Not Ballet Flats, Not Pumps—Ariana Grande's Hybrid Sandy Liang Style Is the Best of Both Worlds

During her Sweetener era in 2018, Ariana Grande's beloved thigh-high boots were her footwear of choice. While the sky-high stilettos still play a major part in her pop star persona, for off-duty dressing, she typically styles ballet flats. But because she's Grande, they'd feel off-brand without somewhat of a heel.

Grande is currently spending time in New York City before the Eternal Sunshine Tour resumes this weekend in London. On August 10, she cosplayed a minimalist New Yorker in a black crewneck, dark straight-leg denim, a polka-dot tote, and white ballet flats from Sandy Liang.

The $495 Ballet Pumps are the newest hot ticket item by the New York-based cool-girl brand, which updates the summer flats trend you know and love with 1.5-inch-tall block heels. Much like Miu Miu's celebrity-beloved Mary Janes, Dakota Johnson's high-vamp flats, and the ballet slippers from Grande's dance class days, a dainty bow adorns each rounded, patent leather toe box.

The Grammy winner accessorized the heeled shoes with socks. This makes her the latest pop star to employ the styling hack, following Olivia Rodrigo's heeled Mary Janes-and-hosiery pairing last month. Taylor Swift has been known to rock some statement socks in the past, too.

Not only are the heeled ballet flats adorable, but they're also a supportive reprieve from the platform Christian Louboutin boots in Grande's tour costumes closet. This proved to be the case when Grande revealed on Instagram that she rehearsed in similar bow-tied styles from Miu Miu and Sandy Liang before hitting the road.

Once the shows started, the Wicked actor paired Sandy Liang's square-toe Mary Janes with matching socks in L.A., Chicago, and even her hometown of Boca Raton, Florida. Earlier this week, a video of Grande wearing gray socks with the label's split-toe Pearl Slingback Pumps went viral on TikTok.

The best part about Grande's heeled ballerinas? While the white shade makes them a perfect end-of-summer shoe, their hosiery compatibility sets shoppers up for another Ballet Flats Fall. All to say: The day-to-night dressing potential of the heels warrants the splurge. To copy Grande's look, check out other similar styles below.

Shop Heeled Ballet Flats Inspired by Ariana Grande