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Mary Jane shoes (also known asbar shoes,strap shoes ordoll shoes) are a style of closed, low-cut shoe with one or more straps across theinstep.[1]
Classic Mary Janes for children are typically made of blackleather orpatent leather and have one thin strap fastened with a buckle or button, a broad and roundedtoe box, low heels, and thin outsoles.
Children's shoes secured by a strap over the instep and fastened with a buckle or button appeared in the early 20th century. Originally worn by both sexes, they began to be perceived as being mostly for girls during the 1930s in North America and the 1940s in Europe.[2] They were also popular with women in the 1920s.[3]
Mary Jane was a character created byRichard Felton Outcault, "Father of the Sunday Comic Strip", for his comic stripBuster Brown, which was first published in 1902.[citation needed] She was the sweetheart of the title character Buster Brown and wasdrawn from real life, as Outcault had a daughter of the same name. In Outcault's and his daughter's words, she was the only character drawn from life in the Buster Brown strip although "Mrs. Brown" resembled Outcault's wife.[4]
In 1904, Outcault traveled to theSt. Louis World's Fair and sold licenses to up to 200 companies to use the Buster Brown characters to advertise their products. Among them was theBrown Shoe Company, which later hired actors to tour the country, performing as the Buster Brown characters in theaters and stores. This strategy helped the Brown Shoe Company become the most prominently associated brand with the Buster Brown characters. The style of shoe both Buster Brown and Mary Jane wore came to be known by her name, Mary Jane.[5][6]
While the classic Mary Jane still retains its wide popularity and appeal, platform style Mary Janes have also evolved since the late 1990s, with 1-cm to 3-cm (½-in to 1-in) outsoles and 8-cm to 13-cm (3-in to 5-in) "chunky" heels, often with exaggerated grommets or buckles. The 1920s-style Mary Janes were a famous part of flappers' ensembles, thus reinforcing the childlike style the flappers had. These styles were especially popular in theUnited States in the late 1990s and early 2000s, withinpunk rock,psychobilly andgoth subcultures. Many times the wearers would accent the look with knee-high knit socks in dark-colored stripes or patterns and/or some form of hosiery (stockings/pantyhose), and often complete the look with a plaid, pleatedschoolgirl-style skirt.
Mary Janes are a popular part ofkinderwhore andLolita fashion.[7][8] Apump with a strap across the instep may be referred to as a "Mary Jane pump", although it does not have the low heels or wide toe of the original Mary Jane (and a pump is generally strapless by definition).
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