Travel shoes tend to involve compromise: the pretty pair wrecks your feet by day three, and the sensible ones flatten every outfit. A new hybrid is trying to end that standoff. The Mary Jane sneaker — a low, ballet-flat-shaped shoe with sneaker cushioning and the signature strap across the instep — is showing up in airports everywhere this season, and it might be the most practical trend to hit travel fashion in a while.
The formula is simple: take the slim silhouette of a ballet flat, add the sole support of a running shoe, and finish with that little strap that makes the whole thing look deliberate rather than athletic. Some versions pass for a classic flat at a glance; others lean technical, with mesh uppers, chunky treads and cushioned insoles. The writer behind the trend piece credits Puma's Speedcat ballet sneakers as the gateway pair — smart enough for dinner, comfortable enough for a full day of walking, and easy to slip on and off at security. She liked them enough to buy a second colour.
The style has surprisingly deep roots. The name comes from a character in the Buster Brown comic strip, first published in 1902, who wore the now-iconic strapped shoe. Over the following century the Mary Jane cycled through patent leather, ballet flats and platforms before landing on a sneaker sole — and the timing works, because fashion has spent recent years making sneakers progressively less sporty. Slim retro trainers and terrace shoes blurred the line between gym and street, and even performance brands like Salomon and Merrell have experimented with more street-leaning shapes.
For travellers, the appeal is practical as much as aesthetic. The low profile means these shoes pack flat in a corner of a suitcase instead of hogging the space a chunky trainer demands. Wear them on the flight and they can double as your main walking shoe, or stash them as the dressier option that won't cause blisters by evening. Rounded-up styles this season range from Puma's cheetah-print ballet sneakers to suede versions from Dolce Vita.
If your packing list usually involves choosing between comfort and looking put-together, this is one trend that actually solves a travel problem rather than creating one.