Think I'm over loafers (for now), are mary jane ballerinas here to stay?

[Justkoko]

I've loved loafers for a long time, it's a style I'll always go back to, but I'm loving the ballerinas being back more than I imagined. Got a leopard mary jane pair from office with a softly squared toe (which makes them differ from last time round imho) and considering getting another couple of pairs in black and maybe another colour, burgundy? They are inexpensive and comfortable as far as these type of shoes go. I reckon they'll look good for another couple of years, what do you think?
I'm trying to pare my wardrobe back down to simpler styles without much fuss as i think it suits me better, ballerinas seem to fit the bill. I tend to prefer the mary jane ones so my toes aren't cramping up trying to keep them on.

https://www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,30/5191863677?referer=carousel

https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/shoes/on_sale/?fh_size=12dsize%3Beur2d372d2d2d42duk2dwomen%3Bs%3Bxs%3Beur2d362d382d32d52duk2dwoman%3B4%3B32d4%3Beur2d372d2d2d42duk2dadult%3Beur2d372d382d42d52duk2dwomen%3Bxxs%3Beur2d382d2d2d42duk2dmen&fh_brand_name=dune&fh_brand_name=lk-bennett&fh_brand_name=maje Lots of ballet flats on sale in Selfridges

I do care about fashion and style, but I don’t buy cheap shoes that don’t last.

Agree. However, the Mary Jane types are better and I have gone with a block heel. Clarks have a style called Dais which has been fab. The flat, flat ballet type Mary Jane's would look daft on a woman in her mid 60s imo.

Ahh this is where Fitflop ballerinas/mary Jane’s step in (see what I did there) ?!
I find all my Fitflop Flipflops, Trainers, Boots and Shoes ‘cure’ my Plantar Fasciitis !

There will never be a time I don't love chelsea boots. I felt like that re jeans but with the looser styles I just roll the hem so it kind of sits at the top of the boot. My chelseas do tend to be close fitting around the ankle so I'm not sure if this makes a difference.

I desperately want some flats that aren’t loafers or Mary Jane’s!!

I used to wear gorgeous flats from Boden or Mint Velvet, but everything is either a loafer or covered in embellishment like straps or buckles (looking at you Mint Velvet!) and I can’t seem to find anything else.

I’ve got arthritis in both knees and need a knee replacement (in my forties! ) and am living in trainers as I can’t wear heels anymore but desperately want something a bit smarter. Occasionally I wear chunky heeled boots when I need to for work but Christ I pay for it

I last wore a pair of these in the late 1990s! I remember them well, they were my first purchase from Miu Miu. Recently, have been contemplating mary janes but having tried several ones in an array of styles and price points, I realised I much prefer a clean line. Will continue to stick to ballerinas albeit without the bows aka flat pumps.

Never liked loafers, something I blame on Patrick Cox. Much like loafers, ballerinas and flat mary janes are highly wearable, but not always in fashion. The latter are everywhere at the moment and have been for a few years now. Yes, the are in fashion at the moment, but they are also something you can wear irregardless, unless you need to be at the zeitgeist.

😂 I think zeitgeist is a bit OTT for a shoe - why don't we just say at the coal face? 😂 Loafers ? Loved them since my first pair of Tods and that will never change.

This is MN, so yes, zeitgeist. Irony. Innit. 😂

Always think of Tod's as driving shoes rather than loafers. Either way, not my thing either but I do like them on others.

Ballerinas fucked my feet last time around. I lived in them and ended up with fallen arches. They offer no support to your feet at all....

I love these @Justkoko I do have one odd foot that's slightly wider, I wonder if the size differs with the colour 🤔 I've noticed a few reviews on m&s regarding some ballet flats, the red seems to be tighter.

@bunnybunnybunnybunny the driving shoes are only a small part of their collection.

@oprahwithlove I know. However, for me, TODs will always mean driving shoes 😬

Not my taste but I can see them worn in an eccentric Helena Bonham Carter kind of way!

Are you a millionaire?!

I love your shoes! Where are they from?