Five ways to wear mules if you’re not stuck in the 90s

We promise it's an easy trend

We promise it's an easy trend

Mules are having a bit of a fashion moment (they're an Alexa Chung favourite), but they can be a bit scary to pull off, especially if the last time you tried them was the 90s. Pick the right style, and they'll elevate any outfit, but go for the wrong one, and you risk looking outdated.

Heeled mules are fairly easy to pull off. Go for a metallic crossover style like the Gucci ones and add a floaty floral dress for the ultimate party or wedding guest outfit. For the office, pair them with cropped satin trousers and a simple white t-shirt.

Flat mules on the other hand, are a separate beast altogether, especially the slipper ones. So how do you wear them? We thought it would be a bit easier to show you by styling a single pair, five different ways. We pick the velvet lobster Kurt Geiger mules that everyone seems to be wearing at the moment, but these tips are transferable with any similar pair.

Shop now: Otter KG Kurt Geiger Navy Slippers for £130 from Kurt Geiger

Scroll down to see how to wear mules for any occasion.

Mules with cropped trousers

Culottes or cropper trousers work best with mules as they are more flattering. Because mules hide most of your feet, showing a bit of skin will break up your outfit and give the appearance of being taller. Which is always a bonus if you're short like me.

I'm a fan of dark denim culottes as they go with everything and are that littler bit smarter than washed denim, but this look will work just as well with chinos. Because the shoes have the lobster on them, you don't want to add loud prints into the mix, however the pie crust shirt has a subtle enough stripe and polka dot motif to not be too overwhelming.

Mules with jeans

Jeans are always my go-to if I'm not sure what to wear, as they're so easy to dress up or down. Because of the style of the mules, I've got for my trusted mum jeans, which are cropped. Just add a striped t-shirt, throw over a blazer and you're done.

Mules with a skirt

For a more work-appropriate look, you can't go wrong with a pleated skirt. For winter, opt for a leather-look one like this one, but for summer a floatier fabric will work better. I've chosen to pair it with a classic men's white shirt to keep the focus on the shoes. The bonus with this look is that it's dressy enough for post-work drinks, and you can even swap the flats for heels.

Mules with a jumpsuit

If you're a lazy girl at heart, this look is for you. Wriggle into your favourite denim jumpsuit (or silk if you're feeling fancy), slip your feet into mules and you're literally ready to go. Also a great option if you're running late after hitting the snooze button too many times.

Mules with a dress

I'm a firm believer you don't have to wear heels to look the part on a night out. Here, statement earrings and a simple shirt dress instantly smarten up flats. This look will work with any dress, just make sure you pick a style that's not too clingy as you want to balance things out. Try an A-line or cinched-in look.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.