Mary Janes

I had to wear Mary Janes to mass and school all through the 60's. My first memory is when I was 4 and my mom sent a button hook to school with me for my kindergarten teacher to use at nap time. She always took us to Saks 5th Ave in Chevy Chase, MD. or White Plains, NY to buy our shoes from the shoes salesman or woman she trusted there. Some days on my way home from school I would stop at Saks to say "Hi" to the salesman and check out the new Mary Janes that season. Only other shoes we own, were sandals and sneakers for the summer and boots for snow and rain.

My favorite pair were the bright red Mary Janes, I wore in 2nd grade with matching red socks. They looked like red boots in my class picture and the other girls complain to me about them. Then I was also the only girl wearing an A-line dress instead of one that came with a scratchy petticoat underneath. Finally my sister convince my mom to buy us some leather t straps that I think were periwinkle and with our move away from Chevy Chase, into the the new community of Columbia Md. I took to wearing sneakers to school and soon also even to mass.

Mary Janes in Food