The Mary-Jane is the must-have shoe of the moment, teetering at the vertiginous top of every fashion editor’s wish list up and down the land. Once a timeless classic, these iconic shoes are making a serious comeback, gracing runways and streets alike with their chic and versatile charm. They can be pretty, they can be utilitarian, they can be classic party shoes, and they can be flat or towering platforms – and everything in between. Wear them with mini-skirts, rustic workwear trousers or flowing frocks alike – here we round up our favourites, plus what we’d wear with them.

Toast

Solovair Mary-Jane Shoes, £195 Solovair Mary Jane Shoes

Hardy, unadorned and perfectly plain, we love a pair of Mary-Janes that are both sturdy and chic.

Wear Them With



Plumo

Quilted Velvet Coat, £480 Quilted Velvet Coat


Sideline

Moth Hat – Black Wool, £65 MOTH HAT - BLACK WOOL

Toast

Pleated Organic Soft Cord Trousers, £145 Pleated Organic Soft Cord Trousers



Penelope Chilvers

Low Mary Jane Velvet Shoe – Red, £199 Coming Soon - Low Mary Jane Velvet Shoe - Red  Copy

The low heel! The red velvet! The square buckle! If ever there was a shoe made for the festive season, this is it. Christmas Day shoes sorted.

Wear Them With



H&M

Bow-Decorated Hair Clip, £6.99 Bow-decorated Hair Clip


Toast

Freya Crinkle Cotton Dress, £150 Freya Crinkle Cotton Dress


John Lewis

Satin Pleat Wrist Pouch Bag, Black, £25 Satin Pleat Wrist Pouch Bag, Black  Copy



Repetto

Tara Mary Janes, £375 TARA MARY JANES

How could anybody not want to dance in these shoes? We love the solid heel, which is counterbalanced by the sweet little buckle for a quintessential 1960s look. Being made by Repetto, they are super flexible too.

Wear Them With



Lulu Guinness

Shagreen Satin Small Cleo Handbag, NOW £137 SHAGREEN SATIN SMALL CLEO HANDBAG


Anthropologie

The Tatiana Kaftan by Bl-nk: Velvet Edition, £130 The Tatiana Kaftan By Bl-nk- Velvet Edition


Wolf & Badger

Gaia Silver Hoop Earrings, £125 Gaia Silver Hoop Earrings




Jonak Paris

Platform Mary Janes With Ankle Strap, £180 PLATFORM MARY JANES WITH ANKLE STRAP

These platform Mary-Janes have a good solid block heel and yet are endlessly pretty. We love the aged brown leather, which gives them a timeless look and ensures we’ll wear them season after season – long after the current trend has passed.

Wear Them With



Cos

Open-Back Bolero Jacket, £110 OPEN-BACK WOOL BOLERO JACKET


Anthropologie

Selected Femme Ibi Leather A-Line Mini Skirt, £120 Selected Femme Ibi Leather A-Line Mini Skirt


Cambridge Satchel Company

The 14 Inch Batchel Backpack, £230 The 14 Inch Batchel Backpack


By Nancy Alsop
October 2023