stable it is today.

During the Renaissance, the popular shoe style at the time was shoes with pointed toes at the front. The length of the toe was more than just a feature of the shoe though - it was an indicator of the wearer’s status in society. However, it was Catherine de Medici, the Queen of France, who changed all of that. At her wedding in 1533, Catherine de Medici wore a shoe with a heel so she’d elevate herself above other guests. The heel became a symbol of status, relegating all commoners to flat shoes.

Later, an Italian stylist and ballet outfitter, Salvatore Capezio, was the mastermind behind the flat sole of the ballet shoes we now know today as round toe flats. He adapted the ballet shoe at the time and added a round toe, changing how ballet shoes were made. Then, in the late 1900s, the trend became popularized outside of ballet, as Clare McCardell featured her collection of round toe flats on the cover of Vogue. Soon, women around the world were wearing these trendy women’s shoes with flat heels and a slip-on style.

At Italeau, we’ve designed our timeless flats with modern features like Flexlite technology to offer lasting comfort for all of our customers. While our shoes are handmade in Italy, they incorporate a cushioned memory foam insole with arch support, allowing the shoe to mold to your feed and provide unparalleled style and comfort.

What makes leather ballet flats a wardrobe essential for women?

There are few shoe styles that offer the same level of versatility and comfort as leather ballet flats. Whether you opt for an on-the-go, everyday style or are looking for a high-end pair with embellishments and sparkle, these shoes can fit into any occasion. Their timeless style has been passed down through generations and still remains a staple in the wardrobe for stylish women across the globe.

What can you expect from a pair of leather round toe flats handmade in Italy?

Authentic round toe flats handmade in Italy set the bar high in terms of what you can expect. When you shop Italeau, you can expect the following and so much more.

The highest quality leather: When you purchase a pair of leather round toe flats handmade in Italy, you can feel confident you’re getting a pair of shoes with the highest quality of Italian leather. What makes Italian leather so special? It’s renowned for its full-grain, which has a pristine structure to ensure the leather is durable for years to come. Additionally, Italian artisans have a complex method of tanning the hide to produce a soft and comfortable leather for your closed toe flats.

Whether you’re looking for a special occasion shoe or just an everyday stylish option, check out all of our cute flats for women on our site to experience the luxury of handmade leather round toe flats. We are constantly evolving our product line and expanding our offerings across our inventory.

Impeccable durability: Round toe leather handmade flats handmade in Italy are incredibly durable. With the proper care and cleaning, these shoes can last for years without fading away or becoming worn down. This is thanks to the fantastic strength of Italian leather, which is strong enough to defend against everyday wear and tear, bumps and scratches. This strong material ensures you’ll be able to enjoy your shoes in any environment without worrying about the quality of the shoe.

Value for your money: While Italian leather can be a larger investment than other shoe styles, the quality is unmatched, making it an excellent investment for the value. Premium Italian leather will outlast the traditional factory shoe and provide the owner with a long lifespan for years to come.

Flexibility: When you first get your Italian leather handmade flats, you might be surprised by the initial stiffness of the material. However, once you break in the shoe, you’ll realize that Italian leather is not only incredibly strong - but it’s also flexible. Combined, this creates a shoe material that is the best of both worlds. Plus, our Italeau round toe flats have a Flexlite sole insert, allowing for a feather-light construction and super flexible shoe.

Breathability: There’s nothing worse than stuffy, hot shoes that make your feet sweat and contribute to bad odor. However, Italian leather offers a breathability that keeps your feet feeling fresh and provides air circulation when wearing them. You won’t find the same breathability with other types of leather.

Are luxury ballet flats made in Italy worth it?

We feel strongly that purchasing a pair of luxury ballet flats handmade in Italy is a worthwhile investment for any woman. Instead of buying lower-quality shoes that will only last you a few months, our Italian leather flats will give you years of wear, making it a much better investment in the long run.

When you shop at Italeau, you can feel confident you’re supporting local artisans that are ethically paid and handcrafted in the truest authentic tradition. Plus, we cut the middleman out of the buying process, providing our customers with direct-to-you prices. You’ll enjoy luxury quality without the luxury cost.

Our handmade shoes are a labor of love, not made in a factory. A skilled worker had a hand in creating and assembling the shoe, utilizing techniques that a machine could not accomplish. This, alone, makes our luxury ballet flats made in Italy a one-of-a-kind piece of fashion.

Shop More Luxury Flats Made in Italy

Italian Leather Flats

What size of women’s ballet flats are right for me?

We want to ensure our customers make the right purchase for their style and size. We have a wide range of sizes and styles of Italian leather shoes for women. Our sizes are based on a medium-width foot and insole, so confirm on our sizing chart to find the perfect fit for your foot. We suggest sizing up if you have a wide foot or a high instep or if you prefer to wear thicker socks or tights with your shoes. Many of our shoes are available in extended sizes. We do our best to embrace the differences that make each of us unique by offering a wide range of styles and sizes.

How do women style round toe flats?

Round toe flats offer an effortless and chic look to any outfit and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. These shoes are always in style and provide a minimalist and chic look without much effort. Here are some popular ways we’ve seen women style round toe flats:

With ankle-cropped jeans - One of the most flattering outfits to wear with your round toe flats is ankle-length jeans. Whether they’re skinny jeans or straight leg, denim that stops at your ankle can create a lengthening effect on a standard outfit. Since denim can be worn casually or for more formal occasions, parking it with a round toe flat can complete your look.

Midi length skirts - Midi length skirts fall right at your shin, striking a perfect balance with your round toe flats. Opt for this silhouette over a mini skirt or maxi skirt to showcase a flattering silhouette from top to bottom.

Business professional - For the busy woman on the go, pairing round toe flats with business professional outfits adds a chic and comfortable look for the office. Their flat, no-heel style and closed-toe feature make it a perfect wardrobe staple to wear with your business slacks or a blazer.

Jumpsuit - Pair a classic round-toe shoe with a trendy jumpsuit to mix and match timeless styles. Since most jumpsuits also end right at the ankle, you’ll be able to pair your comfortable jumpsuit with equally as comfortable shoes.

Dress up casual outfits - Pair a round toe flat with a casual outfit like a baseball hat and loose jeans to elevate your everyday outfit. Adding in some sparkly flats will create a more polished look.

Add a pop of color - Make an all-black outfit pop with the colorful hues of our ballet flats. Depending on the season, your closed toe flats can be a statement piece with their fun colors.

With a pencil skirt - Adding round toe flats to your pencil skirt can create a business-professional look perfect for commuting or running errands after work.

The best part about our women's ballet flats is their versatility. There is really no wrong way to style them, and since they never go out of style, you’ll be able to wear them through the years.

Do closed toe flats stretch out as they break in?

Yes! Thanks to its flexibility and high-quality material, Italian leather shoes might appear stiff at first, but they will start to mold and soften, creating a custom fit for your foot. To ensure your shoe will correctly fit once broken in, we recommend you closely review our sizing guide to get the right fit of the shoe. While the closed toe flats will break in, they should still be the correct size. Our fit is generally snug and based upon a medium-width foot with a medium instep.

How long does it take to break in closed toe flats?

While it can take a few days to a few weeks to break in your closed toe flats, once fully worn in, they will offer incredible comfort made just for you. Italeau shoes are made with Italian leather, which will soften and begin to fit like a glove after continuous wear. Italian leather shoes are comfortable from the start, but once you receive your shoes, there are some tips and tricks we suggest as you follow to begin breaking in your Italian leather shoes:

Ease into it - While it might be tempting to wear them all day, start slowly and wear your new shoes for a few hours at a time. This will allow them to loosen up and ensure you don’t get blisters or sores on the first wear. You can start by wearing your new shoes for only a few hours each day, and wear them with socks or just walk around the house in them.

Add some warmth - To speed up the process, you can add some light heat to your shoes. Since leather begins to adapt and mold to your foot quicker when it’s warmed up, gently blow the hair dryer over your shoe before wearing. This will help break down the leather so it molds to your foot faster. Also, avoid keeping your shoes in a cold room.

Shoe leather can speed up the process - Keeping your shoes well conditioned with a leather moisturizer and then inserting a shoe tree can help your shoe stretch out when they're not being worn.

Wear more than one pair of socks - While it might feel silly, you can double up on your socks to add extra cushioning and pressure to break the shoe in.

Use shoe trees - When you’re not wearing the shoe, adding shoe trees can help stretch the shoe out and maintain its shape. This will help prevent the leather from cracking or curling.

There are also a few things we suggest you avoid when breaking in your shoes to ensure you end up with the ultimate fit:

Don’t soak your shoes - Some suggest soaking your shoes in water to break them in or even wearing them with wet socks. However, this can damage the Italian leather and won’t help the process of breaking them in.

Don’t add too much heat - While some light heat from a blow dryer is okay, putting them by the fire or leaving them in the sun can cause them to dry out. The long-term effects of adding heat will shorten the lifespan of your shoe and decrease the quality of the leather.

Don’t immediately wear them on a long trip - The last thing you want is to get blisters and sores from your brand-new shoes. Start with shorter periods and then work up to the longer all-day trips.

Avoid any drastic tactics like sticking them in the freezer or in the washing machine - This bad advice will only result in your new shoes being damaged.

Similar to a new pair of jeans, the more you wear them, the more they become fit for your particular body. By taking the time to break in your new cute leather shoes properly, you’ll get to enjoy a glove-like fit for years to come.

What makes leather and suede the perfect material for women’s ballet flats?

Using leather to make shoes dates back centuries. In fact, cowhide shoes were found in a cave in Armenia, dating back 5500 years! While using leather or suede isn’t a new phenomenon, the techniques and materials have come a long way to make leather the premier material for ultimate comfort and durability. Italeau Italian leather shoes are handmade with authentic shoe making techniques passed down through generations, which creates the perfect women’s ballet flat.

Leather is a perfect material for shoes since it’ll endure the test of time compared to synthetic materials. Some of the main benefits of leather include:

Durability - Your shoes take you all over the world, and you want a durable product that will stand the test of time. Leather is tough and made to withstand a variety of surfaces and environments.

Easy to repair - Leather can easily be repaired due to its natural qualities, whereas synthetic materials require more effort.

Eco Friendly - Free of harmful chemicals, leather is a natural material that is void of any toxic ingredients.

Water resistant - There’s a myth that leather can get damaged in water. And while you shouldn’t go swimming in your leather shoes, treated leather is water resistant.

Breathability - Nothing is worse than a hot, sweaty shoe that offers no circulation to your feet. Leather, while sturdy, is incredibly breathable. This keeps odors away and your feet cool.

Similar to leather, suede is also incredibly soft and comfortable. Lighter than other materials, suede is also long-lasting and gives a smooth, appealing texture.