Julianne Hough Elevates Her DWTS Press Tour in Giuseppe Zanotti Mules and Blood-Orange Alaïa

Julianne Hough is set to return as co-host of Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, premiering on ABC and Disney+ on September 15.

The new season will also bring Jenna Dewan to the Dancing with the Stars cast, fresh from her own summery GMA appearance in Christian Louboutin thong heels.

With the premiere just around the corner, Hough has been making the press rounds to promote the new season, stepping out in a series of polished, summery looks from Alaïa and Michael Kors. She paired the feminine silhouettes with sleek black mules, including a pair by Giuseppe Zanotti, adding a sharp, modern edge to her soft and fluid outfits.

Julianne Hough promotes the 35th Season of Dancing with the Stars on Good Morning America wearing summery Alaïa and Michael Kors outfits with black mules in New York City on September 1-2, 2026 (Credit: Elder Ordonez / Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Blood-Orange Drama: Julianne Hough Pairs Alaïa With Sculptural Giuseppe Zanotti Mules

Julianne Hough wore Giuseppe Zanotti’s “Intriigo Cluedo” mules, which balanced her bold, avant-garde ensemble with a sleek, architectural touch. The distinctive silhouette belongs to the same Intriigo mule family recently worn by Michelle Monaghan, reinforcing the style’s place among Giuseppe Zanotti’s more directional 2026 designs.

The mules had a unique geometric look, cut in Italy from smooth black suede with a sharp profile and a sculptural vamp that extended high along the sides of the foot. The pointed peep toes offered a glimpse of her toes, adding another sharp, modern detail to the structured design. Giuseppe Zanotti is also familiar territory for Hough, who previously wore the Italian designer’s gold triple-strap sandals when she and Derek Hough won an Emmy for their Dancing with the Stars choreography.

I loved how the backless construction gave the shoes a relaxed slip-on feel, while the slim stiletto heels added a classic touch and extra height to Hough’s 5-foot-3 frame. The dancer and actress has long used stilettos, platforms, and other height-boosting silhouettes to elongate her petite proportions.

Hough’s Intriigo Cluedo 105 mules are priced at $850, but Giuseppe Zanotti has expanded the sculptural Intriigo concept into a much broader footwear family. Shoppers can explore the Intriigo collection at Giuseppe Zanotti, with variations including lower-heeled Cluedo 90 mules, minimalist Intriigo 70 and 90 styles, open-toe versions, strappy 105mm sandals, braided designs, crystal-embellished evening shoes, and statement Jewelry and Savage mules.

Julianne Hough gives her summery outfit an edgy twist with the Giuseppe Zanotti “Intriigo Cluedo” mules featuring a sculptural vamp, pointed peep toes, and stiletto heels (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)

Hough paired the geometric mules with a two-piece blood-orange cotton gabardine Alaïa Spring 2026 look, striking a nice balance between sharp structure and a playful, summery mood.

The top ($1,730 at Net-a-Porter) featured a crew neckline, a boxy fit, a sleeveless cut, and a back button closure. I especially liked the integrated belt, which wrapped around her waist, drew attention to her bare midriff, and broke up the structured shape.

While the top was relatively simple, the triangle pants ($2,160 at Net-a-Porter) made the look even more modern. They sat at the mid-waist and featured asymmetrical tapered legs, with seamed panels shaping the silhouette and ruffled trims along the sides adding movement and a playful touch.

Gold hoop earrings peeked through her side-parted blonde bob, while Khaite x Oliver Peoples 1991 sunglasses and a black bag rounded out her cool look.

Julianne Hough pairs her black peep-toe mules with the blood-orange Alaia crop top and triangle pants set featuring asymmetrical tapered legs with side ruffles and thick ankle ties (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)

All-Black Movement: Julianne Hough Pairs Michael Kors Fringe With Sleek Mules

A day earlier, Julianne Hough was again spotted outside the studio, nailing a sophisticated Uptown New York street-style vibe in an all-black look.

Her shoes were another pair of black mules, this time with a simpler design featuring a single strap across the front, open toes, and slightly flared heels. Mules are already part of Hough’s footwear rotation: she has previously worn Andrea Wazen’s sheer Immy mules with open square toes and sculptural heels on the red carpet.

The pared-back black pair took the silhouette in a more understated direction, keeping the footwear sleek and modern while the open-toe design added a lighter touch to the dark outfit.

Julianne Hough’s black open-toe mules feature a minimalist front strap and sculptural flared stiletto heels beneath her fringed Michael Kors maxi skirt (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Hough paired them with a Michael Kors ensemble featuring a double-breasted wool gabardine vest with artfully frayed armholes, giving the tailored piece a raw, relaxed edge. The designer is familiar territory for Hough, who previously wore a shimmering Michael Kors dress with Stuart Weitzman Nudist sandals at the CFDA Fashion Awards.

Peak lapels sharpened the sleeveless silhouette, while the double-breasted front added a classic menswear-inspired touch. Chest and hip welt pockets, along with a center-back vent, made the vest both polished and practical. You can get it on sale for $525.59, down from $2,190, at Bergdorf Goodman.

The straight vest was paired with a matching maxi skirt crafted from wool gabardine, also on sale for $477.59 (from $1,990) at Bergdorf Goodman. Long tassels cascaded from the skirt, adding bold movement to its full, straight silhouette as it swept the floor.

A Michael Kors Spring 2026 leather foldover clutch and Oliver Peoples x Khaite cat-eye sunglasses completed the look, while multiple earrings added a little extra shine.

Julianne Hough embraces all-black sophistication in a Michael Kors double-breasted vest and dramatic fringed maxi skirt, finished with a leather foldover clutch and sleek open-toe mules (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Why Celebrities Keep Choosing Mules in 2026

Mules keep turning up in celebrity wardrobes because the backless silhouette delivers polish without the fuss of a traditional pump or strappy sandal. The slip-on construction makes them easy to wear, while pointed toes, sculptural heels, luxe suede, patent leather, crystals, and minimalist straps let designers take the same basic shape from casual denim to full red-carpet dressing.

In 2026, stars have worn everything from barely-there stiletto mules to substantial block-heel and embellished versions, showing just how easily the style moves between seasons and occasions.