The Mary Jane, made comfortable
A buying guide from Lurevela London
The shoe that stays on your foot without gripping it.
Four reasons the Mary Jane is the most comfortable smart shoe you can own.
There is a reason this style has outlasted almost every other. A strap across the instep does something no court shoe or ballet flat can manage: it holds the foot in place without the shoe having to grip anywhere else. That one detail is why a Mary Jane can be smart and still be worn all day.
The strap does the holding
In a slip-on court shoe your foot is held by friction across the top and by your toes gripping at the front. That is why they slide, and why the ball of the foot aches by the evening. A buckled strap takes that job away: the foot sits back where it should, the heel stays put, and nothing has to clench to keep the shoe on.
The heel is low and square, not thin
Almost every pair in this collection sits on a block or a low chunky heel rather than a stiletto. The contact patch with the ground is wider, which means less wobble on pavements and a good deal less strain through the ankle. You get the lift without the balancing act.
Leather that softens instead of rubbing
The pairs we stock are genuine or leather-look uppers that give with wear rather than holding a hard edge. The round or almond toe leaves room across the joint, which matters if you have a bunion or simply a foot wider than a shoe last assumes.
One pair covers most of the week
Smart enough for an occasion, plain enough for a Tuesday. Black goes with everything you already own; brown is the warmer, softer option and works with denim in a way black never quite does. Most of the collection comes in both.
Where to start
MAISY | T-Strap Mid-Heel£70.00£34.95 Save 50%
SIENNA | Timeless Leather£70.00£34.95 Save 50%
IVY | Genuine Leather Heels£66.00£32.95 Save 50%
MARGOT | Retro Chunky Heel£70.00£34.95 Save 50%
ARABELLA | Low-Heel Leather£66.00£32.95 Save 50%
EVIE | Chunky Heel Buckle£60.00£29.95 Save 50%
Against the smart shoes you already own
Court shoes and flats
- Held on by friction, so they slip at the heel
- Toes grip to keep the shoe on
- Narrow toe box, tight across the joint
- Thin sole with nothing underfoot
- Come out twice a year
A Mary Jane
- Buckled strap holds the foot in place
- Nothing has to clench to keep it on
- Round or almond toe with room across the joint
- Low block heel, wide contact with the ground
- Smart enough for occasions, easy enough for daily
Getting the size right
Our Mary Janes run UK 4 to UK 7.5, including half sizes. They are cut true to size, so order the size you normally take. If you are between sizes, or have a wide foot, take the larger of the two — the buckle pulls the strap snug again, which is the advantage of this style over a slip-on.
If the comfortable pair in your wardrobe is one you would rather nobody photographed, this is the collection to start in.
Shop the Mary Jane collection