Designer Joseph Altuzarra looked to mules—backless shoes with a closed toe—to play up the contrast of feminine delicacy and quietly strong tailoring in his spring 2014 collection. Produced with Italian designer Gianvito Rossi, these black satin heels have a high cutaway vamp for a smooth fit. "The mules fit into Joseph’s spring collection so well because they share a certain restraint," says our executive creative director, Vanessa Traina, who works closely with Altuzarra.