Women’s Ballet Slippers: Sizes, Colors and How to Choose

Short answer: for women’s ballet class, most dancers start with pink canvas or leather ballet slippers with a split sole, then choose black or white only if the class or school asks for it. Pick the size from a size chart, not from your street shoe size, and check that the toes lie flat with no folds across the arch.

What are women’s ballet slippers?

Ballet slippers are soft, flat dance shoes worn in ballet class, before a dancer moves to pointe shoes. Adults and children wear the same kind of shoe, and the term “women’s ballet slippers” usually means the adult sizes. They are not the same as fashion ballet flats, which are street shoes. For the difference between slippers and the other kinds of ballet shoe, read ballet slippers vs ballet shoes.

Which material should I choose?

Material	What it is like
Canvas	Light, breathable and easy to wash. It stretches slightly and shapes to the foot.
Leather	Firmer and longer lasting. It softens with wear and keeps its shape.
Satin	Usually kept for performance, as it wears faster in class.

Our canvas vs leather guide and the comparison of satin, canvas and leather go into more detail.

Full sole or split sole?

A full sole is one piece of leather under the whole foot and gives more support, so it suits beginners who are still building foot strength. A split sole has two pieces, at the ball and the heel, which lets the arch show and the foot point more freely. Read full sole vs split sole before you choose.

What color of ballet slippers should I wear?

• Pink: the classic choice for class and the usual color for graded ballet classes.
• Black or white: used when a school’s dress code asks for them, or for certain performances.
• Skin-tone shades: chosen by some adult dancers to match tights and lengthen the leg line.

See black, white or pink ballet shoes for how to decide, and check your school’s dress code first.

How do I find my size?

Measure the foot and use the shop’s chart. Sizes differ between brands, so a street shoe size is only a rough guide. The shoe should feel snug, like a second skin, with the toes lying flat and the heel not slipping. Use our ballet shoe size chart and the steps in how should ballet shoes fit.

Our stretch-canvas ballet shoes are pink, with a pre-attached cross elastic and a split suede sole, in sizes 23 to 41.

How do I make slippers last?

Let them dry after class, keep them out of a closed bag and wash canvas pairs gently by hand. For more, see how to clean ballet shoes.