Natalie Portman stepped onto the blue carpet at the “Arco” premiere in Paris on Sunday in a sharply cut pair of mary janes that blended classic construction with small, modern cues.

The black shoes were built on a low block heel with a sharply squared toe — a shape that’s been showing up more often this year. A thin strap crossed the vamp, topped with a bow. The shoes were fastened by a small crescent-moon charm off to the side, which added a modern, playful touch.

Portman has spent much of 2025 leaning into grounded, archive-coded footwear. Just two months earlier in New York, she worked Gucci’s horsebit loafers into her on-set wardrobe for “Good Sex,” pairing the heritage staple with ribbed crew socks. She’s also opted for slip-on Oxfords and leather loafers on set. The mary jane sits comfortably within that rotation — structured, subtle and with a wink of playfulness with the subtle hardware.

The actress kept the rest of her look casual and texture-focused, pairing her mary janes with a soft gray sweater featuring an oversized ruffle neckline and a raw-hem denim miniskirt.

Mary janes have been mounting a steady return this fall, balancing retro-coded nostalgia with sharper lines and fresh detailing. Julia Roberts recently reached for Manolo Blahnik’s Campariba style in New York, while Queen Letizia of Spain has turned Sézane’s Paula Babies into a reliable staple. Even the performance world has taken note — Hoka debuted its Bondi mary jane hybrid sneaker on Tanner Fletcher’s spring 2026 runway, a sign of just how far the silhouette has traveled.

“Arco” is a new animated sci-fi film from illustrator Ugo Bienvenu, produced by Natalie Portman. It follows a 10-year-old boy from the year 2932 who accidentally time travels to 2075, where he meets a girl named Iris. The film, set in a future devastated by climate change, premiered at Cannes in May and opens in France on Oct. 22 before its U.S. release on Nov. 14.