Margaux Demi Flats Review: Stylish, Comfortable Ballet Flats

Ballet flats are a staple for the typical office uniform, but our style editors’ favorite pair were actually created by women who took the non-traditional professional path.

After graduating from Harvard in 2014, Alexa Buckley and Sarah Pierson decided to turn down job offers in consulting and private equity and instead took the leap to create their own company: an online luxury shoe brand called Margaux. 

Why Margaux is a shoe brand you should know 

They launched Margaux officially in 2015 with the Demi ballet flat. Fast forward ten years later, and the brand has had huge demand for its heels, Mary Janes, and loafers. Margaux sells two versions of the its original design — the Classic Demi ($260) and Demi Jane ($315).

Starting with flats seemed like the obvious idea, since they have an aesthetically simple design. But according to the company, flats are “one of the most complex shoes to engineer.” If you’ve ever worn flats that gaped or used uncomfortable elastics in order to fit properly, then you understand the paradox. 

Margaux resolved this issue by offering comfortable women’s dress shoes in three different shoe widths (narrow, medium, wide) and half sizes. This system allows for a more custom fit, but we found that more size options leaves more room for error. Before deciding which Demi flats to order, keep in mind that they run slightly narrow, especially in the toe box. If you’re between sizes, opt for the half size since they’re usually true to length.

All of Margaux’s shoes are made in family-owned factories in Spain that also supply components and make shoes for luxury brands. Since the company has a direct-to-consumer model, you won’t have to pay quite as much as Margaux’s peers. Their prices range from $255 leather sandals to $525 knee-high boots.

The brand has come a long way in ten years, and we’ve come to love the stylish new designs Margaux comes out with. One of our former authors even wore its City Sandals as her bridal shoes on the big day. But to appreciate the scope fully, here’s how we felt about the shoes that first shot Margaux to fame: The Demi flat. 

What The Demi flats look and feel like, according to three testers:

“The Demi by Margaux is an archetypal ballet flat that made our list of the best flats. It has a rounded toe, functional bow that tightens for a custom fit, and soft leather that molds to your feet. It’s perfect in every way, save for the slight blister it gave me on my heel the first day I broke them in (and no days after that). There’s just enough cushioning for me to feel supported when commuting, but not so much that the shoe loses its unstructured, simple aesthetic. 

When I first opened the box at work, The Ballet Pink color (which is now retired) was slightly rosier than it looked on the website. I’ve noticed that it appears to be more of a nude color (at least, nude for my skin tone) in sunlight. There are 15 colors to choose from, like bright Leopard Suede or a woven version, and there are more options added and swapped out seasonally. A few pairs even come in glossy patent leather.

As far as sizing and fit both go, I’d recommend going true to size since Margaux offers half sizes. And, possibly the best feature is the ability to choose your width (narrow, medium, or wide). I got the medium width and it was fine for my relatively average-width feet, but I also tried a wide pair later on and realized that’s probably the size I’ll opt for in the future. With all the walking I do, my feet end up swelling a bit, and the wide pair is more comfortable for long days out. They didn’t make my feet look pancake-like, either — I still got that nice elongated silhouette you get from ballet flats.” —Sally Kaplan, executive editor

“Having worn the Demi Jane flats for some weeks now, I can confidently say they’re my new favorite ballet flats. I’m traditionally a loafer fan, opting for that flat style over many others on a daily basis. However, I find myself reaching for the Demi Jane flats even more. The soft Nappa leather molded to my feet instantly and never gave me blisters. They’re also just adorable; I love how they look with my more tailored looks and casual, everyday outfits. My only fit note is that the toe box is a little short, so if you have longer toes, they may not be for you.” —Maiya Pascouche, former beauty editor

“I got the Demi flats in the beautiful, goes-with-everything Saddle, which is the perfect color to show off the softness and glossiness of the leather uppers. I was surprised by how comfortable the flats were because the trim and heel look stiff, but the flexibility of the Italian Nappa leather and the padded insole made them really supportive and easily walkable. The tiny heel and bow give the flats an elegant and timeless look — I’m sure I’m going to be able to wear these shoes years from now as a result. 

I did have to wear them a few times in order to break them in fully, but that’s more a function of my feet shape than Margaux’s design. Even my all-time favorite flats, the Everlane Day Glove, required break-in time — so I wouldn’t worry too much about any initial comfort issues you may encounter with The Demi.” —Connie Chen, former senior reporter