The Birkenstock mule giving JW Anderson energy might just be your summer shoe

Think JW Anderson style, minus the spend – Birkenstock’s Naples mule is the affordable summer mule worth knowing about

By Ruby Stephens

Published: Oct 28, 2025

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A LOAFER AND A CLOG, Birkenstock’s Naples mule feels like the moment the sensible shoe got a design degree. It’s got all the hallmarks of a Birkenstock – the cork sole, the lived-in comfort, the practicality – but look closer and there’s something different. That stitched apron toe, the softened structure, the almost sculptural finish. Sound familiar? It should.

There’s more than a passing resemblance to JW Anderson’s “Stitch” mules – those quietly architectural, chic slip-ons. But where Anderson’s design leans conceptual, Birkenstock’s version brings it down to earth.

So yes, if your wardrobe has room for one pair of flat shoes that feel thoughtful, versatile and borderline architectural, the Naples is a strong bet. It may not carry the JW label, but style isn’t always about the name – it’s about the impression. And this one delivers.

Scroll on for our favourite mules of the season, including Birkenstock’s take and a couple of JW Anderson icons.