I talked about Repetto‘s quintessential ballet flat over two years ago when my blog was still young, naive and unread. Let’s give Repetto a second look!
In 1947, Repetto was launched in Paris by Rose Repetto, inspired by her son, the famed choreographer Roland Petit (who just passed away this summer). Originally, the shoe was meant for dancers only and it appeared in two styles: the pointe and the soft dancing slipper. While it gained popularity with dancers, the shoe was not meant to be worn outside in the real world. 

Well, not until 1956, when the sensational Brigitte Bardot walked into the Repetto shop and asked Rose Repetto to design her a pair of red ballet slippers to wear in her new film …And God Created Woman (Et Dieu créa la femme). And voilà, history was made. Sixty years later, the ‘BB’ ballet slipper (also known as the ‘Cendrillion’) has appeared in countless colours and has been re-interpreted by Karl Lagerfeld and Comme Des Garcons. Often imitated, never replicated, Repetto is the original ballerina flat.
By the way, thanks Brigitte. And happy 77th birthday!

$265 US at Net-a-Porter and $275 CAD at Gravity Pope.