MARY JANE SHOES

Shop Mary Janes

The Mary Jane has always been about the strap. That single band across the instep is what separates it from a plain flat, and it's what gives the style its range. Cut it with a square toe and a slim buckle and it turns sharp and modern; round the toe instead and it softens into something more relaxed. Franco Sarto designs Mary Jane shoes across the whole range. A square-toe flat goes easily with cropped trousers or straight-leg denim, a pointed toe takes things sleeker, and a block-heel pump holds its own under tailoring or a midi skirt. Uppers run from smooth leather and suede to woven raffia and fabric, so the texture shifts as much as the shape does.

What types of Mary Jane shoes does Franco Sarto offer?

Franco Sarto makes Mary Janes as both flats and heels. The flats sit low to the ground in square, round, and pointed toes, and the heeled styles are block-heel pumps for dressier occasions. Most fasten with an adjustable buckle strap, though a few swap in a T-strap or a slip-on design.

Are Franco Sarto Mary Janes comfortable?

Yes. Several styles, including the Tinsley, use Franco Sarto's InFORMA comfort technology: an ergonomic insole shaped to the foot, with contoured padding at the points that take the most pressure. And because most Mary Janes fasten with an adjustable buckle, you can set the strap to your own fit, so a flat or low heel stays put.

What is the difference between a Mary Jane flat and a Mary Jane pump?

It comes down to the heel. A flat keeps you close to the ground and reads a little more casual, even retro, which makes it easy with denim, trousers, or a daytime dress. A pump adds a block heel and a sharper line, which is what you want under tailoring, a midi skirt, or workwear. Either way you keep the signature strap across the instep, so it's really a question of how much height you're after.