I’ve been in love with Chanel’s classic cap-toe ballerina flats for YEARS. And while I definitely love to add classic and high-quality investment pieces to my wardrobe, I’m just not at the point where I can spend $850 on a pair of ballet flats. Let’s be real – I’m not sure if I’ll ever be at the point where I’m spending $850 on a pair of shoes!

But I haven’t been able to get the look of the classic tan and black cap-toe flat out of my head. I’m obsessed with all the ways I could style them. And yet, I’ve never been able to find a less expensive alternative that I was really happy with. If I had it my way, Margaux would just make a cap-toe version of their Demi flat. 

But alas, I have to look for alternatives to Chanel’s cap-toe ballerina’s elsewhere, and I couldn’t really find anything I loved enough to actually press the buy button – until now! I think I may have finally found two finalists that could be my dream pair of cap-toe Chanel flat dupes. 

Along the way, I found a LOT of strong contenders. I’m sure some of you are looking at that collage and thinking I’ve just posted eight pairs of the same exact shoe. But I will agonize over every tiny detail and obsessively compare every single option I can find before making a decision to add something to my wardrobe. If you’re into that kind of thing, here’s a roundup of the best Chanel cap-toe dupes I found, along with my thoughts. Let’s take a look!

8 Chanel cap toe ballet flat dupes

French Sole Passport – I love the classic cream-and-black combination, but I wasn’t sure if the quilted leather was the way I wanted to go.

French Sole Index – Ah, here we are – a classic, smooth-leather version of the beige leather with black cap toe combo I was looking for. We have a finalist!

Vaneli Serene Flat – Another strong candidate in the quilted leather category, but I’m unsure of how I feel about the black stripe on the heel, and I think I’d like a little bit more of an almond-shaped toe.

Jack Rogers Serena Slingback Cap Toe – OK, this one deviates pretty heavily from the Chanel version, but it’s GORGEOUS. I just can’t see myself wearing a ton of pointed toes in my everyday life, and the slingback is probably not my strongest choice as we move into Chicago fall and winter. Next!

Aerosoles Celia Flat – Ooh! This one has exactly the look I’m going for, but I have concerns about the consistently bad ratings on comfort. My life is at least 90% normal everyday things like errands, grocery shopping, taking kids to lessons, and volunteering in classrooms. I need something I can actually walk in!

Moommo Cap Toe Flats – Very adorable and have the right look. The toe isn’t almond, but I’m digging the subtle square toe.

Rothy’s The Flat – Oh boy, these are almost perfect. The color! They’re comfortable! The toe! But I don’t love the pointed v-shaped vamp. Hmmmm…

Rothy’s The Square – OK, these are really good! I love the toe, the color, and I think I could do some serious walking in these. But they’re not leather, and they do have a stripe detail on the back of the heel. Overall, though, that gives them a less-casual vibe mixed with classic polish, and I think that works well here?

My cap toe ballet flat picks

After checking out all these options, I finally settled on trying out Rothy’s The Square and French Sole’s Index leather. They both have the look I’m hoping for – camel or beige and black, almond or square-shaped toe, and (supposedly) comfortable enough to log several miles in one day without ruining my feet. But while the Rothy’s flat has a more casual vibe, the French Sole version has more of a classic, polished feel. I’m curious to try them on with my wardrobe and see which one feels best – I’ll report back soon!