Mary Jane Shoes

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Mary Jane shoes are a variety of shoes usually worn by teenage and younger girls. "Mary Jane" is an American term for strap shoes. Mary Janes typically have low heels, rounded closed toes, and a buckled strap across the instep. They are often made of black patent leather, although some current incarnations are also made of canvas or suede.

History

In 1878, a young man named George Warren Brown believed St. Louis could become a manufacturing center for the shoe industry. He invested his life savings and founded his own little company to manufacture and sell shoes.

That little company is now a major corporation with annual sales of $2.3 billion. Brown Shoe Company today is the No. 1 retailer of value-priced, brand-name shoes for the American family. Plus, they still own and market such well known brands as Buster Brown shoes for kids, and Naturalizer, LifeStride and Connie shoes for women.

Mary Jane was the girl who always tagged along with Buster Brown. The term appears to have been a trade named coined by the Buster Brown & Company. Mary Janes were worn mostly by school boys and girls. In modern times, they are worn by females of all ages, including college-aged girls and older adult women.

Mary Janes today

Mary Janes are still very popular, although today there is a wider variety of selection. There are many different types of Mary Jane shoes. Not all Mary Jane shoes are American. A large variety come from China and Japan. Mary Jane shoes are known all around the world. Today's more stylish Mary Janes tend to be platform styles, with half-inch to one-inch soles and three- to five-inch "chunky" heels, often with exaggerated gromets or buckles. These styles were especially popular in the United States in the late-1990s and early-2000s, within punk rock, psychobilly, and goth subcultures. Many times the wearers would accent the look with knee-high knit socks in dark-colored stripes or patterns and often complete the look with a plaid, pleated schoolgirl-style skirt. Mary Janes are also quite comfortable.

External links

• History of the shoes
• Popular Mary Jane shoes