First came ballet sneakers. Then strappy Mary Janes. Now, athletic shoes have reinvented themselves yet again. Enter: the sneaker mule. Just as it sounds, the style combines a lace-up upper with a backless silhouette, making them cute, comfortable and uber convenient (I mean, who wants to stop to lace up their shoes when they're in a rush?). Not to mention, they're a total conversation starter—"Whoa, what are those?"
As someone whose job it is to scroll through the latest fashion drops every season, I first noticed these sporty-in-the-front, easy-in-the-back sneakers popping up at retailers in late summer. My first thought: Where have these been all my life? Well, now that brands from Adidas to Vans have hopped aboard the hybrid trend, they're nearly everywhere—and I consider them a fresh alternative to those fuzzy clogs we usually reach for in the fall and winter. Ahead, find seven of my favorite sneaker mules you can shop this minute (and yes, you can totally wear them with socks).
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