Jane Winkworth

British shoe designer, Jane Winkworth is known by the fashion press as ‘Queen of Ballet Flats’ and is the founder of French Sole, home of the original, own-brand, designer Ballet Flats.

Charlotte-Anne Fidler, Creative and Fashion Director. Charlotte-Anne Fidler,
Creative and Fashion Director.

Recent posts…

Question and Answer : London Sole v French Sole February 08^th 2019

The New Year brought a flurry of emails from people wanting to know what is going on at French Sole?

Christmas 2018 - Update December 04^th 2018

After I sold French Sole back in late 2017, I planned to completely retire, do nothing at all - just laze around enjoying life, my grandchildren and planning renovations in my garden.

Happy New Year and a huge “thank you” to Hugh Hefner! January 15^th 2018

Christmas and the New Year are now safely over. The turkey carcass has been thrown away, the decorations are back in the attic, thank you letters have all been written and posted and finally the New Year's Resolutions written out and stuck onto the fridge door for a quick reminder, should I lapse and forget them.

Full Archives…

The French Sole Story

French Sole first began life in the 1960’s when shoe designer Jane Winkworth was a teenager and holidaying in the South of France. As a life-long devotee of everything “ballet” Jane adored wearing ballet flats. After stumbling upon a tiny store in St Tropez which sold a range of brightly coloured ballet flats, she bought several pairs. She decided there and then that one day she would design and sell her own range of ballet flats for everyday wear - and so the story begins.

Read more about The French Sole Story…