I’m the fashion editor of CNT and my favourite holiday shoe brands have just dropped the collaboration of the summer

The oiled Boston Clog from cult summer sandal brand Birkenstock has been a staple all-weather shoe of mine for the last five years. The incomparable ease of simply slipping it on (barefoot or clad in a cashmere sock), paired with the effortlessly cool design and the sheer durability of the shoe come rain or shine are just some of the reasons why its popularity doesn’t wane. Another is that the German shoe makers consistently come out with exciting new collaborations to keep us buyers going back for more. Recently, these have included silk pairs with seed pearl details from bridal designer Danielle Frankel that are aisle ready, or functional outdoor pursuit appropriate slides with utility favourite Maharishi, complete with carabiner to attach them to your backpack.

Harriet Elton wears the Birkenstock x Repetto Scalas

Dress by Pink City Prints

Their newest collaboration is with French heritage ballet shoe maison Repetto, famous for hand making dance shoes for Parisian ballet schools and transforming them to fashion forward shapes worn by models (Kaia Gerber), creative tastemakers (Serge Gainsbourg) and celebrities (Olivia Rodrigo) around the world. They also know a thing or two about a collab and have worked with major fashion labels like Issey Miyake and Jacquemus. The simple ballet shoe silhouette we know and love – seen on this season’s catwalks at Chanel and Simone Rocha and selling fast on the high street at M&S, is a quintessential Repetto shape known as the ‘essential Cinderella’ or Cendrillon in French. Famed for its flat sole and delicate bow over the toes it was created at the bequest of Bridgitte Bardot and now comes in 26 colours. I wear my navy pair almost everyday with jeans, dresses and even denim cut offs.

The fashion meeting of these iconic brands is the dream team of collaborations – both are anchored in artistry, rooted in their craft and heritage and designed for all generations. At their core is an unsexiness, aka foot health, but this combined value of improved well-being means that the shoes are ultra-comfy. The result is a mash up of their most iconic styles with the purposeful design of a Birkenstock sandal and the elegance of a ballet flat. Three styles, in two colourways each from the Repetto archive are all lined in a Vichy-check, also known as gingham, which is a signature motif from Repetto and oozes summer European chic.

The Scala is a new style but is very evocative of the Boston with its round covered toe and backless clog style heel. Repetto have added two narrow top straps with tiny silver buckles and a delicately laced bow synonymous with their Cinderella flats. This style comes in a baby ballet pink and a daring patent black. I have been lucky enough to prance around in a pink pair, receiving praise from colleagues and family alike for their refined design – where the clunky has become dainty. They look fun paired with a vibrant summer dress like this one from Pink City Prints for the office or market days in the south of France.