THE JOURNAL
I’m often hard-pressed to find an item of footwear that I would rather wear than a pair of loafers. When it comes to deciding on my outfit for the next day, I might, for a moment, entertain the idea of sneakers. But then I snap back to my senses and opt for my go-to. For me, loafers are a seasonless staple for every person’s wardrobe. And there’s rarely an occasion where they wouldn’t be suitable.
From a comfort perspective, nothing beats the feeling of a well-worn loafer. Once they’re broken in, you feel like you can do anything in them; as if they were a pair of slippers that you could go for a hike in. And their convenience is surely unmatched. Marty McFly can make like a tree with his self-tying trainers, but the beauty of loafers is that laces are not needed in the first place. The trip hazard is removed, along with the embarrassment of someone pointing out that yours are undone.
What’s the next best thing about a loafer? They’re incredibly easy to style and will go with just about anything. My three examples of what to wear with loafers cover all bases. If you want to keep it smart, there’s a suit. For off-duty or smart-casual looks, try them with jeans. And to tap into the resurgence of vintage-inspired clothing, pair them with utility trousers for a look that can be both considered and effortless.
01. With a suit
When it comes down to it, the loafer is a formal shoe. As such, it’s important that the suit and loafer work together as part of the overall look, without one being more dominant than the other. A sleek, well-tailored suit deserves a sleek, well-made loafer. The Piccadilly loafer from Edward Green is slightly pointed in shape, although not too pointed, making it perfect with a slimmer or straight-cut trouser. Meanwhile, the Lopez by John Lobb is a little rounder in the toe and would work particularly well with a straight or wider-cut suit trouser. Other makers, such as Officine Creative and MORJAS, offer a fantastic variety of styles that lend themselves very well to suits.
02. With denim
For me, the most successful way of wearing loafers is possibly the easiest: with a pair of jeans. The wash of the denim will help dictate the colour of the loafer. Keeping the tones similar works well – indigo washes pair perfectly with black loafers. SAINT LAURENT’s Le Loafer offers a less traditional approach that, with a patent finish, can give the outfit a little extra lift. Lighter washes work well with brown, while white jeans look particularly good with light-brown suede loafers, although black works just as well. Brunello Cucinelli would be a safe bet, with its styles covering a wide variety of brown shades and leather finishes, from full-grain leather to suede. A loafer-and-jean combination also puts you in the perfect position to lean more casual or pivot towards something more formal. Whether you decide to go for a chunky knit or a striped shirt and blazer, both outcomes will feel effortless.
03. With utility trousers
Workwear has been picking up momentum over the past few seasons and we’ve seen it interpreted in many ways. For me, it works best when juxtaposed with more formal styles, loafers being a perfect example. I think it’s best to stick with something that lends itself to a look that’s a little more hard-wearing than others. J.M. Weston should get the nod here. Its shapes tend to be a little bulkier and wider, which works particularly well with the wider cuts of utility trousers we’re seeing right now. Sebago’s penny loafers are ideal for anything a little slimmer – its classic penny loafer is, of course, an all-time favourite. This is also a nice opportunity to lean into the preppy side of the look, so why not opt for coloured socks?