I love a Mary Jane shoe and those are very nice, however I think the strap across the top would prevent this shoes from having the leg lengthening properties you are looking for.

With regards to tan being a nude, I think it would depend on your skin tone. I'm very pale so there would be too much of a contrast for it to be considered a nude. If you have a darker skin tone I believe they could work as a nude.

Nude is all dependent on your skin color. I am not sure the tan would be an ideal nude for you. I think it would be too dark even for me. Keep in mind that your feet are probably paler than the rest of your skin.

I echo the thoughts about the definition of "nude" being dependent on your skin tone.
"nude" for me is pretty dark brown, whereas for you it may be different. It is so tough to tell online though!
As an aside I recently took the plunge and bought some Sofft comfort shoes form Amazon(alot of them are cheaper there, check it out) and they are the MOST comfortable shoes in my closet.I adore them to pieces.

Precisely. Can you take a picture in stores, Anne?

Ok So to summarise your responses.
1)Tan is almost certainly not the right colour! I do have olive skin, but it probably isn't that dark
2) you need pictures

PF - those Sofft shoes were just for illustration. I don't know the brand of the ones I tried on - I am in Australia. I just passed a shoe shop and saw some on the sale tray, and quickly slipped them on.

I have to admit I am finding taking/uploading photos a bit overwhelming atm. (DH has to bring his work laptop home for me to do it, plus I needed to do something to the memory card on the camera) I have even (sort of) done Khris's 2 recent challenges but didn't take pics! Nevertheless I do understand it is hard to give advice without "a visual" so I'll see what I can do.