Sporty Mary Janes

Mary jane sneakers take the strap from a ballet flat and put it on a sneaker sole, so you get the sweet shape of a mary jane with the comfort of something you can walk in all day.

They look best with the outfits you already wear in fall: straight jeans with a slim ankle, a midi skirt and tights, or wide trousers with a little sock showing. The slim retro styles feel dressier, while the chunkier trail pairs lean more sporty.

I split the edit into two groups: slim court and retro pairs first, then cushioned trail and comfort pairs for days you are on your feet.

These are the slim, low profile pairs that look the most like a ballet flat. The black leather and suede styles are the easiest to wear every day, the silver metallic pairs make jeans look a little more fun, and the fig velvet pair with a sparkly buckle is the one I would wear with a black skirt and sheer tights.

For something softer, the cocoa satin pair and the sand suede pair feel cozy for fall, and the dark green suede pair with cream stripes looks great with brown and burgundy.

My fitting room test: walk a few steps and make sure the strap sits flat across your foot without pinching. What I would skip: very thin soles if you plan to walk a lot, since they wear down fast.

If you want the look with more support, these pairs have thicker soles and trail style grips. The black mesh pairs feel almost techy and look great with track pants or a slip skirt, while the vanilla and taupe pairs are lighter and softer.

The leopard calf hair pair is my favorite here because it works like a neutral with denim and camel coats.

What I check: the strap closure. Hook and loop straps are easiest to adjust if your feet swell during the day. What I would skip: oversized soles if you mostly wear slim jeans, since the proportions can look heavy.

Try a black or silver pair with straight dark jeans, a cream knit and a short wool coat. For a skirt day, wear a velvet or suede pair with tights and a cardigan.

Add a thin sock in a fun color if you want the sporty look to feel on purpose.