We get asked this a lot, especially as routine kicks back in: should you reach for a flat or a wedge when you're restocking your work wardrobe? Both the Mary Jane and the espadrille wedge are dark-neutral staples built for full days on your feet, but they suit different dress codes, different heel preferences, and different kinds of days.
This guide compares our Mary Jane in Midnight and our Carla Espadrille Wedge in Midnight Pewter, two closed-toe styles in the same deep, versatile shade, so you can work out which one belongs in your rotation this season, or whether you need both. Both are part of our wider Dark Neutrals edit, built for the return to office life, classrooms, and everything in between.
What Doesn't Change
Before we get into what's different, here's what stays the same. Both styles are handcrafted in Spain from buttery-soft leather that moulds to your foot with wear. Both are fully closed-toe, which makes them workplace-appropriate wherever a strict dress code applies. And both are built on a cushioned memory foam innersole, designed for comfort through long days rather than short bursts. Midnight, the shade both come in here, is about as versatile as neutrals get: dark enough to look sharp with tailoring, soft enough to wear with denim on a Friday.
Where they part ways is silhouette, heel height, and the kind of day each one is built for.
Mary Jane in Midnight
The Mary Jane in Midnight is fully flat, with an enclosed toe and heel in soft nappa leather and a fully fabric-lined interior. It's the shoe built for the strictest dress codes - the kind of workplace where sandals and open-back styles simply aren't an option - while still keeping your feet flat and grounded through a long day of moving between meetings, desks, and school gates. It's an easy shoe to forget you're wearing, which is exactly the point on a day with back-to-back plans.
Best for: full days on your feet, strict dress codes, and anyone who prefers a flat over a heel.
Shop the Mary Jane collection, or this shade in Mary Jane in Midnight.
Carla Espadrille Wedge in Midnight Pewter
The Carla Espadrille Wedge in Midnight Pewter keeps the same closed-toe coverage but adds an 8cm jute heel and a metallic pewter ankle strap for a sharper finish. It's built for days that need a bit more polish: client meetings, dinners straight after work, or anywhere a flat feels too casual, without giving up the closed-toe practicality of the Mary Jane. The jute heel base keeps it grounded rather than precarious, so the extra height doesn't come at the cost of stability.
Best for: meetings, evenings, and workplaces where a heel reads as more polished.
Shop the Carla Espadrille Wedge collection, or this shade in Carla Espadrille Wedge in Midnight Pewter.
At a Glance
|
Mary Jane in Midnight |
Carla Espadrille Wedge in Midnight Pewter |
|
|
Innersole |
High-density memory foam |
Microfibre-lined memory foam |
|
Heel height |
Flat |
8cm jute heel |
|
Toe |
Fully enclosed |
Fully enclosed |
|
Best suited to |
Full days on your feet |
Meetings, evenings, dressier settings |
|
Price |
AED 475 |
AED 460 |
How to Choose
Still torn? Here's how to think it through.
If you're on your feet for most of the day - teaching, retail, or any job that keeps you standing rather than sitting, a flat is usually the more forgiving choice. If you're specifically after the best shoes for standing all day, start with a flat, fully enclosed style like the Mary Jane, which keeps your weight evenly distributed through a long shift.
If your workplace dress code expects a heel - some offices and client-facing roles call for a bit more height. The Carla's 8cm jute heel adds that polish while still keeping the closed-toe coverage a strict dress code needs.
If you're doing the school run before the office - a flat is the more practical starting point for the morning rush. You can always switch into a wedge once you're at your desk if the day calls for it.
If your evening runs straight into your workday - the Carla's metallic strap and added height make it easy to go from your desk to dinner without a change of shoes.
If you're building out a small work capsule and only want to buy one pair for now, think about which end of your week has more of it: mostly desk and meetings, lean into the Carla; mostly moving and standing, lean into the Mary Jane.
If you're not sure and want to try both - that's exactly what Shoeq Concierge is for. Order both, choose Shoeq Concierge at checkout, and try them on at home before deciding which one earns a permanent place in your wardrobe.
Shop by Colour
Both of these styles come in a small range of shades, but Midnight is where they meet: the deep, versatile black that works for both.
For the full shade range, browse the Mary Jane collection and the Carla Espadrille Wedge collection.
FAQ
Is a closed-toe shoe too warm for Dubai?
Not for the office. Both styles are designed for air-conditioned indoor wear; it's the walk to the car park that's the real test, not the shoe itself.
What if I'm not sure which size to order?
Order your usual size and note a second size in the checkout notes when you select Shoeq Concierge as your shipping option. We'll send both to try at home before you decide.
Can I wear either style for a full day of walking?
Both are built with a cushioned innersole for long wear. Which one suits you better comes down to personal preference between a flat and a low wedge; there's no wrong choice, just a matter of what your day and your dress code call for.
Ready to Choose?
Both the Mary Jane and the Carla Espadrille Wedge are part of our wider Dark Neutrals edit: flats and wedges built for the return to routine, in colours that work with everything. Free delivery is available across the UAE, with same-day delivery in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Still deciding? Order both through Shoeq Concierge at checkout and try them on at home before committing - see how Shoeq Concierge works.
Browse the full Mary Jane collection and Carla Espadrille Wedge collection, or head to our fall work shoe edit for more ideas on building out your office wardrobe this season.
