The Case For A Signature Statement Shoe
Why I wear the same pair of shoes on repeat on purpose
I had another post lined up for today that I’m a little unsure about publishing so I’m going to sit on it for a week or five. Serendipitously, my uncertainty was perfect timing because my favorite shoes and I just celebrated our one year anniversary. Fashion-wise, it’s even more timely since 2026 has become the year of the statement shoe as we’re searching for touches of joy and personality to bring into our everyday outfits.
If you’ve been here for a while, it’s probably not a surprise that Ganni’s buckle ballerinas are my signature statement shoe. They’ve been on my feet 51% of the days in the last year. We’ve walked roughly 500 miles of San Francisco sidewalks together. They were resoled with rubber bottoms when said walking wore down the heels. My Gannis have been complimented by people of all ages everywhere from the grocery store to a pedestrian walkway on a bridge. Friends have said they think of me when they see a buckle ballerina in the wild. These have been a boost of confidence at networking events where the only person I knew was me. Everyone needs a shoe like this in their life.
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When Ganni’s buckle ballerinas (aff link) first debuted during the pandemic they immediately caught my eye, even though my fashion radar was at an all time low. I loved how they were a little edgy and really pointy with a tiny mod heel that matched my newfound flats obsession. But they were more than I wanted to spend on shoes, so I shelved my Ganni dreams and admired them from afar until the fates aligned in the form of a Shopbop gift card and 40% off clearance last May.
A year later I’m still excited every time I put these on, the sign of an exceptional shoe. If I’m not sure about my outfit, I add my Gannis and everything magically comes together. These give my minimalist looks much-needed visual appeal, toughen up softer outfits, and make basics look elevated. My Gannis are Allison Bornstein’s wrong shoe theory in action.
I’ve yet to encounter comments on why I always wear the same pair of shoes (derogatory), but I know my time is coming on social media. I have a few responses ready for when this happens: What a strange thing to say. Is there a reason I shouldn’t wear the shoes I own? Why does it bother you so much that I like to wear these? I do believe that the tides are turning on this mentality for a multitude of reasons - for better or worse, more culturally and economically driven than based on sustainable values - but it’s going to take time to shake such a deep-rooted mindset.
So far, the only critic I’ve had to shut down is myself. Even though I’m an avid item repeater, it’s been drilled into my head by our ultra-consumptive clothing culture that wearing identifiable items over and over again is apocalyptic levels of bad and constantly wearing a plethora of new things is very, very good. The days when I’m in a style rut, my Gannis will jumpstart this Seinfeld episode in my head (iykyk).
As Ganni’s creative director Ditte Reffstrup told Harper's Bazaar, “It’s a shoe that effortlessly complements different styles, from casual to formal, making it a great fit for many occasions. I think people are drawn to pieces that can seamlessly blend into their wardrobes, and our ballerina does just that.”
With that in mind, here are a mere sliver of the ways I’ve worn my Gannis in the past year. Not to convince you to buy a pair, but to normalize wearing your favorite shoes as much as you really want to. Extra points for making a statement shoe your signature - they might be more versatile than you think.
If the buckle ballerinas are on your resale wishlist, you can find them in black, olive, red, silver, and leopard print (all aff links) secondhand1.
Casual
I’ve worn these with every denim silhouette in my jeans rotation. Regarding my color palette and blazer choices, I’m nothing if not consistent.
Dressy
That time I wore my Ganni shoes and secondhand Ganni dress to a wedding.
This was just to get a latte; it’s important to scare the men at the startup coffee shop.
With more of my favorite skirts because this really is that shoe.
Warm Weather
Well, as warm as the weather gets in San Francisco. If I skip legwear it’s probably touching 70 degrees here.
Cold Weather
I discovered my Gannis + tights + minis were a match made in heaven for temps in the high 40s.
+ Socks
I’ve worn these shoes with every type of sock, my default for crossing SF’s microclimates without freezing my feet.
With Pastels
Giving my pink and lavender dresses definition via contrasting color and hardware.
Monochromatic Black
Head-to-toe black in my $11.98 lace skirt from ThredUp that I will never stop talking about. It’s the buckle ballerina of my mostly secondhand skirt collection.
Minimalist
I love a minimal outfit, even more so if it’s in shades of gray. This skirt is another gem from ThredUp, $13.99 and 100% silk.
Maximalist
My Gannis giving my old Zara plaid blazer and preloved Proenza Schouler tiger print skirt the exact right amount of edge.
Ending on an OTT note. Animal print, pops of red, and fringed jackets forever.
Although Ganni’s buckle ballerina has moved past its 2024 peak virality, it seems like this style might be in the midst of a secondhand resurgence. I’m noticing fewer pairs on the resale market this spring, aligning with customers turning to preloved Ganni in response to the brand’s price repositioning.
Ganni is still iterating on the buckle ballerina with fabric, color, and shoe charm updates, and most recently a kitten heel (aff link) that I’m contemplating as a firsthand purchase. I’m also going back and forth on a secondhand pair in red to brighten my outfits, but haven’t been able to justify adding these to cart. Which circles back to keeping my consumption low with a singular statement shoe.
When it comes down to it, I’m glad the buckle ballerina is well past the height of its trendiness. I just want something that fits my personal style and keeps me comfortable for my next 500 miles of walking in San Francisco.
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A word of caution for my fellow half sizers in a full size world: the slingback is tough to break in since it’s not adjustable. There’s a small elastic connector that has some give, but not that much. I sized down since I knew I’d be falling out of my shoes if I went with the next half size up. I wore thick athletic socks and cushioned bandages until the slingback relaxed enough to wear my Gannis au naturel. Also, beware of dupes tagged as Gannis on peer to peer resale platforms. Some sellers will use Ganni in the listing title to draw clicks, but are selling another brand in the photos and item description.
Also I’m now pondering on the ganni lace up ballerinas too and it’s also because I’ve seen how much of a sweet edge (does that make any sense to anybody else?)it adds to your outfits.
I will always think of you when I see these shoes!!! It’s the Tina Ballerina.