Gradually I have become aware that the only shoes I wear are mary janes. I buy lots of different styles of shoe, and then they sit brand-new and shiny in the shoe shelf as the mary janes get worn into dust and scrap. Case in point, my current mary janes:
Clearly it is time for some new shoes. It’s hard to be looking at fall shoes when we are heading into sandal season, but I’ll be glad of it later. I already ordered these:
Dr. Martens Melinda Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). I have a pair of similar Docs already, and I love them, but being 5′11″ is not something for every day. Plus, there are days I want big heavy shoes on my feet, and there are other days I’d rather not CLOMP so much. So I’m questing for my next pair of SOFTER, SMALLER, QUIETER mary janes.
Bass Campus Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). These seem like they’d reduce the clomping but increase the tapping/clicking. I wonder if they’d be comfortable? They’re down to $30 and that tempts me, because have you noticed shoes are VERY EXPENSIVE?
Hush Puppies Sepal Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). These look comfortable. I like the little flower. But they don’t make me feel like taking out my credit card.
Keen Sienna Mary Jane (photo from 6pm.com). CUTE MUCH?? These are a frontrunner right now, and they’re marked down to $45.
Naturalizer Referee Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). Excellent reviews on these, and they come in a more practical brown, too, if I’m not sure about the blue.
Dr. Martens Floral Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). Clearly these would only be an additional pair of clomping mary janes, and not at all in line with the mission here. BUT STILL!
Merrell Paris Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). I don’t know anything about the brand, but this is a cute shoe.
Ariat Madison Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). These feel a little too sensible. They also come in a lilac color that would be so cute for spring. I’m shopping for fall/winter, though.
T.U.K. Cat Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). Again I am distracted by cute and clompy.
Keen Charleston Mary Jane (photo from Amazon.com). These might be The Ones. They look comfy and non-clompy, and I love the color.
Terrasoles Olympus Mary Jane (photo from 6pm.com). Oh, love! And marked down to $26! But not available in my size. I wear a size 10, and that’s frequently a problem.
Aerosoles Free Love Mary Jane (photo from 6pm.com). Marked down to $35, and I love the little yellow accents. Pretty sure I’m getting these and one of the pairs of Keens.
Don’t know how you feel about Crocs (I love them) but they have a Mary Jane shoe:
http://www.crocs.com/crocs-mary-jane/10029,default,pd.html?cid=619
Fran | April 14th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I am a recent mary jane convert, and I have these Sketchers. I lurve them. In fact, I’m wearing them today! Super comfortable, and not clompy or clicky clacky.
Jaime | April 14th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Merrells are very comfortable–you’ll love them! My mom has a very similar pair of Keen Mary Janes and they are so cute, as well as very comfortable, according to her. I vote for one of those two!
JCF | April 14th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
I have those maryjanes (thanks to you) from a few years ago. I think I got three pair when they were on super Amazon sale and I still love them even if they’re not so pretty anymore.
I’m a huge fan of Dansko maryjanes.
Shelly | April 14th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Check out some of these:
http://pearlriver.com/v2/FramesCat.asp?iGroup=263
They’re cute, and cheap enough that you could a pair in several colors.
Brenna | April 14th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I have the Merrell Mary Janes that you posted in black (which is actually more of a gray and blue) and LOVE them. They go with everything, which I didn’t expect when I bought them. And they’re super comfortable - I wear them for walks, work, anything.
Ruthie | April 14th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
What, no Clarks? The most comfortable shoes ever. Those and Merrills are all I really wear. So comfy!!! And I know they have Clarks in size 10, because that’s my mom’s size, and it’s all she wears, too!
Shari | April 14th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
WANT. Particularly the second ones, the Bass Campus Mary Jane. But gah, almost $70 for my size/color?! Eesh.
Stephanie M | April 14th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Have you tried ecco shoes? I own a pair of their sneakeresque maryjanes and they are the comfiest shoes I have owned in a long time. True, they look goofy with dress pants (not that it stops me) but I can wear them all day without thinking about them. They are farily open to the back and they come in different colour combos.
Bunnyslippers | April 14th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
OK - this is going to be no help at all because they are all cute. Get one of each, except maybe the cat one. It’s SO cute, but it would make me feel a little bit like a little kid.
What do you mean money doesn’t grow on trees?! Hmph
Devan | April 14th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Shari- I found some SUPER CUTE Clarks but they weren’t in my size. I think I have to stop being so particular about things being on clearance! I found these Privos and I’m considering them: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FORM92/ref=nosim/?tag=88K18-20 And Privos…..are by Clarks?
swistle | April 15th, 2010 at 10:00 am
For some of us, being 5′11″ is something for every day. Unless we are wearing clompers, in which case we’re more like 6′1″. Or our fancy work shoes, in which case we just become Intimidatingly Tall, such that strangers make comments. Ahem.
Hoo boy do I feel you on the size 10 thing- I’m a full size 10, sometimes tending towards ten and a half, so I should tell you that Keen, in my experience, runs a little shorter than some brands. Still probably fine for someone who’s a normal ten, but for a 10-plus like me, there’s the problem of the toe butting up against the front of the shoe.
pseudostoops | April 15th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Pseudostoops- Hee! Yes, I could have phrased that better! Something more like “Being 2 inches taller than usual is not something for every day.”
swistle | April 15th, 2010 at 10:21 am
I love both orange ones - both style and color!
Linda | April 15th, 2010 at 10:44 am
I think I love every one of the pictures you posted. This post makes me think of one of my first pairs of Mary Janes, which were red. I was four.
Lee | April 15th, 2010 at 11:08 am
I had a pair of Merrell slip ons in college. Those were heaven to buzz around campus…so comfortable. I sent them to goodwill about a year ago because I realized I didn’t wear them anymore but they were still in such excellent condition after having worn them nearly every day for four years. So I would vote for those just based on my experience with the brand. I wish those Terrasoles were in your size because then I’d say those. But my vote, if not the Merrell’s then for the brighter orange Keens.
jen | April 15th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I am on my second pair of Merrill’s…..in 10 years. They wear great (I scotch guarded mine) and are the most comfy shoe I have ever found-much more so than tennis shoes!
I also just saw the exact same Terrasoles at my Sam’s last night for under $25 (although I just paid attention to the red color, not sure if they had green).
Liz | April 15th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Merrell’s are WONDERFUL! I just discovered them last year and I’ve bought both the jungle mocs and a pair of hiking boots. They are so comfortable!
And I know you didn’t ask for more suggestions, but these mary janes are my go-to shoes for work. They come in LOTS of colors and they’re cheap!:
http://www.natashascafe.com/html/shoes.html
Shelly | April 15th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I love Mary Janes too. I have 2 different pairs of dansko maryjanes that are wonderful- not as heavy at Doc’s either. One of them is more the clog-turned-maryjane, but the other is a powder blue flat little number. So cute w/o socks in the summer. LOVE.
I also have a pair of (knock-off) maryjanes that look like Keens. Very similar to the 2nd Keen ones you pictured. I LOVE THEM. They are a muted red. If they’d had orange, I would have had a hard time deciding. (I love the orange ones you are thinking about! Both, actually).
Marie Green | April 15th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
I like the Docs and the Keen Siennas! I’ve always wanted a pair of red Mary Janes (Docs), maybe this fall will be the season I get them!
Joy | April 16th, 2010 at 12:17 am
So I saw your post on Twitter, and the $29 Merrill MJs that you found at Marshalls? I HAVE THEM, TOO! They are sooooo comfy. Love them.
Becky | April 19th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
MERRELS!! ARE!! AMAZING!!! Just wanted you to know they are a great brand. Known more for their hiking shoes, but their casual shoes are sure to be great quality. just FYI.
I am a ballet flat girl with an occasional foray into Mary Janes. I like the keen ones, too, from the pics. I am a big fan of the more dainty styles. Probably the ballet flat lover in me.
Taylor | April 19th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Keen Sienna - my daughter (9 years old - but also a size 9 shoe) wears these and LOVES them (has had them in orange and green).
So comfy & bendy - go with anything.
Livi | April 20th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I *love* the Teva shoes that have this sole: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/354,2371J_Teva-Ventura-Mary-Jane-Shoes-Leather-For-Women.html (I don’t have mary janes but a different style with the same base.) They are well made and extremely comfy, plus cute and stylish.
Just in case you haven’t completely made up your mind yet!
swimmermom | April 22nd, 2010 at 1:46 am
Swimmermom- Dude, SOLD. I found them for $35ish on Amazon.com and ordered them in terra cotta!
Swistle | April 22nd, 2010 at 7:42 am