Christian Louboutin ‘Charlene’, $725

I think this is the moment where I’m forced to take back everything I’ve ever said about Mary Janes not being my favourite style of shoes, and admit that, folks? I was WRONG.

Well, I wasn’t WRONG, exactly. I don’t actually dislike Mary Janes, you see, and I’ve owned my fair share of them over the years. I’ve always found them a little hard to style, though, purely because of their tendency to remind me of school shoes: indeed, Neiman Marcus describe this shoe as a “schoolhouse favourite”, so I’m presumably not the only one to get something of a “little girl” vibe from certain shoes in this style.

Not these ones, though.

No, there’s nothing remotely childish about Christian Louboutin’s ‘Charlene’, which is, instead, the epitome of elegance and sophistication. The fact that the Mary Jane strap is placed low on the foot helps with that, of course, but the 4″ heel, and streamlined shape doesn’t hurt, either. This is just a beautiful shoe: it’s not a new style for Louboutin (or in general), but this is a designer who has the ability to make even the simplest shoes look out-of-this-world, so it’s no surprise that, in his hands, the classic Mary Jane looks so covetable.

These are $725, and come in a “nude” patent upper. They’re currently available in sizes 35 through to 41 at Neiman Marcus, but I don’t expect them to remain in stock for long, somehow: this kind of shoe has a habit of selling out very quickly!