Part sneaker, part Mary Jane, fully made for cold-weather days. Ballet flats have had a long run. They are pretty, easy and go with almost everything, until the temperature drops and thin soles meet cold pavements. That is usually when we reach for boots. Scarlett Johansson found something in between.
Leaving a press junket in New York City in late October, the actress, 41, skipped heels and ballet flats for Adidas Samba Janes, a version of the classic Samba sneaker with a Mary Jane strap across the foot. She wore them with wide-leg trousers in a subtle houndstooth print, a long gray tailored wool coat and a skull-print scarf. The result was polished, practical and very easy to copy.
Why the Mary Jane Sneaker Works
The hybrid keeps everything that makes the Samba a favorite: a low, flat profile, a sturdy rubber sole and a sporty look. Then it adds the feminine strap of a Mary Jane. That small detail changes the mood. Instead of reading gym, the shoe reads ballet flat, just warmer and with more grip.
Adidas sells the Samba Jane in black and white as well as other colorways, so it slots easily into a fall wardrobe. And unlike a thin-soled ballet flat, it gives you real cushioning and grip for long city walks, wet sidewalks and the first cold snaps of the season, without sacrificing that delicate strap.
The Trouser Trick
The key to Johansson’s look is the trousers. Wide-leg, floor-grazing pants can swamp a chunky sneaker, but the Samba Jane’s slim, low shape lets the hem fall cleanly over the foot, with just the strap and toe showing. The houndstooth adds a tailored, slightly vintage touch, and the long gray coat repeats that polished note.
The skull scarf is the playful wink that keeps the look from feeling too serious. It is a good example of how a sporty shoe can sit comfortably in a grown-up outfit, the same way loafers have, as when Gigi Hadid paired them with bootcut jeans.
How to Wear Mary Jane Sneakers With Wide-Leg Trousers
Choose trousers that just skim the floor in flat shoes, so the hem covers the back of the sneaker but leaves the strap visible. Tailored fabrics, wool, houndstooth or pinstripe, make the contrast with the sporty sole look intentional. Keep the coat long and structured to match the length of the trousers. Stick to a simple palette, black, white, gray and camel, and add one fun accessory: a printed scarf, a cap or a colorful bag. On cold days, add warm socks in black or gray; they disappear under wide-leg trousers.
Practical pieces have been having a stylish moment, like when Kate Middleton proved a simple baseball cap is the chicest outdoor hat. The lesson worth borrowing is that comfort looks chic when the rest of the outfit is tailored.
The Bottom Line
Goodbye, ballet flats: Scarlett Johansson, 41, is wearing Adidas Samba Janes, the Mary Jane sneaker, with wide-leg houndstooth trousers and a long wool coat. It is a warmer, comfier alternative to flats that still looks polished all winter.
