Jennifer Garner elevates backless Mary Janes with polished Versace elegance

Jennifer Garner made the backless Mary Jane look less like a novelty than a wardrobe tool built for quiet luxury, pairing Tom Ford’s Vertigo pumps with a Versace little black dress at NBCUniversal’s Upfront at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The result was all clean lines and deliberate polish: a pointed toe, a low-cut vamp and a single strap that gave the shoe the neat finish of a flat with the lift of a modest heel.

The appearance on May 11, 2026 also doubled as a preview for Peacock’s The Five Star Weekend, Garner’s upcoming series with an eight-episode binge drop on July 9, adapted from Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling novel. NBCUniversal staged the presentation in NBC’s centennial year, which made the whole look feel especially controlled and camera-ready. WWD identified Garner’s shoes as Tom Ford’s Vertigo Mary Jane Pumps in black calf leather, priced at $1,350. Tom Ford describes the style with an 85mm stiletto heel, a pointy toe and a logo-engraved buckle strap, details that explain why the shoe reads polished rather than precious.

That balance is exactly why the backless Mary Jane is slipping so easily into an old-money wardrobe. Marie Claire linked the silhouette to Spring 2026 direction from Ferragamo, Simone Rocha and Marco Rambaldi, and Garner has already worn Mary Jane heels to Dior’s Spring 2025 show two Septembers earlier. The shape has real historical weight, too. Mary Janes began as a children’s shoe tied to the Buster Brown comic strip, were marketed under that name in the early 1900s and became popular among women in the 1920s, including flapper-era wearers. The appeal has always been restraint, not flash.

What makes this version feel current is its practicality. The 85mm heel gives enough height for evening, but it still sits in the useful zone where a dressy shoe can survive a dinner, a reception or a long stretch of standing. The best backless Mary Janes, like Garner’s, work with hemlines that show the ankle, especially knee-length sheaths, midi skirts and lean columns that let the strap and vamp stay visible. The strongest versions stay in patent or smooth calf leather, keep the toe pointed and the hardware precise, and avoid overworked trims. When the shape gets too open or too decorative, it loses its composure. Garner’s choice worked because it bridged classic flats and low heels with just enough lift to feel finished, which is where old-money dressing now looks most convincing.