About Us


For over 25 years, French Sole, a tiny store in New York City's swank Upper East Side, has been home to the world's largest collection of ballet flats. From New York's social elite to movie star icons and even royalty, all have flocked to French Sole's unpretentious haven for the best ballet flats found anywhere. Via its iconic store and globally through its FS/NY brand, French Sole sells a wide array of ballet styles in over 300 treatments, ranging from animal prints to its own exclusive materials. Fusing true fashion with cozy comfort, French Sole puts the emphasis on proper fitting. The design of the shoes is what makes French Sole stand out from the plethora of companies that have sought to emulate their formula for success.

Only French Sole combines a true ballerina fit (each shoe molds to the wearer's foot) for the ultimate in comfort with cutting edge fashion and a selection that is unmatched – qualities that clients come to expect and appreciate from French Sole. Aside from the myriad variety of ballets and other shoes available, it's the people behind French Sole that have truly made it a success. French Sole is owned by Randy Ochart, who has passionately focused on designing, manufacturing and marketing the hottest ballet flats in the world from Spain, Italy, France and Brazil. When asked about the future of ballerinas as a category, Ochart explained, "In a phase when it seems that everybody feels the need to reinvent the ballerina, we stand alone as specialists. The extraordinary factories we have worked with for so many years understand the distinction between a ballerina and a flat shoe with a string attached. The fit, look, and hand of a ballerina is what French Sole is about, not just a hot trend."

French Sole Boutique 

A New York Shoppers' icon since the 1980s, our set of unique Upper East Side boutiques is listed in New York Magazine's "Best Stores in New York" and is editorialized in Elle, InStyle, Vogue, O, Glamour, Lucky, and many other magazines. Discover the world's most exciting collection of ballet flats and fashion comfort from top international designers - many exclusive to this location. The inspired collection features French Sole ballet flats available in over 300 treatments, ranging from animal prints to our own exclusive, exquisite materials. A paradise for ballet flat lovers, our stores offer so much more. Soft Italian calfskin ballets, Spanish kidskin patterns, and hand-beaded ballerinas are in abundance as well. Our specialized concept fuses true fashion with cozy comfort, with an emphasis on proper fitting. It will be easy to find your favorite styles with sizes ranging from size 4 to 12.

French Sole + Designer Brands 

French Sole + Designer brands is an elegant and expansive store that houses thousands of pairs of footwear from our own brand and top designer labels like Bruno Magli, Fabiani, Pas de Rouge, and Ron White, as well as a unique collection of men’s styles from Valentino, Wolf & Shepherd, Alden, and Rancourt, to name a few. Top comfort brands are also offered with an impressive array of styles from Waldaufer, Brunate, Wolky, Beautifeel, Xsensible, Ara, and Jacques Levine slippers. For bargain hunters, this shop also offers an abundant selection of samples and closeouts in the rear of the store at greatly reduced prices with weekly deals which has become an irresistible outlet for New Yorker’s savvy discount shoppers who often pack the store on Sundays when parking is plentiful.