Where do mary janes get their name? As the story goes, the original Mary Jane was a young female character created by the American cartoonist Richard Felton Outcault in 1902 for his Buster Brown comic strip. She was based on Outcault’s daughter of the same name and wore little black shoes with a strap across the instep. When Outcault later licensed his characters to the Brown Shoe Company, the name stuck, and the shoe has been seen as a sort of sweet, childish style ever since.
Because they’ve been around for so long, mary janes are perennially in fashion but have a moment in the sun every so often. Now is one of those times. Labels from Miu Miu to Reformation have dropped their takes, and aficionados of the weird-girl and ballet-core aesthetics are finding inroads into the style as well — which now comes in so many varieties that even Mary Jane herself would be impressed.
The Classic
Endless versatility wrapped in velvet (or Italian leather if you opt for the black pair).
The French Girl Go-to
The T-strap
The Sport Mode
The Square-Toe
The Satin Theater Shoe
A great WFH shoe that’s a little fancier than a slipper.
The Elevated House Slipper
The Concert Shoe
With a double strap, this sturdy pair could survive a mosh pit.
The ‘Life’s a Party’ Party Shoe
The Creeper
The Flatform
The creeper–ballet-flat crossover you didn’t know you needed.
The ’90s Throwback
The Sneaker Crossover
If you couldn’t get the Nike Air Rift Breathe shoes before they sold out, this is another solid option.
The Double-Strap Heel
The Picnic Shoe
The Minimalist Dream
The Golden Ones
The Wide Fit
Almond toes aren’t the easiest on the feet, but this option comes with a wider set and a functional buckle for comfort.
The No-Break-In-Necessary
The Pumps
The Triple-Strap
The Suede Shoe
Buttery-soft suede, a padded footbed, and a comfortable one-inch heel — a win-win-win scenario.
The Steal
The Lace-Up
The Fishnet
The It Shoe
The Subtle Luxury Ones
This Spanish brand is known for its quality leather shoes, and these mary janes aren’t the exception.
The Splurge
The Warm-Weather Staple
Already planning your winter escape? Here’s the finishing touch to your full-linen Nancy Meyers rom-com look.
