Olivia Palermo wore her embroidered Alberta Ferretti Mia velvet mules on two dog walks through Brooklyn, New York, on June 29 and July 18, 2020, showing how the same decorative flats could work with very different summer outfits.
For the first outing, she paired the burgundy floral-embroidered mules with a khaki-green tiered skirt, yellow polka-dot blouse, and feather-trimmed cardigan. Nearly three weeks later, she wore them with a blue-and-white striped Zara tunic layered over a white lace-trimmed dress.
The two looks highlight the pointed-toe, backless mules and how their velvet texture and floral embroidery complement both colorful separates and a simpler summer outfit.
👠 Jump to an Olivia Palermo Shoe Look:
1. Olivia Palermo Pairs Alberta Ferretti Mia Mules With a Khaki Skirt and Yellow Blouse
Walking her dog, Mr. Butler, through Downtown Brooklyn on June 29, Palermo built her outfit around a flowing khaki-green tiered midi skirt and a yellow blouse printed with green polka dots.
The burgundy Alberta Ferretti velvet mules introduced another color and texture without competing with the patterned blouse or layered skirt.
Olivia Palermo pairs burgundy Alberta Ferretti Mia mules with a khaki-green skirt and yellow polka-dot blouse while walking Mr. Butler in Downtown Brooklyn on June 29, 2020 (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
She layered a brown, feather-trimmed cardigan from Brunello Cucinelli’s Resort 2018 collection over the outfit. Its soft, decorative trim complemented the detailed embroidery on her shoes, while the skirt’s loose silhouette kept the outfit relaxed.
A feather-trimmed Brunello Cucinelli cardigan adds texture to Palermo’s yellow polka-dot blouse and khaki tiered skirt
Palermo echoed the blouse’s yellow tones with a matching bucket bag and completed the outfit with oversized square sunglasses, understated gold rings, and a Piaget Limelight Gala rose-gold watch.
Her yellow bucket bag picks up the blouse’s color, while the embroidered velvet mules introduce burgundy and floral detailing
A peach Le Scarf No. 14 Summer Edition silk scarf, worn as a face covering, reflected the outing’s pandemic-era setting. The printed accessory added another pattern to an already layered outfit.
Palermo accessorizes with oversized sunglasses and a peach Le Scarf silk face covering alongside her feather-trimmed cardigan
At her feet were burgundy velvet Alberta Ferretti “Mia” mules, distinguished by their pointed toes, open backs, and floral embroidery in pink and green tones.
The low-profile slip-on design offered an alternative to heels while providing considerably more decorative detail than a plain leather flat.
Close-up of the Alberta Ferretti Mia mules, featuring burgundy velvet, pointed toes, and pink-and-green floral embroidery
2. Olivia Palermo Rewears Her Alberta Ferretti Mules With a Blue Striped Zara Tunic
On July 18, 2020, Palermo returned to the same embroidered Alberta Ferretti mules for another walk with Mr. Butler, this time in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood.
Instead of a colorful midi skirt and cardigan, she chose a blue-and-white striped Zara poplin tunic over a short, white, lace-trimmed dress.
The combination was noticeably simpler than her June outfit, with the oversized tunic and delicate lace creating a contrast between structured cotton and softer detailing.
Olivia Palermo walks Mr. Butler in Dumbo, Brooklyn, on July 18, 2020, wearing a blue striped Zara tunic over a white lace dress with Alberta Ferretti embroidered mules (Credit: Jose Perez / INSTAR / Avalon / WENN)
The long-sleeved tunic had a relaxed, loose-fitting shape, with narrow vertical stripes and an uneven hem. Beneath it, the white dress’s scalloped lace trim extended below the shirt, introducing a more delicate finish.
Her burgundy velvet mules provided the outfit’s strongest color contrast. Their floral embroidery echoed the lace’s decorative quality without adding another patterned accessory.
The loose Zara striped tunic falls over a scalloped white lace hem, while burgundy Alberta Ferretti mules add floral embroidery at her feet
Palermo kept the accessories restrained, leaving out the colorful handbag, feather-trimmed cardigan, and printed scarf that had featured in her June look.
With her hair pulled back, she wore a white protective face mask and oversized Westward Leaning sunglasses. The understated accessories kept the striped tunic, white lace, and embroidered footwear as the focus.
Palermo wears oversized Westward Leaning sunglasses and a white protective face mask with her blue striped Zara tunic
Her choice of footwear remained unchanged. The burgundy velvet Alberta Ferretti Mia mules kept the same pointed silhouette and embroidered pink flowers she wore during her June outing.
Against the pale blue stripes and white lace, the darker velvet stood out more than it did with her khaki skirt and brown cardigan.
The shoes also appeared in another July ensemble. Palermo wore embroidered Alberta Ferretti mules with an earth-toned midi skirt and Zara shirt during a July 12 Brooklyn outing, demonstrating how often she returned to decorative flat footwear that summer.
The Alberta Ferretti Mia mules feature pink floral embroidery and green leaves across burgundy velvet uppers, with pointed toes and open backs
3. What Makes Olivia Palermo’s Alberta Ferretti Mia Mules Distinctive?
Unlike plain leather slip-ons, Palermo’s Alberta Ferretti Mia mules use velvet and multicolored floral embroidery to make the shoes a decorative part of the outfit.
The pointed toe creates a more elongated shape than a rounded slipper, while the backless construction and low heel give the design a relaxed profile.
The contrast between Palermo’s two Brooklyn outfits is particularly useful for understanding how to style embroidered flats.
With her June ensemble, the burgundy velvet complemented the warm tones and varied textures of her cardigan, skirt, and accessories. With the July Zara tunic and white lace dress, the same shoes stood out against a lighter, simpler palette.
Palermo also paired the exact Alberta Ferretti Mia mules with a blue-and-white New Look floral Bardot dress on July 30, 2020. That third combination shows how the embroidered shoes could complement a lightweight printed dress as naturally as a tiered skirt or striped tunic.
The design also illustrates the difference between an embellished mule and a conventional flat. The open back makes the shoe easy to slip on, while the velvet upper and embroidery give it a more dressed-up appearance. However, velvet requires care around moisture and abrasion, and backless shoes generally provide less heel security than enclosed flats.
Palermo’s richly embroidered Alberta Ferretti Mia mules are an archival design no longer commonly available through major luxury retailers. For the exact style, check pre-owned Alberta Ferretti fashion and accessories at The RealReal. Consider availability, condition, and authenticity when buying discontinued designer footwear. For more shopping options, see our guide to the best resale sites for designer shoes and handbags.
For newer designs, explore the official Alberta Ferretti shoe collection, which features the brand’s current footwear offerings. Don’t confuse these with Palermo’s original embroidered velvet Mia mules.
4. More Olivia Palermo Shoe Moments and Embellished Flat Styles
Standing at 5’5″ (165.1 cm) and wearing a US shoe size 7, Olivia Palermo regularly incorporates decorative flats into her wardrobe rather than relying exclusively on high heels.
Her preference for velvet slip-ons extended beyond Alberta Ferretti. During a June 22, 2020, Brooklyn outing, she paired a red-and-white Lucy Paris set with pink Le Monde Bèryl Venetian Mules. Their slipper-inspired silhouette offered a quieter alternative to the floral embroidery of her Alberta Ferretti pair.
She also wore Giannico Louis 20mm crystal-embellished satin mules with a white lace dress and colorful plaid blazer. That outfit provides another example of how Palermo combines delicate fabrics with decorative, low-heeled footwear.
👠 Explore More of Olivia Palermo’s Shoes and Alberta Ferretti Style:
- 🍷 Olivia Palermo’s Nike Air Max 270 sneakers and Alberta Ferretti velvet mules — see how she alternated between sporty white sneakers and embroidered slip-ons with black athleisure and a coordinated Lucy Paris summer set.
- 🖤 Alberta Ferretti embellished velvet mules and Santoni loafers — another approach to statement flats, featuring black velvet bow mules with pearl-and-bead embellishments and chunky double-monk shoes.
- ⚔️ Olivia Palermo’s Casadei Superblade shoes at Milan Fashion Week — explore pointed Juliet slingback pumps and dramatic Narcissist thigh-high boots.
- ✨ Crystal-covered Miu Miu flats with an Alice + Olivia ivy-print dress — another example of Palermo using embellished flat shoes with printed clothing.
- 🇮🇹 Alberta Ferretti’s Italian fashion history and celebrity style — explore the designer’s romantic clothing, embroidered footwear, and distinctive approach to decorative details.
Across these Brooklyn appearances, Palermo showed that embroidered velvet mules need not be reserved for formal outfits. Their pointed, backless silhouette worked with everyday clothing, while the floral detailing gave each combination a distinctive finish.
Whether paired with a khaki tiered skirt, a striped Zara tunic, or a floral summer dress, the Alberta Ferretti Mia mules remained a recognizable part of her 2020 street-style wardrobe.