Fall loafers and mules have taken over from the office pump and the weekend sneaker. They are flat, they are dressed, and they go with wide trousers and a long skirt. This edit picks the leather, suede and velvet styles that look good with everything.
Fall Loafers and Mules: The Flat Shoes Worth Buying Now
The loafer, still the anchor
A good leather loafer is the shoe that makes jeans look like an outfit, and fall loafers are the easy way to prove it. The Lucille from Loeffler Randall comes in black leather and brown suede, the Vale in dark brown velvet is the dressier choice, and the Carter adds a lug sole for rain. Wear them with a sock and a straight-leg trouser and you are done. Check the lining and the sole before anything else, since those decide whether a loafer lasts. What I would skip: a loafer so rigid it needs a month of breaking in.
Mules that stay on
The mule is the easy one: slip in, walk out. Jenni Kayne's Miller comes in suede and leather with a pointed, flat shape, while the Gemma from Loeffler Randall is a lug-sole mule that handles wet pavements. They suit a cropped trouser, where the shape of the shoe shows. If a jacket is next on your list, fall jackets are the logical partner for a mule on a cool day. What I would skip: a mule with no heel grip, which will slap on every step.
Ballet flats with a point of view
The ballet flat is back in a form that looks adult. The black suede Noelle and the brown suede Tove keep it slim, the Anja from Staud is a quiet espresso option, and the champagne Noelle adds a little party. Pair them with a skirt and a chunky knit, and the combination looks very of the moment. What I would skip: anything so flat and thin that your foot hurts by lunch.
Which pair to buy first
Start with the loafer if you walk a lot and the mule if you dress up less often. Either one will work across the whole season.
