Mary Janes are a little girl's wardrobe staple, found under the beds and in the closets of little girls across the Western World. They can be in turns formal and fun, and project such a sweet innocence about them that even grown women have been know to wear them, if with a certain sense of irony. Mary Janes for little girls can be separated into two basic stylesthe formal and the informal, which is fortunate because after that, shoes for women get a lot more complicated.
Formal
Mary Janes are the traditional shoes for little girls in need of dressing up. Typically in black patent leather, a suitably dressy pair of Mary Janes can be worn with a formal or holiday dress and tights. They're also great for school picture day; though you can't see her feet, your little girl would look odd in sneakers or snow boots that day.
Speaking of school, rubber soled Mary Janes are a school-uniform standard. Rubber is often specified to prevent damage to school floors and allow the girls to remain active during recess or gym. You can sneak them some individuality in their uniform wardrobe by picking out shoes with little bows, flowers or other embellishments. And older girls can pick out Mary Janes with slight heels to help them feel mature. Of course, you should always check with the school before straying from the standard uniform.
Informal
The Mary Jane isn't all itchy holiday dresses and dour uniforms. You can find Mary Janes in fun colors and patterns that show off your little girl's personality. You'll find more synthetic materials in informal Mary Janes, which tend to be more durable. Suede is also popular, though care should be take to scotchlike Mary Janes to Mary Jane Crocs.
