For years, loafers were the shoe everyone wore. They became part of the fashion-person uniform, and at one point, it was hard not to see them everywhere. Now, that same energy has shifted to ballet flats. Whether I’m walking around New York City or scrolling through outfit photos and videos on Instagram and TikTok, it feels like everyone is wearing a pair—usually the classic style with the tiny bow and all. But as ballet flats have taken over, newer versions have started to emerge, like the glove flat , and one iteration that’s especially gaining attention right now is the jazz flat.

And it’s exactly what it sounds like. Inspired by the dance shoe, it has a low-profile shape, soft leather upper, and lace-up details that give it a slight Oxford-shoe feel. Compared to the softer, more delicate look of traditional ballet flats, jazz flats feel a little sharper and more unexpected, yet still easy to wear.…