GO BACKLESS THIS SUMMER
They’re useless in the rain. You can’t wear tights. Or run for the bus. But mules are still a must-have
Every so often a shoe style comes along that you simply can’t afford to ignore.
you might look at this shoe and think: ‘really? I’m not sure I can manage that.’ Or, alternatively, you may be thrilled.
either way, it’s this shoe that will make your trousers and skirts and dresses look fresh and contemporary for the foreseeable
future. And this time that shoe is the Marmite of footwear: mules.
If, like me, you’re firmly in the No, Please Not Them camp, then here are a few things to bear in mind. Of all the mules out there — and there are an awful lot, from flat and rope- soled to black leather with four-inch heels — the ones that will suit our needs best have a midblock or kitten heel. you’re no more likely to slip off these (always an anxiety with mules) than fall out of a kitten-heeled slingback.
If you’re still not convinced, there are plenty with a big toe strap, or an extra bar across the bridge of the foot, for added security. These mules are made for walking.
A shoe with no back is, admittedly, a hazard in the rain, but no one is suggesting you wear these if it’s pouring. Pick your moment, and maybe carry a spare pair of shoes in case it turns nasty. It’s not a reason to be put off is all we’re saying, especially as we are heading into summer fast.
There is the issue of not being able to wear tights or socks with mules (that’s non-negotiable), but compulsory foot bareness is a big part of why they’re going to be so useful in the weeks ahead.
you put on your summer party frock and realise even your lightish leather heels are in another fashion postcode, and it’s at this moment that a pair of cornflower-blue suede mules with a green buckle (£225,
lkbennett.com, not pictured) are just what you’re looking for. Not too solid, not too naked, lighter than a shoe, lower than your other heels, and elegant in a new way.
The message is unavoidable: mules look like Summer 2019, and we had better get used to them.
So, where to start? Maybe swap
your snake-print ankle boots for zebra-print two-strap mules. If you want to go lower, there is the similarly striped Moroccan-style mule (both pictured above).
The joy of mules is you can stick with monochrome, as they’re automatically so much lighter, and a black leather mule cut high on the foot, with a tan heel (£89, whistles.
com), already looks like a city classic. The naked sandal is also big for summer, as you know, so if you want to combine the two looks — barely there and backless — try Topshop’s black sandals (above). Most of us will go for something between the two extremes — a mid-slim heel and a cross-strap are the details that make a mule easy and versatile, and the olive-green of the ones above from Topshop make them extra chic.
That said, if you’ve got a long day ahead of standing in marquees or church halls, a soft suede mule with a slim platform (£29.99,
zara.com) has ‘summer party stayer’ written all over it.
The more slide-like styles — lower with one broad strap — are undoubtedly more casual, but not so casual you can’t wear them to the office with a midi dress. But keep the flat rope- soled mules for the weekend. The Duchess of Cambridge may wear her espadrille wedges for every occasion, but that’s a different thing altogether.
As for the bag you might wear with these mules, this summer the choice is between a neat wicker bag (more casual) or something boxy in ice cream-coloured leather. It could be doll-sized and plain, or blinged up like a drum majorette but, either way, you’re probably carrying it by the handle or tucked under your elbow like a trophy toy dog.
This crop of bags are a feminine flourish — prettier and less functional than what we’ve been used to. A bit like mules, really.