No Sandals in Sight: In NYC, This is the Stylish Footwear People Are Pairing with Dresses and Skirts
I completely support individuals choosing to wear what they find comfortable, but I must admit that seeing very open sandals (like flip-flops, if I'm being honest!) on city streets makes me a bit uneasy. It's exceedingly uncommon for me to wear sandals when I'm in NYC, particularly after hearing about a friend's experience with a rat darting over her foot while she was waiting for the subway. However, I'm not trying to dissuade you from wearing sandals in the city; rather, I'm here to highlight an alternative that is shaping up to be a major flat-shoe trend for 2026, which looks just as stylish and suitable with a dress or skirt as sandals do, and Katie Holmes just demonstrated it. That trend is glove flats.
As a fashionable NYC resident who does a lot of walking, Holmes consistently showcases outfits that are both practical and elegant enough for urban life. Her outfit for a recent outing exemplified this perfectly. She wore a silky lace-trimmed Dôen dress in a stunning shade of blue, and instead of simply slipping on sandals, she layered a red button-down shirt and chose the previously mentioned glove flats. These soft leather ballet flats have a minimalistic style that complements whatever they're paired with, and they're comfortable enough for walking several blocks (yes, even avenues). Moreover, they contribute a more fashionable vibe to an outfit than a basic pair of sandals might.
If you don't yet have a pair of glove flats to pair with skirts, dresses, or almost anything else, keep scrolling to select your pair and check out Holmes' effortlessly chic spring dress ensemble.
Katie Holmes Wearing a Dress + Glove Flats
(Image credit: T.JACKSON/Backgrid) On Katie Holmes: Dôen Marcelle Dress ($600) Get the Look
ZARA Oversized Poplin Shirt
DÔEN Marcelle Lace-Trimmed Silk-Satin Midi Dress
Proenza Schouler Glove Lambskin Leather Ballerina Flats
Shop More Glove Flats
Jeffrey Campbell Fathom Flats
THE ROW Stella Leather Slippers
COS Minimal Patent Leather Ballet Flats
Madewell The Mylie Ballet Flats
Alaïa Leather Ballet Flats
Aeyde Betty Nappa Leather Hazelnut Flats
Margaux The Pascale Flats
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