Women's Espadrille Mule

An espadrille mule is a mule, closed at the toe and open at the back, built on an espadrille sole. That sole is a midsole wrapped in braided jute, a coarse plant fiber traditionally spun into rope, rather than shaped from leather or rubber. The flexible rope gives the shoe a soft, casual weight that a stacked leather sole cannot match, but it also sets firm limits on when and where the shoe can be worn.

A flat mule or a backless loafer can use almost any sole, including a hard leather or rubber one, and both hold up in more conditions than an espadrille mule does. A clog mule sits at the opposite extreme, with a thick rigid base built to survive standing and rough ground. The espadrille mule trades that durability for a lighter, softer step, and it reads as far more casual than either of them.

Wear it for beach trips, patios, and warm weather errands where the ground stays dry. It suits feet that find rigid soles tiring over an afternoon, since jute flexes with every step. Skip it for rain, wet grass, or any city walk where puddles are likely, and skip it too if you need a shoe that lasts through winter, since jute is strictly a warm season material.

The honest weakness is water. Jute soaks it up fast, and a wet rope sole stains, darkens unevenly, and softens until the shape sags underfoot. Rope also cannot be resoled the way a leather or rubber sole can, so once it wears through or comes apart at the edge, the shoe is generally done rather than repaired. Buy true to size, since there is little structure in the sole to stretch or mold to a foot that does not already fit.

Keep the pair away from rain and sprinklers entirely, and let a damp sole dry flat at room temperature rather than near heat, which cracks the rope fibers. Brush loose grit off the jute after wear so it does not grind into the weave. Store it somewhere dry between seasons, since rope left damp in a closet can mildew.