It might just be the most comfortable fashion trend of the season, and something many people have secretly dreamed of for years: slippers are finally leaving the house.
In warm countries with relatively relaxed dress codes, such as Israel, flip-flops have long been considered acceptable summer footwear well beyond the beach. Try that in many parts of Europe, Japan or the United States, however, and you may encounter a very different attitude.
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Slipper-inspired footwear on the runways of Conner Ives, Ralph Lauren and Gucci
(Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images, Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images, Alessandro Levati/Getty Images for Gucci)
This fall, though, fashion is blurring the boundaries between indoor comfort and outdoor style, as slippers, or at least shoes that look remarkably like them, make their way from the living room and bedroom onto city sidewalks.
These are not the soft, flimsy house slippers designed for shuffling between the couch and the kitchen. Instead, the trend centers on fashionable versions of slippers and flat mules, generally slip-on designs without laces and often without a back, making them easy to slide into.
Fashion brands ranging from Ralph Lauren and Givenchy to UGG and Bershka are offering their own interpretations of the trend this season.
UGG shoes available at Originals
(Photo: PR)
The movement is another reminder of the lasting influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which fundamentally changed consumer expectations around comfort roughly six years ago.
Slippers have appeared in fashion collections over the past several years, but they have undergone a decidedly stylish evolution. Luxury fashion houses have now elevated the look, helping bring it to a broader audience.
At Gucci, for example, the brand has brought fur back to its classic Horsebit footwear, seemingly testing whether one of its most recognizable trends from a decade ago can make a successful comeback.
Rising designer Conner Ives has decorated his versions with floral embroidery, while Calvin Klein presented glossy caramel-colored leather designs. At Toteme, the aesthetic takes on an exotic, velvety appearance in a rich saffron shade.
Zadig & Voltaire shoes
(Photo: PR)
The appeal of slipper-inspired shoes lies in their comfort and effortless attitude. They look almost as though they were never trying to be fashionable in the first place, yet they work surprisingly well with wide-leg jeans, midi skirts and even sequin dresses.
The styling trick, at least according to the runways, is to skip the socks and let the shoes create the impression that you simply walked out of the house without changing your footwear. Only this time, that was the plan all along.
16 slipper-inspired shoes for every style and budget
1. The laid-back pair
Bershka | 170 shekels
Beige slip-on mules with a silver-tone metal buckle
Sizes: EU 35–41
Why we love them: The side buckle gives these otherwise simple shoes a polished touch. The affordable price is a bonus.
Bershka mules, 170 shekels
(Photo: PR)
2. The elegant pair
Kenneth Cole at HaMashbir | 700 shekels
Gray leather mules
Sizes: EU 36–41
Why we love them: The sophisticated gray shade and square toe. These are the kind of shoes that would look especially good with an oversized tailored suit.
Kenneth Cole mules at Hamashbir, 700 shekels
(Photo: Yonatan Levy)
3. The fuzzy pair
Intima | 200 shekels
Stone-colored woolly mules
Sizes: EU 36–41
Why we love them: Their sheep-like, fluffy appearance. Pair them with wide-leg jeans for a relaxed, effortlessly casual look.
Intima mules, 200 shekels
(Photo: Idan Malka)
4. The casual pair
Aldo | 400 shekels
Reddish-brown mules with a metal buckle
Sizes: EU 35–41, including half sizes
Why we love them: The relaxed silhouette makes them a comfortable option for anyone who wants to arrive at the office without sacrificing ease.
Aldo mules, 400 shekels
(Photo: PR)
5. The luxury pair
Givenchy at Factory 54 | 2,690 shekels
Black leather mules
Sizes: EU 35–40.5
Why we love them: The sensual way the leather wraps around the foot. To take the trend to its most glamorous extreme, wear them with a floor-length silk-satin evening gown.
Givenchy mules at Factory 54, 2,690 shekels
(Photo: Courtesy of the brand)
6. The furry pair
Birkenstock at Originals | 1,000 shekels
Gray fur-covered mules
Sizes: EU 36–41
Why we love them: Their wonderfully wild appearance, somewhere between a polar bear and a luxury shopping mall.
Birkenstock mules at Originals, 1,000 shekels
(Photo: PR)
7. The versatile pair
Diesel | 1,100 shekels
Honey-colored sneaker-inspired mules
Sizes: EU 35–41
Why we love them: The playful combination of indoor and outdoor footwear. From the front they resemble sneakers, while from behind they look like house slippers. Perfect for anyone who struggles with major decisions, Libras included.
Diesel mules, 1,100 shekels
(Photo: PR)
8. The fashion-forward pair
UGG at Originals | 600 shekels
Heeled mules decorated with a braid of colorful threads
Sizes: EU 36–41
Why we love them: The colorful braided embellishment, which taps into one of the season's biggest decorative trends.
UGG mules at Originals, 600 shekels
(Photo: PR)
9. The cozy pair
Mou at Terminal X | 420 shekels, reduced from 700
Brown fur-lined suede mules with tie detailing
Sizes: EU 36–41
Why we love them: Their unmistakably cozy appearance. They look like an invitation to spend a cold winter evening in a mountain cabin.
Mou mules at Terminal X, 420 shekels, reduced from 700
(Photo: Courtesy of the brand)
10. The iconic pair
Gucci | 990 dollars, approximately 3,003 shekels
Chocolate-brown fur mules
Sizes: EU 35–41
Why we love them: The combination of wild and domestic aesthetics recalls the brand's famous fur-lined slippers from Alessandro Michele's era a decade ago. It will be interesting to see whether consumers embrace their return.
Gucci fur mules, approximately 3,003 shekels
(Photo: https://www.gucci.com)
11. The festive pair
Naot | 520 shekels
Mint-colored mules with a matching bow
Sizes: EU 35–43
Why we love them: The charming bow adds a feminine, delicate touch to the shoes, making them a playful option for dressing up.
Naot mules, 520 shekels
(Photo: Tal Terry)
12. The sexy pair
Pretty Ballerinas | 849 shekels
Leopard-print mules with a pointed toe
Sizes: EU 36–43
Why we love them: The combination of leopard print and a sharply pointed toe. These shoes would look particularly good with long jeans or a loose-fitting caftan.
Pretty Ballerinas mules, 849 shekels
(Photo: Mascaro)
13. The affordable pair
Purple | 164 shekels
Raffia mules with a metal buckle
Sizes: EU 36–41
Why we love them: The accessible price and subtle nod to Gucci. An appealing option for anyone who does not want to spend too much on a seasonal trend.
Purple mules, 164 shekels
(Photo: PR)
14. The exotic pair
Toteme at Net-a-Porter | 670 dollars, approximately 2,032 shekels
Saffron-colored Venetian velvet slippers
Sizes: EU 35–42
Why we love them: The beautiful color and the comfortable way the design envelops the foot. An investment piece from one of the most talked-about rising fashion labels of recent years.
Toteme velvet slippers at Net-a-Porter, approximately 2,032 shekels
(Photo: Net-a-Porter)
15. The animal-print pair
Blue Heart at the Blue Heart chain | 99 shekels, reduced from 199
Leopard-print mules with a fur lining
Sizes: EU 36–43
Why we love them: The combination of comfort and an exceptionally low price. A winning formula for less than 100 shekels.
Blue Heart mules, 99 shekels, reduced from 199
(Photo: PR)
16. The rock 'n' roll pair
Zadig & Voltaire | 957.50 shekels, reduced from 1,915
Leather mules with a logo buckle
Sizes: EU 36–41
Why we love them: The leather construction gives these shoes a tougher, more rebellious character, making them equally suited to indoor lounging and outdoor wear.
Zadig & Voltaire leather mules, 957.50 shekels, reduced from 1,915
(Photo: PR)