Background information
Fashion Lingo: what does a duster coat have to do with dust?
by Laura Scholz
Fashion lingo: what the heck are mules?
21.7.2022
Translation: Julia Graham
Moscow mules have their place in wet and happy evenings at the bar. But what do they have to do with summer shoes?
The answer is: nothing. The refreshing drink of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice is delicious, but it owes its name to the English word «mule». I’m sure how that came about is also an interesting story, but that’s not the one we’re talking about today. Because I’d like to focus on the other mule – the pretty shoe that takes me from A to B and keeps my feet well aired in these temperatures. And the origin of its name can be traced back to Latin.
The «Mulleus Calceus», purple sandals made of soft leather, were worn by aristocrats and high-ranking officials in the Roman Empire. It sounds fancy, but they lost their exclusivity drastically over the centuries. Nowadays we find the word «mule» in French and we’ve completely lost any trace of aristocracy. Translated, the word simply means «slipper».
What did I tell you. There’s no glamour here. But they make up for that by being trendy, comfortable and, above all, something you can easily recognise.
Source: Imaxtree
The two most important features that distinguish a mule are that the toes are covered, while the heel is exposed. Just like a good old slipper. The only difference being you can wear them outdoors. They come in different guises: flat ones, with a heel, made of leather or fabric, with a round point or square finish. It sounds like there’s a lot of legroom for mules, but their definition has its limits, too. They’re not to be confused with slides or slingbacks, for instance. As soon as you choose a shoe that only covers the instep of your foot with one or more straps and has the toes exposed, you’ve fallen for a pair of slides.
Source: Imaxtree
Another tricky one to decipher is this: if you’ve got a pair of shoes in your cupboard that are closed at the front (ticking off a box on the mule list) but with a strap around your heel, you’re looking at what’s called a slingback.
Source: Imaxtree
Confusing? It is a bit. And of course, knowledge that’s absolutely useless. Who cares if they’re called mules, slides, slingbacks or just sandals? Most online shops don’t even categorise them properly. But IF you ever get into the situation where nerdy fashion know-how could earn you plus points or admiration, you can certainly make an impression with your Roman facts and nitpicky details.
*In the «Fashion lingo» series, I try to shed light on the dark that is language in the fashion industry. If you also feel like the words sometimes gets lost in translation, I’ll do my best to help. Just drop your question in the comments.
Laura Scholz
Senior Editor
Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.chAlways in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.
Fashion
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