By Red Dimaandal-Escamillas
Gone are the childhood days of uncomfortable patent leather shoes. Today’s Mary Janes are reimagined–elegant, refined, and undeniably sophisticated. While the silhouette remains timeless, it also happens to be among the biggest shoe trends of 2025, meaning it’s a great investment right now.
But what do these seemingly simple shoes owe their staying power? For starters, they’re easy to style; you can wear them with cute dresses, classic denim, and even corduroy trousers. But beyond that, Mary Janes have been a wardrobe staple for over a century because they’re infinitely versatile—they’re neither a loafer nor a ballet flat, totally tomboyish and delightfully feminine, and as flat as a sneaker but as graceful as high heels.
If you’re keen to try out a pair of MJs but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.
La Soledad Studios
Delicate mesh blurs the line between wearing shoes and going barefoot. The square toe and solid strap lend a dainty air, and the end result is a shoe that goes with literally any and every outfit.
Vivaia
Some Mary Janes are difficult to walk in, but this pair from Vivaia proves the silhouette can be downright comfy. The brand provides soft double-layer upper, lightweight construction, and cushioned triple-layer sole, providing unparalleled comfort with every step.
Miu Miu
If a splurge is in your future, look no further than these swoon-worthy Miu Miu Mary Jane ballet flats. A leather take on the shoe, these Mary Janes are on point. Made from luxuriously soft goatskin leather, they’ll mold to your feet as you wear them, so don’t be concerned if they take a little time to break in—it will be well worth it.
Practical and versatile, these highly adaptable shoes can be worn with almost any kind of outfits, whether they be casual or formal, for work or for play.
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Jasmine Curtis-Smith is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine right now, as she shares her thoughts on good storytelling in films, as she’s set to star in upcoming movies Open Night, a 2025 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival sapphic film entry; and Manila’s Finest, an upcoming 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) crime drama movie.
Read the Stylish Magazine September-October 2025 cover story here.
Watch out for a new #StylishPodcast episode featuring our cover girl Jasmine Curtis-Smith, dropping soon on Facebook and YouTube.
Stylish Magazine is “your source of self-love, style & inspiration” first introduced in June 2020. Our television series format, Stylish TV, once ranked one of the Top 50 Most Watched Multicultural Shows in the USA, can be streamed on iWantTFC and be watched on TFC (The Filipino Channel) in more than 50 countries. Watch it online here.
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