I have several pairs of flat Mary Janes and only wear them occasionally. I'm fine with them if the strap is around the ankle, since they are covered by the skinny hem of the jeans, but if the strap is visible, I have my issues. And then if I try them on with skirts, I feel like a little girl going to school. I also feel like they are leg shortening, but I have long legs anyway, so I shouldn't be too worried about that... yet I am.

You might be wondering now why on Earth did I get several pairs of mary janes if I don't even like them: I still have to find a pair of ballet flats that stick to my skinny feet and in winter I just get fed up of wearing boots every single day, even if it's not even that cold. So I keep buying good quality mary janes thinking they will work, but they end up not being very much worn.

Curious thing is, my 50-years old mum has a pair of comfy Clarks mary janes, wears them with jeans and I think she looks cute and grown up, so I don't get why I don't like them on myself.

#1 These are... old. Like six years old. I've never tossed them because they are very good quality shoes, made of leather and comfy once you get used to them. Also, the sole is pretty thick, which is not very common in mary janes. AND I find the style a bit quirky and original, but that might be me.

#2 These are from last season, Clarks on sale... they are not as good as I expected them to be, plus the sole is too thin and you feel like walking barefoot... literally, if it weren't for the leather upper rubbing against your skin. But they have been practical because the strap is thinner and it's not very visible under skinnies because it's quite near the ankle.

I have another pair of wedged mary janes, gorgeous but of course high-heeled, so I won't go there. And then there are the white perforated mary janes which I wear during the last days of summer (aka now) which are quite good and also look like ballet flats under skinnies.

So what do you think about these?
Also, what to wear apart from boots in winter? I've been thinking about flat Oxfords lately but I can't get past the old teacher look.

Uh, maybe too many questions.

Thanks in advance!

PS: Last pic is a bonus. Just in case you were wondering, this is something IKEA sells together with their closets, and it's great for storing shoes. Say hello to my summer collection hehe