I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis most of my adult life. It effects the small joints of my toes and midfoot mostly causing all sorts of fit problems when it comes to cute shoes. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to get a good fit and feel when it comes to mary jane flats.
1. Toe box shape: look for mary janes that have a rounded or even squared toe box to accommodate bunions or a wider forefoot.
2. Be careful of the vamp! Make sure the vamp (upper part of the shoe that covers the front and top of the foot), crosses the foot either above or below the bunion area so you’re not wincing in pain by noon.
3. Built-in support: Does the mary jane feature built-in arch support? Does it have a removable insole that allows you to use your own orthotic?
4. Midsole/Outsole construction: does the mary jane feature a sturdy midsole and/or rubber outsole to absorb shock and protect the joints?
5. Upper materials: Look for fabric, soft leather or suede uppers that conform to bunions, hammertoes or wide forefoot with no rubbing at the heel.
I’ve rank ordered the following comfortable mary janes from heavy on comfort/support and lighter on style to more on-trend styles with fewer orthopedic features.
“Excellent arch support. Super comfortable on toes.” -Taos Footwear customer, Tracy
The first pair of most comfortable mary janes in our round up, the Taos Ultimate, will win over problem-footed gals. The generous toe box, removable footbed with enhanced arch and metatarsal support. High quality soft leathers soothe sensitive toes.
• Sizes: 6-11 • Width: M • Price: $185 from Taos Footwear, Nordstrom & Zappos
“These shoes are the most comfortable ones that I own. I have several other pairs in different colors . I wore my original pair while touring Italy. No blisters, no back pain, no foot problems!” – Naot customer, Christina D.
The Naot Kirei is a personal favorite of mine (video-reviewed here). It’s all kinds of foot-friendly: bunion-friendly, orthotic-friendly, wide-foot friendly, narrow-heel friendly…you get the idea. They feel like orthopedic mary janes without all the stodginess.
• Sizes: euro 35-42 (4-12) • Widths: M & W • Price: $199 from Zappos, Naot & Amazon.
The Kennedy is a new Dansko mary jane style and I’m awaiting customer reviews. It looks like a winner for feet that suffer from hallux rigidus (stiff, painful big toe). The sturdy platform and slight rocker sole should keep the forefoot from over-extending. The one review I did see mention that the Kennedy runs large.
• Sizes: euro 36-42 (5.5-11.5) • Width: Regular • Price: $165 from Dansko, Nordstrom, Zappos.
“I wanted a stylish shoe for travel- one that I can wear in cities and out to dinner. But it must be supportive for 5-10 miles of walking. These are intelligently designed with just the right amount of personality and beauty while having a nice bouncy step and velcro closure that is easy to cinch up. The strap is exactly in the right spot. Hallelujah!” – Dansko customer, Mary R.
The Dansko Collette features a removable insole with arch support and is designed to accommodate an orthotic. A lightweight rubber outsole and 1.5″ heel makes this timeless mary jane as practical is it is stylish.
•Sizes: euro 36-42 (5.5-12) • Width: Reg & Wide • Price: $155 from Zappos, Dansko & Amazon.
5. Trotters Sugar: Best Mary Jane for Narrow or Wide Feet (researched, not worn)
“I bought these over 5 years ago and they still look and feel great after frequent wear. I appreciate that the insoles are removable because I need to use special orthotics, and I had no problems swapping them.” Trotters customer
This is an excellent mary jane across the board: quality leather uppers, real adjustable buckle (no velcro), square toe box, removable footbed with arch support and a durable rubber outsole–plus it comes in extended sizes and multiple widths.
• Sizes: 5-12 • Widths: N, M, W, WW • Price: $99-120 from Zappos, Nordstrom & Amazon.
“I wanted a closed toe cloth shoe to wear at a resort. These are so comfortable. They come in a narrow width and have no slippage in the heel. And they have rubber soles, a must for walking on slippery floors.” – DSW customerYou’ll love this adorable Rothy’s lookalike not only due to its lower price, but also because it comes in four widths! The Ros Hommerson Naomi mary jane features a squared toe box for extra wiggle room, adjustable buckle and a cushioned removable insole with a little bit of arch support.
• Sizes: 6-13 • Widths: N, M, W, XW • Price: $109 from Amazon, Nordstrom, & The Walking Company
My video review of the Fitflop Delicato Wave Edge mary jane:
“Most ballet flats with support look very chunky and do not appeal to me. These are different. They have hidden support and I have been able to wear and walk in them comfortably.” – Fitflop customer Cerise
I picked up a pair for myself–couldn’t resist that scalloped edge and pretty blue! It’s comfortable for a flat–cushioned insole, a little arch support and room for toes (not the orthopedic support you’d find in Taos or Dansko though).
• Sizes: 5-11 • Width: M • Price: $65-110 from Fitflop, Zappos & Amazon
Stylish, comfortable mary janes that come in three widths are hard to find but here you go! The Vionic Alameda features the on trend square toe and comes with two pair of insoles (one has higher arch support). Board-certified foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Michelle Allen Morse (aka “Dr. Elite Feet on Instagram) rocks the Vionic Alameda in this Instagram reel, “The Vionic Alameda Mary Jane Flat caught my eye for its vintage charm, but what really impressed me? The built-in biomechanics.” I agree wholeheartedly as I own the similar Vionic Orinda that I review here.
• Sizes: 5-13 • Widths: N, M & W • Price: $150 from Vionic Shoes, Zappos & Amazon
I’m a sucker for chocolate brown this season, so these instantly grabbed my attention. Reading through reviews, I see repeated comments about how comfortable the Dolce Vita Nanet is: rounded toe, lightweight, no rubbing at heel, no break in time and so versatile! If you need arch support, this isn’t the shoe for you.
• Sizes: 5-12 • Width: M • Price: $150 from Dolce Vita, Nordstrom and Amazon.
Podiatrist-designed Frankie4 footwear is chic, modern and foot-friendly. Each pair comes with a Sole Saver Pack® of adjustable footbeds and forefoot cushions for a customizable fit. We love the silver metallic Hepburn mary jane, but it comes in neutrals too! See our review of the classy Frankie4 Fox loafer for more information on the comfort features of this brand.
• Sizes: 6-13 • Width: M (but customizable fit pack creates extra width or snugs up for narrower feet) • Price: $198 from Frankie4 & Nordstrom.
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