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I will be the first to admit it; I've gone from zero to 100 when it comes to my feelings mules. When the backless designs started their surely cyclical footwear domination last spring, I was 50/50 on the idea of the revived 90s trend. When I saw versions by Gianvito Rossi,Paul Andrew and Christian Louboutin, though, I began to look differently at this widely derided shoe style.

While I love a red bottom or two, there's something appealing about the effortless, chic appeal of Vince, especially these Vince Allison Peep-Toe Mules. I took them for a spin; to see how these shoes rated in this edition of TalkShoes Testimonials, check out my findings below.

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AESTHETICS

The contrasting colors of these mules instantly caught my attention. The wooden heel is an unexpected but pleasant surprise against the dark navy upper. The coverage of this upper is what makes these mules look and feel modern while offering great stability.

One of the other great things about these shoes is that this specific color combo makes them very versatile--I didn't have a hard time pairing them with things in my wardrobe at all. During the days that I was testing them, I wore leggings and a chunky sweater (matched!), boyfriend jeans and a tee (matched!) and high-rise jeans and a silk blouse (matched!). They felt like a solid finishing touch to all my looks.

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COMFORT & FUNCTIONALITY

When I first slipped my feet into these shoes, I was surprised at how high they are. The heel is about four inches, but just based on looks, they don't seem quite that high. Despite that, I wore these shoes for hours and was perfectly fine. The chunky heel makes all the difference, in terms of comfort.

When mules come into play, a lot of people worry about stability while moving. Because this design covers so much of the foot, I had absolutely no problems. For high-heel mules, they're quite functional and practical.

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QUALITY & CONSTRUCTION

One comment I hear from people about mules is that they despise the dreaded flip-flop smacking sound. Well, I come bearing good news. With these shoes, there was no sound to be heard because of the well-constructed upper. Between the comfortable, chunky heel and the stability of the upper, this made for one pleasurable walking experience.

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VALUE

Vince is a contemporary brand, so its price range is more attainable than that of its top-tier luxury counterparts. These mules cost $395, and while that's a good price it might seem steep to some for a shoe style that may not be as popular come next year.

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STAYING POWER

Here's my only dilemma with these shoes: I can't officially say how long mules will stay in the limelight, but I can tell you that as quickly as they came into popularity is probably as quickly as it will fade back out. Other than the classics, everything in fashion is cyclical. Spending close to $400 can seem pretty steep for something you know will fade out fast, but I can assure you, for the time being, you won't regret wearing these shoes. Even if the clock is ticking.

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TOTAL SCORE

I never thought I would say it, but I think it's clear I've joined Team Mules. These Vince shoes make the cut on everything from aesthetics to comfort and construction. While these shoes may not have the staying power of a pair of Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pumps or Rag & Bone's Harrow boot, sometimes fashion is all about wearing the quirky styles that are of the moment, even if that is a pair of mules.

Buy your own pair of Vince Mules through Vince for $395.