Janina Mary Janes
MY PERSONAL BLOG
I Nearly Dismissed Them Because of the Strap
I was sure Mary Janes were too girlish for a 58-year-old. What started as a little hesitation turned into the pair I wear almost every day this fall.
It was a chilly Tuesday morning in Columbus, Ohio. I stood by the front door in my old walking sneakers, wondering why the only shoes that didn't hurt my feet were the ones that didn't go with anything I wore.
I have plenty of shoes, but finding a pair that is comfortable, steady and still looks nice has become harder than it used to be.
My daughter had sent me a link to the Janina shoes from Laura & Rose. My first reaction was to dismiss them. Mary Janes? At 58? I pictured the strap shoes little girls wear with their school uniforms.
Still, I was curious enough to look.
1What caught my eye
I kept coming back to the Janina on my phone. I liked the soft brown leather look, the rounded toe with room for my toes, and the thick cushioned sole.
The strap was what made me hesitate. One strap across the top with a little round button, which was different from anything I usually wore.
At 58, I wasn't sure Mary Janes would suit me. I didn't want something that made me feel like I was trying to dress younger. But the more I looked at them, the more curious I became.
I decided to give them a try.
2Unboxing my Laura & Rose package
When the Janina arrived, I opened the box on the bench in our hallway. The leather looked soft, and the sole felt sturdy without being heavy.
I tried them on in front of the hallway mirror, expecting the strap to look a little childish on me.
But with my jeans and a cardigan, the shoes looked neat and grown-up rather than girlish. The strap opened wide, closed with one press, and the cushioned sole felt soft under my heels right away.
I was pleasantly surprised. They looked different from what I usually wore, but not in the way I had feared.
3First outing: the farmers market
That Saturday, I wore the Janina to the farmers market. Gravel paths, a lot of standing at the stalls, and a basket of apples to carry back to the car.
The cushioned sole made the gravel feel easy, my toes had room, and I felt steady on the uneven path the whole morning.
I also appreciated not having to choose between the shoes that look nice and the shoes that don't hurt. With my jeans, I had an outfit that felt comfortable and put together without much effort.
And the strap? Once I was wearing them, I found myself liking that detail most of all. It keeps the shoe snug on my foot and gives it a little character without making it feel overdone.
4Lunch with Barbara and Joan
A few days later, I wore the Janina to lunch with Barbara and Joan at our usual café downtown.
Normally, getting ready means picking between the pretty pair that pinches and the comfortable pair that doesn't match. This time I kept things simple with navy slacks, my cream cardigan and the Janina.
Barbara said I looked nicely put together. Joan asked where I had found the shoes, so I told her about Laura & Rose.
What I liked most was how comfortable I felt the whole afternoon. I walked from the parking garage to the café and back without thinking about my feet once. I could simply enjoy the afternoon with my friends.
That was when I realized I would probably reach for them more often than I had expected.
5I decided to get all the colors
After trying the Janina, I found myself going back to look at the other colors, too.
The brown one was easy to wear with the jeans and slacks I already owned, but I could also picture the green with my cream cardigan, the burgundy red for church and the black with my darker outfits.
I liked the idea of having a few options without having to rethink my outfit every morning. Each color has its own look, while the soft sole and the comfortable fit stay the same.
What started as a purchase I wasn't completely sure about had turned into something I genuinely wear every day.
6The Anniversary Sale
When I went back to the Laura & Rose website, I noticed the Janina was included in the Anniversary Sale.
If you've been looking for comfortable shoes that still look nice, it may be worth taking a look at the available colors and sizes while the offer is running.
I was glad I had taken a chance on something outside my usual style. Sometimes, the thing you hesitate over turns out to be the one you wear most often.
My everyday shoes next to the Janina
| What I used to wear | The Janina | |
|---|---|---|
| Sole | Thin, I felt every step on hard floors | Thick and cushioned, soft under my heels |
| Toes | Pinched by the afternoon | Room for my toes, nothing presses |
| Putting on | Laces I had to bend down to tie | A strap that opens wide and closes with one press |
| Grip | Careful little steps on wet sidewalks | A grippy sole I trust on tile and stairs |
| Look | Walking sneakers with everything | A neat shoe for jeans, slacks and skirts |
I have worn them almost every day for three weeks, which is more than most shoes in my closet manage. Do Mary Janes suit every 58-year-old? I have no idea. I only know what I saw in the hallway mirror, and what my friends said, which was that I looked nicely put together.
How long do I have?
I paid $59.95 for mine. The page shows $299.95 as the earlier price. It is called the Anniversary Sale. I cannot tell you how long it will run, but I would grab your chance.
$299.95$59.95
- Cushioned comfort Mary Janes
- Soft cushioned insole and a thick, grippy sole
- Room for your toes, easy hook-and-loop strap
- Sizes US 4 to US 13
- $59.95 now, $299.95 earlier price
- Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee
Colors: Red, Green, Brown and Black. The Anniversary Sale price runs while sizes last.
I'm still the same woman who stood by the front door that Tuesday morning, wondering why comfortable shoes never seemed to go with anything.
The difference is that I've found a pair that does, and getting ready to go out has become a little easier.
Lisa
SEE THE JANINA — $59.95 →This is a personal blog post by Lisa Miller, a Laura & Rose customer. · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.