THE JOURNAL
Loafers Are Still The Hottest Thing In Menswear. Here’s Seven To Invest In Now
The coolest, most exciting thing a man can wear on his feet right now? Loafers. We thought it might be a blip in the space-time continuum, or a weird after-effect of those “unprecedented times” (to be swiftly forgotten by the time the next hot sneaker collab drops). As it turns out, this formerly strait-laced Ivy-style shoe has some serious staying power among the high-fashion crowd. Whoever would have thought it?
Don’t tell the sneakerheads, but we’re pretty thrilled about it. Not because we don’t love a sporty shoe as much as the next guy (we do sell a fair few of them, after all). But because variety is the spice of life and even the most committed streetwear collector could do with smartening up every now and again.
To that end, we’ve picked out seven of our favourite loafers from brands that are absolutely nailing them at the moment. And fortunately – for now – we don’t hold any strong opinions on the socks-versus-no-socks front, so we’ll gladly leave that decision to you.
01. The retro GH Bass & Co. loafers
The Weejun loafer is the piece de resistance of American cordwainer G.H. Bass & Co., and the label offers no shortage of unfussily designed versions: think your usual leathers and suedes in solid blacks and browns. Our pick, however, is this somewhat retro two-tone take, which will add a touch of nostalgic charm to a contemporary get-up.
02. The split-toe Maison Margiela Tabi style
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade or so or have never stumbled across a men’s fashion site (in which case, welcome), you’ll certainly have heard of – and probably have opinions on – Maison Margiela’s split-toe Tabi shoes. For what it’s worth, we think this take on the intentionally polarising style is perhaps the most wearable and dare we say elegant to date, thanks to the luxurious high-shine black leather and the otherwise stripped-black silhouette. Just watch out for swipers.
03. The furry Dries Van Noten slip-on
Thought loafers were scholarly and stuffy? Eat your words, says Mr Dries van Noten. Always one to keep us on our toes, even after 30 years in the game, the Belgian designer has dreamt up a delightfully fuzzy pony-hair spin on the slip-on – to call it a loafer seems an understatement, really – that yearns to be the main character of any outfit.
04. The monogrammed Gorpcore Gucci pair
Gucci is the undisputed champion of the luxury loafer, and no man’s wardrobe is really complete without their iconic horsebit shoe (beloved by everyone from Mr Francis Ford Coppola to A$AP Rocky, if you needed any convincing) in all the go-to shades. But once those bases are firmly covered, let’s spice things up a little, hey? Try these logo-laden Gorpcore-style head-turners for size.
05. The croc-effect VINNY’S penny loafer
Not familiar with VINNY’s? Well, if you’re a fan of the loafer look, it’s a label we’d recommend bookmarking expeditiously. Based in Copenhagen, the brand traffics exclusively in this one particular shoe style, offering an array of iterations in a wealth of colours and fabrics. For an extra luxe look, we’d suggest diving into this streamlined croc-effect Townee pair cast in a glossy golden-brown shade.
06. The classic CELINE HOMME loafer
Not sure whether to cop your brand-new loafers in black, brown or something a little less conventional? Enter these CELINE HOMME Triomphe loafers in an extra-rich, just-right shade of burgundy that will play nicely alongside sleek tailoring, distressed true-blue jeans and pretty much everything between.
07. The Mr P. tasselled design
“Basics, but with a little extra something” might be the best way to sum up what our in-house design team is doing at Mr P. That’s exemplified here with these Jacques fringed loafers, which reveal a subtle dash of personality with the tasselled detailing and thick soles – but are sure to never date all the same.