Selena Gomez's loafer-wearing days seem to be behind her. So when backless loafers resurfaced on Bottega Veneta, Victoria Beckham, and Celine's spring runways, she put her own twist on them. On March 31, Gomez debuted backless Mary Janes, a mix between her favorite flats and spring's most divisive shoe trend.
Gomez returned to L.A.'s street style scene after a beauty appointment with her avant-garde Mary Janes front and center. At first glance, the black mesh shoes look like your average MJs. Buckled straps across each upper gave the ballet flats their new name. Zoom in to see her hosiery peek through each rounded toe-box, confirming they're indeed made of mesh.
The surprises continued past the straps and onto the heels—or lack thereof. Just like the backless loafers seen on showgoers at Milan and New York Fashion Weeks, Gomez's Mary Janes transformed into mules. However, the jury's still out: Did she fold the heels underneath the soles of her feet? Or were the nameless flats designed that way? Regardless, this new genre of Mary Janes has some serious It-shoe potential.
Mary Janes are less a trend and more-so a fixture of spring fashion, as proven by Gomez, Olivia Rodrigo, Katie Holmes, Aubrey Plaza, Jessie Buckley, Maisie Peters, and more this season. But modifying them into mules? Now that's a move worthy of its own runway walk.
Turns out, Fall 2026 collections were one step ahead of Gomez. Ferragamo, Simone Rocha, and Marco Rambaldi all turned Mary Janes into heeled mules. Ferragamo's imagining involved the pointiest of toes and a wedge-looking heel, while Rocha added a platform and two belt buckles. Then, Marco Rambaldi rounded out the trio with classic Mary Jane heels, featuring white bows atop each strap.
Backless Mary Janes were made for flip-flop fans who want to wear closed-toe styles for just a bit longer. Now that Gomez gave them a proper close-up, it's only a matter of time before they emerge everywhere.
