Give me olive accessories or give me…well, not quite death, that’s rather dramatic, but you know, a very mild punishment that proves how much I like the colour olive, okay? Like…a really inopportune power cut right as I’m about to settle down to watch that movie on Netflix that I’ve been looking forward to for ages. Yeah? So, give me olive accessories or give me a really–okay, you know what, you get the point, let’s just look at the damn shoes!

Shoes: Green Maryjane Block heels C/O Lulu Hun
Dress: Cream Jemima dress by Collectif bought from I Love the 50s
Cardigan: Oatmeal cropped cardigan by MAK
Petticoat: Lilac Petticoat previously gifted by Dolly & Dotty

I haven’t always been much of a fan of Mary Jane style shoes. When I first became a pinup, they made me think too much of the black Mary Janes we millennial-aged British women all had to wear at primary school as little girls. As such, unless the vintage inspired Mary Janes I encountered sported a killer stiletto heel to counteract that schoolgirl feel, I wasn’t interested. So, while Lulu Hun have released low block-heeled Mary Jane styles season after season these past few years, I’ll admit that I’ve generally ignored the offerings. Why would I need those low heels when I could rock 5 inches without qualm?

Well, it turns out, I couldn’t, actually, rock a stiletto worry-free. Being on my feet constantly at work lead to an injury that presented daily foot pain, and suddenly all heels were off the table, as well as many flats I owned too. Even in supportive, comfortable, quality footwear that additionally housed my specialist Plantar Fasciitis heel cups, for months I hobbled everywhere I went, sometimes downright hopped, limped while I winced.

Over time as I healed, the swelling receding ever so slowly, the idea of wearing pretty shoes again began to form into a possibility. Heels, still, were out of the question–those thin-heeled, sexy towers I used to prefer, anyway. Chunky, low, block heels would be my only options if I wanted to venture outside the world of flats, and then Lulu Hun released these Mary Janes in a small selection of spring colours, including olive. My, my, it’s amazing what crippling foot pain and your favourite colour can do for changing a girl’s mind about something previously overlooked. Gimme them low block Mary Janes and do it fast, this little lady is sick of flats!

As the name suggests, this style sports a classic Mary Jane strap across the foot, fastening on the outer foot with a gold buckle, and the block heel is, yes indeed, blocky. Low and sturdy, (1.5 inches specifically,) it’s the kind of heel that ladies who can’t totter can still master, as well as a practical height for people who have to work in presentable footwear and, you guessed it, a sensible option for those of us with foot pain that limits our choices. The rounded toe is comfortable, not to mention better for your foot health in the long-term than any pointed styles. The PU material is quick and easy to wipe clean, a god-send for someone like me who lives in the country and can often pick up a thin layer of mud just walking to and from the car.

I’ve heard from multiple people in the past that they consider Lulu Hun to be a brand that runs small across the board from season to season. Previously that wasn’t something that I noticed when I wore Lulu Hun’s in my usual UK 7, but since dealing with my foot injury I tried on some old Lulu Hun styles to reassess and decided sizing up into the 8 is probably a slightly more comfortable overall fit moving forward. As such, I asked for this pair in the 8 and they make for a good fit. They’re secure without being tight, comfortable without being roomy, with no pinching at the toe or rubbing at the heel. If you generally wear half sizes or you sometimes experience discomfort or pain in your feet, I would say that sizing up might be a good idea for you too.

I think this pair of shoes officially breaks down my old reticence regarding this style. I mean, I guess I am over 30 now, so it’s probably time I begin to give comfort equal billing with style. With these heels, that’s no great burden. In fact, you know what, I’m gonna burrow into my oversized Harry Potter bathrobe right now–someone summon me the yellow version of these cuties ready for when I reemerge from the snuggly fluff!

The Maryjane Block Heel is available in green, yellow, and pink in UK sizes 3-8, and can be found on Collectif’s website and in their UK stores, as well as on Lulu Hun’s own dedicated website.

____________________________________________________

[Disclaimer: The featured shoes were gifted to me by Lulu Hun (Collectif Clothing) in exchange for providing an honest review. The petticoat was gifted to me previously by Dolly & Dotty to feature in an honest review. All opinions expressed are truthful and my own, with no input from any brands, companies or individuals.]