For the second consecutive quarter, a mary jane hybrid shoe is one of the top 10 hottest products in the world.
Vibram‘s V-Soul, a FiveFingers glove shoe with a partially open foot and straps like you’d find on a ballet flat or mary jane, took the number-five spot in the Q2 2025 Lyst Index. Its appearance, driven by a 110 increase in traffic on Lyst‘s platform, comes after the Puma’s Speedcat Ballet took the number-three spot for the first quarter of 2025 and the market for similar hybrid models has exploded.
Largely sold out through several restocks this year, the V-Soul offers a very particular experience to wearers because of its articulated toes and barefoot-style sole. Employing the shoe can strengthen muscles otherwise neglected by more robust footwear, but that same process can also cause some initial growing pains.
The V-Soul was the third hottest shoe in Lyst’s report, behind only The Row’s Dune sandal at number-one overall and Miu Miu’s Suede Loafer at number four. Taking the second spot was the Skims Tank Top, and directly behind it was the Adidas Adicolor Classics Sprinter Shorts at number three. No bag appeared in the top 10, which is the first time that’s happened since Lyst began releasing its quarterly Index in 2018.
Sneakers borrowing elements of mary janes and ballet flats have formed one of the defining trends for footwear in 2025. Although not technically such a hybrid, the Adidas Taekwondo fits the aesthetic with its barely there sole and was Lyst’s hottest shoe for first quarter 2025 and the second hottest product overall. A subsequent spinoff of the model, Bad Bunny’s Ballerina, leaned into the connection even further.
Speaking to Footwear News in April, StockX merchandising director Drew Haines said of the proliferation of these hybrid models: “I think this has some staying power. Believe it or not, back to school isn’t too far away. And the holiday season, we’re already deep into here. I think these products could be some of the ones that you see as some of the top, top sellers during that time.”
Ballet flats and mary janes had already been trending for years on their own, and the addition of sneaker tech brings both added comfort and a bridge between formal and casual. Similar transformations include Puma’s Mostro Fey, the Louis Vuitton Sneakerina and Crocs’ Terre Ballet Core.
