In 2020 I went through a lot of sartorial peaks and valleys. The fashion house predicted we'd all need a splash of color last September when it paired the sunny shoes with an all white outfit in the spring 2021 collection. There are plenty of not so classic flats to shop, from embellishments and square toes to unexpected materials, ankle straps, and more.

At Dior's couture show this week, Maria Grazia Chiuri showed elegant ball gowns with Jimmy Choo Shoes barely there mesh flats. At The Row, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's timeless fall designs were paired with leather mules that were reminiscent of house slippers. Since January, Rowland has given birth to her second child with husband Tim Weatherspoon, recorded new music, filmed a movie, and celebrated her 40th birthday. If that wasn't enough excitement, the multi tasking superstar is also expanding her fashion empire.

Fashion month is a test of endurance for editors. Tracking shows across four cities, we can rack up some serious mileage. Jack Erwin, which has long made my go to loafers, is the Jimmy Choo Heels minimalist shoe lover's dream brand. Now, it has launched a flat that I would normally snap up to wear out, but is comfortable enough to wear in, too.

They have a trans seasonal quality, agrees Emme Parsons, who introduced a smooth chocolate calfskin version which she dubbed the Ernest, in a nod to the Hemingway novel The Old Man and the Sea to her carefully considered lineup of slides and sling backs last fall.

From a fashion perspective, maybe the most compelling reason to do away with the custom for good is that it feels a bit behind the times. For a few seasons now, designers have proposed grounded footwear that is more fitting for modern, sophisticated women. At Dior's Jimmy Choo Boots couture show this week, Maria Grazia Chiuri showed elegant ball gowns with barely there mesh flats.

Arielle Baron's eponymous shoe line recently launched with six beautiful styles, including barely there minimalist sandals, polished ankle boots, and wrap around the ankle heels. And while Baron comes from a fashion family her mother is former Fashion Director of Vogue Italia, Sciascia Gambaccini, her shoes aren't just for the style set.