The Best Mary Jane Flats Are Equal Parts Sensible and Sassy

It's unfussy, it's classic, it's versatile—what's not to love about Aeyde's best-selling Uma? It's made in Italy out of supple Nappa leather, which means it will mold more and more to your foot with every wear. It boasts a lone dainty strap with a small silver clasp, making it one of the more minimal styles on this round-up. But if you are looking for some pizzazz, try a few of Aeyde's other fabrications and colorways, like soft peachy orange or patent leather aquamarine.

For years, you've heard a lot of noise about French girl styling and how best to emulate an 'effortlessly cool, but not-even-trying-to-be-cool Parisian look.' But when you extract all of the aesthetic glamorization and TikTok chatter, at its core, the sought-after style is about timeless, uncontroversial silhouettes. And Repetto's Lio Ballerina Flats are a shoe that falls firmly under that umbrella of forever chic silhouettes. This cherry red style is made of high-shine patent leather and features a slightly elasticized, button-fasten strap and a stacked micro heel.  

If you're shopping for shoes you can wear to work without complications or discomfort, always turn to Rothy's. The comfortable shoe brand is a favorite amongst Team MC (especially Digital Director Jenny Hollander, who just bought a white pair of ballet flats to wear to her wedding). Its The Point Mary Jane, offered in black and white, is a particular standout for fall 2023, as the silhouette merges comfort and style. One Rothy's reviewer calls them "the most comfortable pointy-toed shoes I ever had" and says that "the knit makes it so comfortable [that] I forget I’m wearing shoes!"

Suede is a fabric that feels synonymous with fall. This one-strap Mary Jane shoe by the Swedish label Vagabond Shoemakers leans into the back-to-school spirit of the material, conjuring up memories of your first day of fourth grade. The shoe boasts a subtly rounded toe, an adjustable silver-toned buckle, a soft rubber sole, and an 11mm heel. And at only $130, it's a shoe decision you can make comfortably, as you know you're not blowing your entire autumnal shopping budget.

Every now and then, you stumble upon a piece that is quintessential of a fashion brand's aesthetic and modus operandi. Chloé's Rubie flats are one of those styles. The Mary Jane-style shoe epitomizes the label's signature bohemian flair with its artisanal stitching, decorative button snap, and layered cork sole. They're made of ultra-soft cow leather and are crafted in a round-toe silhouette. If this creamy off-white color doesn't do it for you, consider the inky black or dusty nude instead.

These Zoe slip-ons by J. Crew, another favorite adored by the MC team, lean into the ballerina inspiration at the core of the style. They're made in a baby pink satin and feature a stretchy elastic across the top of the foot, both helping to make them near replicas of a classic ballet slipper. They're trendy, tapping into the #Balletcore look you're hearing so much buzz about, but are still a timeless buy. Take it from this J. Crew shopper: "Love these shoes! I think they'll be very comfortable with minimal break-in time. They are much more lightweight than I was expecting, [the] sole feels solid, [and the] satin upper is flexible and light."

Let's talk silver shoes. Flashy, look-at-me footwear in the metallic hue is gaining more and more popularity with each coming season—and fall 2023 is no exception. Larroudé's Blair Ballet Flat is a great option to buy if you're considering joining in on the statement look for the coming season, because, obviously, it's done in silver specchio but the Mary Jane silhouette ensures it'll stay in style for seasons to come. "These shoes are elegant, unique, and versatile," writes one Larroudé shopper. "Feminine, timeless, and can complement/pair with literally anything you want to wear day or evening."

Tell me about it, stud. Free People's Mystic Mary Jane Flats reflect the retailer's signature boho spirit but with a slight rockstar edge, courtesy of the silver hardware sprinkled throughout and chunky buckle strap. They offer impressive comfort, too, since they're made of buttery soft leather and have a cushioned interior footbed. Listen to this thrilled Free People shopper: "So glad I bought the Mystic Mary Jane Flats. I was looking for a cross between a Mary Jane and a ballet flat without the Jeffrey Campbell price tag. The leather is super comfortable and you can wear the flats right out of the box [with] absolutely no break in time."

Before the quiet luxury aesthetic (and all of its corresponding discourse) took over your social media feeds, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were living, breathing, and wearing an if you know, you know fashion philosophy. And this pair of Mary Jane flats from the superstar twins' luxury brand taps into their natural penchant for under-the-radar refinement. Yes, their price tag might hurt your eyeballs and wallet, but they're made in Italy of genuine goatskin leather, which should help you rationalize. 

If the standard ballet flat silhouette doesn't totally vibe with your shoe rotation (or perhaps you already own a few pairs and can't in good conscience buy one more), consider a Mary Jane-style loafer instead. The strappy silhouette is particularly interesting because it combines two gendered aesthetics: the hybrid shoe calls on menswear codes with its loafer look but also feels slightly feminine with the signature Mary Jane strap. Because in 2023, isn't it more fun to go against convention and blur the fashion binary?

Mesh flats—the shoe trend that either makes you cringe in disgust or sets your unconventional-trend-loving heart aflutter. Loeffler Randall's see-through Leonie flats are one of the market's more wearable iterations, so you'll likely understand their appeal even if you fall into the former camp. This style features a polyester upper adorned with stunning crystals and a stretchy elastic strap. They do tend to sell out like hotcakes (as most break-away trending styles do), but the good news is that there are plenty of Loeffler Randall's non-mesh types to shop too.