Step into stylish loafers. From left to right, Le Monde Béryl's in patent leather, a luxe velvety choice from Birdies and a shiny metallic option from Margaux.
ARE LOAFERS the new sneakers?
Ellen Lynch, professor of Footwear and Accessories Design at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, doesn't see it that way. “Sneakers are not going anywhere,” she says. "However, loafers are a cool shoe. Slip them on and off without worrying about laces. They’re casual, but you can wear them with a suit." From clunky lug soles to penny loafers without the penny to moccasin-like styles, they span the style spectrum. "You can wear them no matter who you are, how old you are or what you’re wearing,” notes Lynch.
As we get further removed from the pandemic years, we're going out more frequently and want to look put together. Lynch adds, “I’m not seeing sneakers on the subway.”
A word about price—a high one doesn’t necessarily mean quality, says Lynch. "Before buying, consider the material and construction. Stick with leather and make sure the top stitching is perfect and the soles are sewn on, not glued. Treat your shoes with respect. Polish the leather and don’t walk in the mud or rain with them on. If you do, make sure they’ve dried out before you wear them again."
Note that loafers with leather soles can be slippery—especially at first. Avoid the slide by adding rubber tips to toes and heels.
My husband has owned a pair of Brook Bros. (made by Alden) cordovan loafers for 25 years. He polishes them regularly and has them resoled when necessary. I could be motivated to do likewise with these rich-looking, croc-stamped patent leather shoes from Emme Parsons.
These remind me of the “furlane” slippers I saw being sold all over Venice. They may be charming, but I prefer the plush velvety ones from Birdies, which look exceedingly comfy, thanks to that quilted footbed.
A wider front box on this glossy loafer from Le Monde Béryl prevents dreaded cramped tootsies. They'll look tony with straight-leg jeans and wide-leg pants.
This loafer has been around since Gucci first introduced it in 1953. A splurge, yes, but the almond toe and slight heel will slim and elongate calves. Besides this rosso ancora, they come in two other colors.
Handmade in Tuscany from buttery leather, Jamie Haller's bit loafers use a stitching technique (sacchetto) to make her shoes feel like slippers. The only problem is they sell out quickly. The company will add your name to a waitlist, though.
In 1936, G.H. Bass put a stylish spin on Norwegian slip-on farm shoes, calling them Weejuns®. Since then there have been hundreds of iterations, including these peak-preppy tassel loafers.
If you like the look of a chunky lug sole, here's a shiny leather option (also available in brown) to take you through your day with support—and good traction.
A sleek take on the penny loafer, the Andie subs a puffy band detail for the usual slot. In addition to crinkled metallic, it comes in four other colors, including fall darling burgundy).
The low-cut silhouette here shows off the ankle, while Santoni's color-grading technique gives these loafers their gorgeous burnished finish. Goodyear welt construction means the soles are stitched on.
I can attest to the comfort of this shoe—I wore a pair in white all summer. The deep chocolate brown is a fall favorite, but these also come in black suede.
We all love our loafers!!! Had dinner last night at a friend's house and three out of the four of us were wearing loafers.
I wore Weejuns for 15 years - 1968-1983 and now they are back on my shoe shelf!
The best!!