I’ll admit, I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see Mary Janes make a comeback. Yet here we are, watching Gen Z proudly stomp around in shoes that look like a mash-up between my middle school uniform footwear and something you’d wear to a Spice Girls reunion concert. Enter the DREAM PAIRS Women’s Mary Janes Shoes, which are basically what happens when nostalgia and chunky platforms have a baby.
First thing you should know: these shoes are unapologetically big. Not “oops I ordered a large soda and now I can swim in it” big, but definitely “size down or risk flopping around like you’re auditioning for clown college” big. I ordered my usual size and quickly learned that half a size smaller would’ve saved me the joy of stuffing insoles in like I was smuggling marshmallows.
Now, about the heel: a 2.6-inch block heel with a 1.2-inch platform sounds like a math problem I didn’t sign up for, but in real life it works. You get height without the agony, and I didn’t once feel like I was about to topple over dramatically in a grocery store aisle—which, frankly, is personal growth for me. The interior is soft, the collar is padded, and the dreaded “new shoe blister tax” seems to have been waived this time around. I actually wore them all day and didn’t immediately regret all of my life choices. That’s basically the shoe equivalent of winning the lottery.
Style-wise, these shoes are versatile enough to wear with dresses, trousers, or the carefully curated “I didn’t try but actually I spent 45 minutes trying” outfit. They’ve got that big, round toe box that makes your toes feel like they actually matter. And the PU upper? A damp cloth and they’re back to looking respectable, which is more than I can say for my dignity after karaoke night.
The best part? They don’t feel stiff or cheap. Honestly, for the price, I half expected them to collapse like a dollar store folding chair, but they held up. I’ve got the black pair, but they come in multiple colors in case you feel the need to coordinate with every questionable outfit decision you’ve ever made.
If you want something cute, edgy, and retro without having to take out a second mortgage, these Mary Janes are worth the buy. Just remember: size down unless you’re aiming for the “walking around in dad’s shoes” aesthetic.