It takes a lot to convince me to step out of my comfort zone – the comfort zone is my trusty white sneakers and my trusty black combat boots. But after seeing so many A-listers, namely Amal Clooney and Gigi Hadid, in different versions of Mary Janes, I was like, “hmmI’m curious about this style of shoe.” And let me just tell you: Clooney and Hadid are up to something.
Clooney recently wore her high-heeled Mary Janes with a mod-style micro mini dress when she was in New York City, and honestly, that was the sighting that piqued my interest — and convinced me — the most Press “Add to Cart”. on a similar pair. The human rights attorney opted for a slightly more elevated version of the single strap shoe, styling it with a pair of sheer tights that really made the patent leather material stand out. A few days later, I spotted Hadid in a similar tights-and-Mary-Jane look, but instead of a pair of heels, the supermodel wore a ballet silhouette, which got my heart pumping too.
There’s clearly something about Mary Janes that’s starting a revolution – maybe it’s because the silhouette strikes a balance between cute and sexy, or maybe it’s because the shoe is so nostalgic – it might remind you of the petite styles that you wore to dance concerts as a kid (probably with socks wearing TBH exactly like people wear them now). Their design is one of the reasons people are so drawn to them – or at least why I was – but when I slipped on these Steve Madden pair I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable they were as well.
north current
Shopping now: $100; nordstrom.com
north current
Shopping now: $100; nordstrom.com
I’m usually wary of putting on a new pair of shoes on days when I know I’ll be on my feet for hours—or whenever I have to walk miles—but something inside said, Do it for the sake of history. Test these Mary Janes to the limit, and if your feet end up hurting, it’s only temporary. Hey, encouraging conversations help! But honestly I didn’t even have to mentally prepare for anything because they were comfortable from the minute I put them on. Sure, a little tightness is normal when you first try them on, but after a few minutes my Steve Madden pumps felt like they had the ideal fit.
The Mary Jane market is huge, as there’s a heel, flat, platform, and pretty much everything in between in signature style, but the key detail is always the same: the front strap, which not only adds a dainty detail, but a practical. It keeps the shoes securely on your feet and honestly I think that’s a big part of the reason I didn’t want to take them off at lunchtime. My foot was securely (literally) in place, preventing annoying heel rubbing.
Cute, comfortable and extremely versatile? Oh yeah. I’ve worn my Mary Janes with everything from dresses a la Clooney and Hadid to tailored jeans; No matter how I style them or what I combine them with, the compliments flood me. Also, I highly recommend wearing them with cotton sheer socks or frilly socks as it only adds to the comfort (and appeal) of the shoe.
Shop more of my favorite Mary Janes below and you’ll see that Mary (Jane) really has something.
north current
Shopping now: $130; nordstrom.com
north current
Shopping now: $80; nordstrom.com
north current
Shopping now: $120; nordstrom.com
north current
Shopping now: $175; nordstrom.com
north current
Shopping now: $168; nordstrom.com
north current
Shopping now: $160; nordstrom.com