Daintier than a Derby but more structured than a ballet flat, the jazz shoe has been around for the better part of a century. Originally invented for dancers, with a split sole to allow for greater movement, its supple, glove-like form helped it transcend the studio in the 1960s and ’70s. Serge Gainsbourg, who famously had “delicate” ankles and disliked most shoes, was an avid wearer of the white Zizi versions by French shoe company Repetto, having been introduced to them through his wife Jane Birkin. He reportedly went through 30 pairs a year until his death in 1991.
Sportmax SS26
Celine resort 2026
What makes the Zizi extraordinary is that it has never needed reinvention
Charlotte Gaucher-Holmann, CEO of Repetto
