In recent seasons, the humble Mary Jane style has rebounded to style prominence, and the variety of styles and ways to wear them has firmly convinced me that these might be the most versatile shoe around. Dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, this shoe has a long history and it's easy to see why the buckled style has made a comeback for 2024. As we know, fashion is cyclical, and right now, this silhouette has been rediscovered and returned to the daily lexicon and daily wardrobes of most fashion people around. The appeal of Mary Janes come from the preppy style and French influence that is evidently having a moment right now. (Just look to ballet flats returning.) But Mary Janes have diversified their form—from sky-high stacked heels to minimalist flats, ensuring they fit easily into a variety of wardrobes.
This combination of bold red and blue denim is so good.
The brilliance of Mary Janes can be extended further than the variety of heel heights to suit all wearers. Designers and creators have taken the identifying feature of the shoe, the buckle details, and played on this with numerous straps, embellished detailing and varied colourways. The styling of this shoe makes it even more endearing if that's possible. Despite being an elegant shoe, it lends its-self as much to eveningwear as daily jaunts, with styling ranging from shorts to jeans to midi dresses and mini skirts.
In celebration of the return of this shoe, I've highlighted the best Mary Janes at varied heel heights, and added some examples of ways to wear them this season.
HOW TO STYLE MARY JANES
Looking for flat shoes for evening? Enter Mary Janes.
The multi-strap detail adds to the feminine feel of this pair.
This bold platform pair comes courtesy of Nodaleto.
Flat Mary Janes are the chic shoe you can wear all day long.
Even trending maxi skirts suit a pair of Mary Janes.
This entire look feels incredibly contemporary.
Clearly socks and Mary Janes are a winning combo.
Anouk shows how fitted tailoring and Mary Janes go hand in hand.
A spring-ready look I'm excited to recreate.
The square toe adds a fresh feel to this classic shoe.
SHOP THE BEST MARY-JANES:
COS always has a great selection of footwear.
The chocolate brown of these are out of stock, but I love the black just as much.
Cream looks good with every other colour.
Yes, you read that price right!
A great option for party season if you don't like wearing heels, like me.
A heeled version feels so chic.
Studded Mary Janes? Why not!
I'm seeing these with dark-wash denim and a cashmere knit.
Super soft and super elegant.
Navy blue always looks elegant.
Where better to buy your Mary Janes from than Sezane?
Burgundy is a huge colour trend for autumn 2024.
I love the pointed toe on these.
The perfect shade of blue.
Wear with tights, a mini skirt and a blazer.
Timeless.
For something a little more unique, try these.
So fun!
Mesh Mary Janes help you tick off two footwear trends in one.
Don't sleep on Vagabond for high-quality, stylish shoes.
Such a cute pearl detail.
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