In beauty terms, burgundy falls between black (invisible) and tan (too fucking loud). It’s neutral without being boring, and universally flattering on denim, camel, grey and black. Pair that with decent construction and you end up with a shoe that gets way more wear than expected from something so boldly coloured.
The shade that works the best errs towards oxblood or mature wine rather than raspberry or plum, as brighty burgs become more statement.
As far as construction goes, it’s where most mules lose me. With no heel counter to keep them snug against the ankle, a mule’s fit needs to be near perfect where most other shoes can be slapdash. Look for a tight vamp, a short heel or chunky heel instead of skinny, and opt for leather or a leather like material with body instead of thin, floppy suede. A square or rounded toe will also hold up better over time, while a pointy toe will crease more visibly.
How you wear them is honestly easy. Under a pair of wide leg trousers they’re great, with just enough colour peeking through to tie everything together. Midi skirts and simple dresses are also outfit staples that mules can finish off better than a flat sandal, but without being as high maintenance as a heel.
Rolled denim and a plain jumper is also an obvious win for colder months. Come spring and summer bare ankles are obviously your best bet, but a skinny in an opaque knit can also work well to transition them into fall without looking too trendy.
Speaking of trends, while they’re not a shoe for your wedding or an evening out by themselves, they’re amazing in the in between. Maybe you’ve got dinner that’s not quite fancy enough to warrant heels, or an office that allows some personality. Maybe you’ve just got too many events where you feel like you should wear something polished but know you’ll spend most of the time chasing after kids/traveling/wildly drinking. Mules are the shoe equivalent of tacos; delicious anytime, but also fantastic when you don’t want to over think dinner.
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