Ever since Timothée Chalamet made his controversial remarks about ballet and opera last 24 February during a town hall conversation with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas at Austin for Variety and CNN, the Hollywood star has reaped reactions ranging from opera and ballet insiders and fans, and now, spiking even fashion trends.

It can be recalled that he said he didn’t want to work in “ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive,’ even though like no one cares about this anymore,” which he immediately added with, “All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there.”

As homage to ballet and opera, many brands — from luxury ones to athletic — came up with their new takes on ballet shoes — a pandemonium dubbed in social media hashtags as “balletcore.”

Before Spain emerged victorious at this year’s FIFA World Cup, Catalan singer Rosalía already made waves for fronting the campaign for New Balance’s 204L sneaker. The campaign image nods to “balletcore” with Rosalía pairing a flowing white skirt to go with the sporty-femme shoe with ballet shoes-like ribbon laces.

“What drew me to the 204L is its balance of legacy and progression. It’s polished but disruptive,” Rosalía says in a statement.

Inspired by contemporary culture, London-based fashion brand COS recently unveiled its latest ballet-inspired shoes in a palette of seasonal tones, balancing refined design and everyday functionality. Crafted from soft satin, each style is designed with a focus on ease and understated sophistication. Khaki and powder-pink sneakers are defined by a streamlined silhouette and flexible split sole, while ballet flats, offered in an additional chocolate tone, feature a square-framed toe and a supple leather lining. Both styles are available online and in selected stores worldwide.

Fronted by K-pop star Rosé of BLACKPINK, the Puma Speedcat Etoile embraces a graceful, ballet-inspired character. The sneaker pairs the distinct low-profile shape of the original Speedcat with soft suede overlays, satin-inspired finishes and ribbon laces that tie into elegant bows.

Another K-pop idol, Song Yuqi from i-dle, was spotted wearing Tory Burch’s new Reva Punk, ballerina shoes with a punk twist from the brand’s summer 2026 collection.

Releases such as these are proof that ballet, despite the naysayer that is Chalamet, is here to stay.