Great — here are reliable picks for the best ballet flats right now, organized by need plus short buying/fit & care tips.

Top picks

• Best overall (style + comfort): Everlane — The Day Ballet Flat. Soft leather that “molds” to the foot and is widely recommended by style editors for daily wear. (townandcountrymag.com)
• Best for support / foot problems: Vionic (examples: Caroll/Orinda skimmers). Podiatrist-designed, built-in arch support and removable footbeds — a strong choice if you need real support. (forbes.com)
• Best sustainable / washable: Rothy’s (Square/Point styles). Recycled materials, lightweight and machine-washable, with lots of fan reviews for durability. (forbes.com)
• Best for wide feet / multiple widths: Margaux (Demi Flat) — offered in multiple widths and praised by testers for comfort on long days. (businessinsider.com)
• Best budget / Amazon-friendly options: Feversole (memory-foam ballet flats) or Vivaia (washable knit flats). Good value and many color options if you want an inexpensive pair to wear often. (businessinsider.com)
• Best travel / packable: Sam Edelman (Michaela) or Madewell Greta — well-reviewed for comfort and packing, with casual-to-dressy versatility. (glamour.com)
• Splurge / designer: Mansur Gavriel, Repetto, Miu Miu — iconic shapes and luxury materials if you want a statement or special-occasion flat. (whowhatwear.com)

Quick buying & fit tips

• Size: some glove-like flats (Everlane, Rothy’s) can run true-to-size or slightly large; many testers recommend trying your usual size first and consider a half-size up if you have wider feet. If a brand offers widths (e.g., Margaux), choose that for long-wear comfort. (businessinsider.com)
• Support: if you walk a lot, favor flats with a cushioned insole, removable footbed, or look at podiatrist-designed brands (Vionic, Frankie4). You can add a thin orthotic insole (Superfeet/Dr. Scholl’s) for extra arch support. (forbes.com)
• Break-in & materials: leather molds to your foot but may need short break-in; knit and recycled materials often need no break-in and can be machine washable (check brand instructions). (cosmopolitan.com)
• Traction & sole: ballet flats can have slick soles — choose textured/rubber outsoles for commuting or wet weather, or add a thin non-slip sole protector.

Care notes

• Machine-washable flats: Rothy’s and some knit brands (Vivaia, others) are designed to be washable — always follow the brand’s specific care instructions (wash bag, air-dry). (forbes.com)
• Leather care: use a soft brush/cloth, leather cleaner/conditioner, and avoid soaking.

Where to buy

• Brand sites (Everlane, Rothy’s, Vionic, Margaux), department stores (Nordstrom), and vetted retailers (Amazon for budget options) are good places to compare fits, colors, and return policies. Most editors recommend buying from retailers with easy returns so you can try a size or two. (businessinsider.com)

If you want, I can narrow this to the “best pair for X” (commuting, dressy, bunions, plantar fasciitis, wide feet, budget under $80, etc.) and list 2–3 exact models in your size range and price limit.