Practicality Meets Polish in These New Mules From Dr. Martens

There’s a certain satisfaction in finding a piece that works for every sartorial situation, something unfussy, well-constructed, and adaptable enough to move through the shifting demands of a week. It’s not about chasing trends; it’s building a foundation. Some days call for polish, others for ease. Most call for both. Which is why the most valuable styles in a wardrobe are the ones that meet in the middle.

Footwear, in particular, has to rise to the challenge. It should be subtle, intentional, and built to move. Enter the Zebzag AnyWair mule from Dr. Martens, a backless silhouette designed for looking stylish and feeling comfortable all day long. Built on the brand’s lightweight, ergonomic Zebzag outsole and cushioned with SoftWair footbed technology, it’s meant to support your pace while quietly elevating whatever you’re wearing. The strap can be locked in or left relaxed, depending on your mood or what’s on the itinerary. It’s the kind of shoe that keeps you grounded—even when the day pulls you in every direction.

To show how this plays out in practice, we turned to two fashion editors with an eye for the essentials: ELLE’s Dale Arden Chong, whose styling is equal parts practical and expressive; and Esquire’s Luke Guillory, whose approach blends utility with understated cool. Both spend their days testing what’s worth wearing and why.

For Dale, the Zebzag AnyWair mule is less of an accessory and more of a constant. Her first look pairs the silhouette with a matching taupe striped suit that features exaggerated sleeves and bell-bottom trousers. Worn with the tan mule, it transforms from traditional tailoring into something more directional. The backless shoe softens the severity of the suit, lending it ease without losing the fashion edge. In her second, she shifts to texture: a brown linen vest and over culottes. The tones are warm, the fit flirty, and the mule in Savannah tan adds structure. Her final look is more playful: a white shirt under a gauzy red button-down with candy-colored buttons, light-wash bermuda shorts, and eggplant socks. It’s casual but not careless, and the mule grounds the whole thing with clarity.

And that’s the point. Essentials should make things easier, not more complicated. The right shoes don’t just finish a look but hold it together. The Zebzag AnyWair mule is built for whatever the day throws at you, no matter the dress code. It’s proof that function, style, and comfort can coexist, and that getting dressed can feel effortless—even when the day ahead is anything but.

Photography by Emma Anderson; directed by Kandice Chavous; cinematography by Stephen Taylor; fashion styling by Scott Shapiro; creative production by Hannah Miller and Camryn DeCosta; edited by Jaclyn Palermo; hair and makeup by Christine Cherbonnier; set designing by Maisie Sattler.