SLINGBACK
A slingback is a shoe with a closed toe but an open heel held by a thin strap at the back (from the name: sling — 'loop, suspension'). This style combines the elegance of a closed front with the lightness and freshness of an open heel, so it is ideal for the warm season and the transition between seasons. A slingback looks feminine, refined and slightly retro; it is popular on both a low and a high heel. One of the most iconic modern examples is the two-tone Chanel slingback. The strap at the back can be adjusted, and the open heel visually lightens the shoe. A slingback is an elegant shoe with a closed toe and an open heel on a strap, in which combining the crispness of the front with the lightness of the open heel creates a refined, feminine and slightly retro silhouette, ideal for the warm season.
Compare “Slingback” with another term
Meaning, origins and distinction — side by side.
Distinction
Two open-shoe styles that hold on the foot differently. Mules have a closed toe but a fully open heel with no strap — they simply rest on the front of the foot. The slingback has a closed toe and a thin strap that wraps around the back of the heel, securing the foot more firmly. Mules are about lightness and slip-on ease; the slingback about balancing openness with support.
