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…

My Summer Shoes July 29^th 2019

Another question that seems to come up over and over again is “Are you still wearing French Sole shoes?”

More Questions and Answers, An update May 06^th 2019

A regular question I often get when bumping into my old customers from the early Munster Road or Ellis Street days is - “What ever happened to…” followed by the name of one or more of my amazing girls who were all such an important and integral part of the French Sole story back in the heady days of the Charity Sales and Princess Diana.

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?

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…