Hail Mary: The Enigma Shoe of the Season
Not quite a loafer, not quite a sandal, the Mary Jane is an enigma of a shoe that is enjoying a big moment.
Yes, you probably remember Mary Janes from your early years as it's the perfect back-to-school shoe, but that doesn't mean they should be left there.
The T-shaped-fastener shoe has just become the hottest product in the latter half of 2023 according to the LYST Index, and is showing no signs of slowing down in 2024 either. The hard-to-get Maison Margiela Mary Jane Tabi was crowned as the product of the moment by the report, fighting off competition from Miu Miu's cardigan and COS's quilted bag (which sit in second and third place) – all of which are still highly coveted, fast forward half a year.
Following its viral moment on social media (where a Tinder date stole a pair of the split-toed shoes), Tabi searches spiked by 342% in September — according to LYST.
But it's not just Margiela that's been backing the corner of Mary Janes, you also have the likes of Sandy Liang and her SS23 collection, Taylor Swift's surprisingly strong recent outfits, and Cecilie Bahnsen who turned ASICS's GT-2160 into a Mary Jane-shaped sneaker.
As more famous faces continue to add Mary Janes to their footwear rotation and they continue popping up in stores everywhere, the Mary Jane revival is here. Fittingly, we've rounded up our favorite pairs to spare you the guesswork.
Scroll to Shop Mary Jane shoes for men.
Dr. Martens
Complete with its classic yellow stitching, these bulky Mary Janes are Dr. Martens' take on the classic footwear model.
If you're looking for a more left-of-center Mary Jane, maybe this cognac-colored woven variant appeals to you more? A Mediterranean take, almost.
Vans OG 93
The Mary Jane boom doesn't just include leather dress shoes, Vans has made the style skate-able. Decked in the skate brand's signature checkers, this sneaker is a trippy, graphic
Simone Rocha Platform Brogues
This spin on the Mary Jane goes against its mother model's conservatism, and amps up the camp through its chunky sole, bow laces, and wingtip-like leather detailing.
Salomon Marie-Jeanne Loafers
A cross-bread of the titular – albeit French-ified – Mary Janes, and a walking shoe, Salomon's contribution to this list is representative both of their outdoorsy expertise and their zeitgeisty sense of humor in design.
Virón
Made of Apple leather, these pin-buckled Mary Janes are as stylish as they are sustainable, with subtle green stitching for a little extra glitz.
Bottega Veneta Trek Mary Janes
Bottega Veneta enhances the preppy blueprint with a canvas-y upper material, and encases it in an irresistibly gorpy sole.
ASICS
Cecilie Bahnsen and ASICS might have just created the best Mary Jane sneaker hybrid of the year — and yes, there are a few to pick from.
Nike
Similar to the Tabi above, Nike's Air Rift has a split toe along with the classic Mary Jane strap. Unlike the Tabis, Nike's sportswear expertise provides this pair with performance-oriented detailing.
Ecco.Kollektive x Kiko Kostadinov Mary Janes
For another gorpcore-inspired interpretation of the otherwise more balletcore-coded silhouette, these Mary Janes are a fusion of a feminine, slender shape and more futuristic design details.
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