Chances are if you have any sort of shoe collection it contains at least one pair of Mary Jane shoes. Whether they are for special occasions, for walking, or shoes you wear on a regular basis, Mary Janes are an important staple in most women’s closets. This style has achieved pop icon status and, interestingly, also retained its roots. You can still buy black patent leather Mary Janes for little girls to wear. In fact, these are almost a required shoe for when little girls dress up for a special occasion.
“Mary Jane” was originally the name of a character in the comic strip “Buster Brown”, which was published in the early 1900s. The writer of the comic strip was Richard Outcault, and he sold a license to use the characters’ names to the Brown Shoe Company, which immediately began capitalizing on the name through shoes they marketed as “Buster Browns” and “Mary Janes.” The characterizing feature of Mary Jane shoes for women is the strap that stretches across the top of the foot.
The first Mary Janes were girls shoes that featured a rounded toe and flat heels, and were made of patent leather. Later the style was adopted for women. Today, you can find Mary Jane pumps, wedges, clogs, and heels – with just about any heel height from flat to 5 or 6 or even 7 inches, and they come in a huge array of colors. Mary Janes are no longer limited to being made of black patent leather anymore, either. Some styles have multiple straps across the top of the foot, but the style is still recognizable. They often have chunky heels and are sometimes called platform mary janes.
Currently, a popular style is the Mary Jane sneaker, usually constructed of canvas with a rubber sole. They are light shoes, often worn during the summer. The advantage of the Mary Jane sneaker is that they can be worn with shorts, jeans, capri pants or casual skirts. In short, they are are a versatile accessory. Many brands make a Mary Jane inspired sneaker-type shoe for walking. Sportier types might appreciate styles designed for hiking or river sports, such as Keen mary janes. They are made of more durable materials than canvas. You can even find Mary Jane inspired boots.
The style spans the spectrum from extremely casual to dressy to fantasy-wear. Within various style sects such as “goth” or “vintage”, Mary Janes have a special place. Ruby red Mary Janes have a particular connotation, as do black Mary Janes with large, metal buckles and grommets. The style is especially important for women who are going for the “little schoolgirl” look. Giving a high heel to a shoe that was designed for and worn by little girls has a particular significance for those interested in costuming or club wear.