Olivia Palermo Proves Embellished Mules and Chunky Loafers Are the Ultimate Heel Alternatives

On May 10, 2021, Olivia Palermo, who stands 5’5″ (165.1 cm) and wears a US size 7 shoe, stepped out with husband Johannes Huebl and their dog, Mr. Butler, in Dumbo, Brooklyn, offering a useful lesson in how to make statement flats work with polished separates.

Her all-black leather outfit was finished with embellished Alberta Ferretti mules, their pointed velvet uppers and oversized jeweled bows adding texture without disrupting the monochromatic palette.

A second New York look from earlier that month showed the opposite approach: chunky Santoni loafers grounding soft camel and peach layers. Together, the two outfits make a strong case for treating embellished mules and lug-soled loafers as versatile alternatives to heels—one decorative and refined, the other structured and practical.

Olivia Palermo Pairs an All-Black Leather Look With Alberta Ferretti Bow Mules

Olivia Palermo and husband Johannes Huebl take their dog Mr. Butler to the Park in Dumbo, Brooklyn on May 10, 2021 (Credit: Instar / WENN)

While Huebl kept things casual in jeans and suede loafers, Palermo took a dressier approach to the park outing with layered black leather and embellished flats.

Johannes Huebl keeps his Dumbo look casual in cuffed blue jeans, an army-green jacket, brown suede loafers, and dark sunglasses (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Palermo wore a long-sleeved perforated leather tunic from her namesake label’s Spring 2020 collection with black leather culottes by Tibi.

Olivia Palermo pairs a perforated black leather tunic with Tibi leather culottes and statement Alberta Ferretti mules (Credit: Instar / WENN)

With her tresses pulled back into a center-parted ponytail, Olivia wore minimal makeup with pink blush and lipstick and hid her eyes behind Westward Leaning tortoiseshell sunglasses.

Tortoiseshell Westward Leaning sunglasses and a beige-and-red carrier for Mr. Butler add warm color to Olivia Palermo’s otherwise all-black ensemble (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Carrying Mr. Butler in a beige-and-red dog carrier, Palermo broke up the matte black layers with a pair of Alberta Ferretti embellished black velvet mules.

The slip-on design features a pointed toe, a low 0.5-inch heel and an oversized bow decorated with pearl and bead embellishments. Against the leather tunic and culottes, the decorated velvet uppers provide the outfit’s main contrast.

Embellished Alberta Ferretti mules were already a recurring part of Palermo’s wardrobe. In 2020, she wore burgundy embroidered Alberta Ferretti “Mia” mules with a colorful layered look in Brooklyn and later paired embroidered velvet mules with a matching Lucy Paris skirt and crop top.

Olivia Palermo’s black velvet Alberta Ferretti mules feature pointed toes and oversized bows embellished with rows of pearls and beads (Credit: Instar / WENN)

As of August 2026, Mytheresa lists several strong alternatives, including Amina Muaddi’s Alexa embellished mesh mules for $995, Valentino Garavani’s Flutterby embellished leather mules for $1,250, Saint Laurent’s Jerry 60 embellished crêpe satin mules for $1,200, and René Caovilla’s Chandelier embellished satin mules for $1,590.

The May outings coincided with the launch of Olivia Palermo Beauty, the cosmetics line she developed in partnership with Marie Claire Beauty Group.

Olivia Palermo Grounds a Neutral Max Mara Outfit With Santoni Loafers

A week before the Dumbo outing, Palermo was photographed in New York City on May 3, 2021, taking a softer approach to spring layering with camel and peach separates—and swapping embellished mules for substantial leather loafers.

She layered a peach sweater beneath a camel vest and paired the combination with loose, cropped Max Mara trousers.

Olivia Palermo layers a peach sweater under a camel vest with cropped Max Mara trousers, finishing the neutral look with chunky Santoni double-buckle loafers in New York City on May 3, 2021 (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Keeping the accessories restrained, Palermo carried an olive-green Pipatchara Pandemic Relief bag and wore tortoiseshell sunglasses.

She then styled her tresses into a high bun and wore neutral-toned lipstick.

Olivia Palermo adds contrast to her camel-and-peach palette with tortoiseshell sunglasses, red nails, and an olive-green Pipatchara Pandemic Relief bag (Credit: Instar / WENN)

For footwear, Palermo returned to her Santoni double-buckle leather loafers, pairing their heavier lugged soles with the relaxed proportions of her cropped trousers.

The two-tone loafers feature almond toes and double-buckle monk straps, giving the neutral outfit a more structured finish without relying on heels. They were already a familiar part of her 2021 wardrobe: Palermo wore Santoni double-monk loafers with cuffed jeans and a leopard-print Cara Mila coat in Dumbo that January, and later styled reddish-brown Santoni loafers with a Brunello Cucinelli cardigan and Smythe coat during another New York outing.

Olivia Palermo’s two-tone Santoni leather loafers combine double-buckle monk straps with almond toes and substantial lugged soles (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Shop the Look: Palermo’s exact double-buckle Santoni loafers are an older style, but the Italian label still makes polished loafers and monk-strap shoes. As of August 2026, Nordstrom carries a wide selection of Santoni loafers, while current double-monk styles show that the buckled silhouette remains part of the brand’s footwear vocabulary.

From Embellished Mules to Chunky Loafers: More Celebrity Takes on These Shoe Styles

Palermo’s Alberta Ferretti mules and Santoni loafers take different approaches to everyday luxury: one turns the ease of a slip-on into a statement with rich velvet and ornate embellishment, while the other relies on polished leather, substantial soles, and classic monk straps.

That balance of practicality and distinctive design also explains why mules and loafers remain such reliable celebrity footwear—whether paired with denim, tailoring, dresses, or relaxed streetwear.