Is there anything more satisfying than a shoe that is equal parts chic and comfortable? Katie Holmes doesn't seem to think so. If anything she has just co-signed Mary Jane flats as the achingly cool alternative to heels for summer.
Like the preppier sister of ballet flats, Mary Janes have already amassed a legion of fans, including Taylor Swift who paired a patent pair with a beige trench coat on a recent visit to Lake Como with Travis Kelce.
But it's Katie Holmes who has regularly been wearing the style while out and about in New York, serving up plenty of summer-in-the-city fashion inspiration for our mood boards in the meantime.
They're taking over the fashion world (and its feet).
Last week, she opted for a black double-buckle version alongside a white T-shirt, white wide-leg trousers and a long black trench coat for a head-to-toe monochrome outfit that hit all the right trans-seasonal notes.
Then on June 11, the Dawson's Creek star stepped out in a nautical navy blue and white cut-out maxi dress by Me+Em with Mary Janes in the crispest shade of white.
A more interesting choice than goes-with-anything black and more elevated than white trainers, the uncharacteristically pointy shape and T-bar detail of Katie's Mary Janes added an extra dose of glamour to her overall look.
Surely we've just glimpsed this summer's standout shoe?
Katie's waist-length brunette hair has looked lighter in recent weeks with caramel highlights adding a sleek, sun-kissed feel. Also noteworthy was the slick of red lipstick (a more daring choice for Katie who normally leans into pared-back nudes) – proof, if any were needed, that Mary Janes are a not-so-basic wardrobe hero.
In other words, just because they're flat doesn't mean Mary Janes should automatically be relegated to the ‘denim + tee + running errands’ pile. Rock them in white and not only will your summer tan pop, but you'll be giving the '90s strappy shoe a fresh update, too.
Tempted to recreate the look? Good options for white Mary Janes include COS, Next and Russell & Bromley for a block heel version.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
