Move Over "Dad" Sneakers, It's All About "Mom" Mules Now

Scrolling 0.5 seconds into the abyss of Instagram, it's clear to see that the "ugly" shoe trend in the form of "dad" sneakers is sticking around. But what if we were to reveal the new family member in town? "Mom" mules are reigning supreme in the style stakes amongst the influencers, and the more elegant dressers amongst us (read: those who loathe athleisure) are really quite thrilled to ring in a new shoe trend.

The shoes feature heel heights of at most two inches and offer slightly retro finishes (think metallics, colored leathers, square toes), adding to the wholly enjoyable feeling of prancing around in our mom's '80s shoes when we were but wee babes, but when Fendi and Rupert Sanderson are on board, they're getting a very modern seal of approval. Need further proof? Mango's Committed sandals recently sold out, got restocked, and sold out again within hours of landing on site—the power of the "mom" mule is clear to see.

What makes these pairs different to the usual mule clan? It's all about the slim low-down cross strap, making them slightly trickier to stay on your feet, but once they're on, you'll struggle to (want to) remove them all summer—trust us. What's nice is that they're a go-with-everything kind of purchase—we've seen influencers wearing them with high-waisted jeans as easily as they do with a party dress. Keep scrolling to see how to wear these new mid-heel mules and to shop some of our favorites below.