JJ....well I am just a mere mortal man and what do i know about fashion...BUT....I read that article quite the opposite to you.....Ballet pumps are IN fashion and selling like "hot cakes."
Most of the ballet type pumps I see on people are scruffy, and look awful. I don't like them at all. Feet spill out of them and people don't walk properly in them. I would rather see bare feet to be honest!
Quite so Jane - it's just that I see them a lot on ladies with rather large ankles, and dirty chubby feet which spill out over the scruffy pumps and they scuffle along.
I think the very fact you used the phrase "out of vogue" could mean that you are indeed turning into an old duffer Jayne and therefore no longer have any idea what's hot or not fashion wise ;-)
If it makes you feel better- I joined old dufferdom quite a while ago!