Mary Janes Are Back, But Did They Ever Go Out of Style?
The creation of Mary Janes aimed to fulfill the simple necessity for a formal children's shoe but surpassed expectations by becoming a permanent installment of popular culture. For example, after Alice fell down the rabbit hole, she stepped into the psychedelic world of Wonderland in a crisp pair of black Mary Janes. Accompanied by a baby blue dress, her look was infused with a type of innocence that informed the archetype of children's fashion in the early 1950s.
The unexpected power of this unisex shoe transcended U.S. borders and flooded into adult fashion on an international scale. Designers like Mary Quant and Gabrielle Chanel recognized that within the Mary Jane's simplicity there was the potential for experimentation and abstraction. Since then, the shoes have been aligned with a number of style aesthetics and subcultures, ranging from goth to cottagecore.
The House of Chanel has always been a proponent of Mary Janes. A pair can be identified in every collection, and regardless if they are flat or heeled, the Chanel Mary Jane is arguably one of the most iconic shoes in fashion. Earlier this year, Chanel debuted its Spring/Summer 2021 Haute Couture collection and almost every model graced the Grand Palais in a pair of heeled Mary Janes in the classic Chanel black and white colorway. In this stellar collection, Virginie Viard effortlessly proved that Mary Janes can ooze high fashion despite hailing from modest beginnings.
Mary Janes are similarly the go-to shoe for fashion girls, or should we say fashion women, like Alexa Chung. The model turned television host, turned fashion designer has the most enviable collection of Mary Janes one can only hope to raid. Her elegantly European style is perfectly encapsulated in her shoe choice, as she never fails to go out in public without putting her best foot forward.
Her namesake brand, Alexachung, has perfected yet another iteration of the Mary Jane with a velvet body and pointed toe. This is just one of many Chung-inspired renditions of Mary Janes, but it's our favorite thus far. In true Chung fashion, the shoe is best accompanied by a funky pair of tights or a statement sock.
Chung, however, is not the only champion of the Mary Jane trend. Celebrities and fashion girls alike are channeling their inner child and getting their hands on this season's most-loved styles. The Italian brand, Nodaleto, has gained major popularity this year for its block-heel Mary Janes that look like they would have been rocked by the likes of Twiggy in the '60s. Similarly, celebrity-favorite Carel Paris meets every Mary Jane need by supplying numerous bright colorways and chic styles. In the luxury fashion realm, Gucci has created a platform baby pink Mary Jane that screams pigtails and adolescence. These are just a few highlights from this year's take on the never-ending Mary Jane movement. To celebrate the shoe that will never go out of style, here are some of L'OFFICIEL's favorite Mary Jane-clad looks.
