Mule (shoe)

The English word mule—originally written moyle—comes from French, which was using it specifically for women's slippers with an open heel since at least 1556.

Through the centuries, mules have changed in style and purpose and are no longer just boudoir shoes but are worn at any time, for any occasion.

[1] It is much disputed whether the mulleus properly referred to the special senatorial shoe (calceus senatorius) or the older shoe particular to Rome's patrician class (calceus patricius) since they both seem to have usually been dyed, may have varied over time,[4] and Roman colors—particularly around items dyed with Tyrian purple—could encompass a large range of distinct shades.

Fashion plates that exist from the end of the 1790s describe women wearing mules but are not seen due to the long lengths of the contemporary petticoats.

[9] "Ballin' The Jack," also known as a Spring-o-Lator mule, attributed to the Herbert Levine Company, where an elastic strip in the footbed that bridged the ball of the foot to the arch, allowed the wearer to keep the shoes securely on while wearing stockings, despite the lack of any straps at the side or back of the shoes.

From 1885 to 1910, the trend of large buckles and elaborate trims was replaced by less decorated low heeled leather and felt shoes.

[8] In the twentieth century wartime mules of the 1940s were made of lino, oilcloth, felt, compounds of raffia, rattan, bark or synthetic hemp.

In eighth century Egypt, mules are depicted on gravestones and seem to be made of red kid.

[20] A mule from Turkey in the Metropolitan Museum's collection is made of wood, leather, metal, and silk.

[21] Mules from India were made from cow, buffalo or goat hide, fur, silk, wool, or cotton fiber, velvets, brocade and reeds and grass.

For example, Pierre Yantorny's mules designed for Rita de Acosta Lydig are made of an identical to other Near Eastern footwear.

Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I famously wore an embroidered pair of mules in the 17th century.

[24] During the 1950s, iconic actresses like Marilyn Monroe, Joan Fontaine, and Jayne Russel wore the marabou mules in their films and daily lives.

[27] Beyoncé's Instagram post of her wearing Givenchy mules received over 2 million likes.

These shoes were snapped on celebrities' social media platforms from Marc Jacobs to Leandra Medine of Man Repeller.

[29] In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, combined two major shoe trends in one mule at the Venice Film Festival.