Loafing around: The best loafers for men
A style staple for the well-dressed gent, invest in these timeless loafers to put a suave spin on any great outfit
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From Elvis Presley to Ryan Gosling, loafers have truly stood the test of time as a go-to choice for the debonair man. Your father had a pair, your grandfather had a pair, and thanks to a resurgence in preppy-chic style, loafers have reclaimed their place as the favourite footwear of the fashion-forward gent.
Versatile, sleek and sophisticated, the slip-on shoe makes for a sharp addition to any great outfit, whether it’s your office-ready two-piece suit, or jeans and a jumper at weekend brunch. From classic leather and suede to contemporary canvas – or even embroidered velvet – the wear-everywhere shoe offers up a plethora of suave styling options.
For fresh smart-casual style, stylist Farrah-May Archer recommends pairing a shirt with wide-leg trousers and your loafers of choice. “Add socks to break up the outfit and offer a nod to Elvis’s iconic Jailhouse Rock, while pairing your loafers with Bermuda shorts (in summer) will emulate a silhouette adored by some of high fashion’s favourites, including Prada and Balenciaga.” However you choose to wear them, these are the best loafers to shop right now…
Saint Laurent Le Loafer Penny loafers
True to the brand’s Parisian roots, these Saint Laurent loafers are smart, chic and wonderfully timeless. Crafted from black eel leather in Italy and set on thick rubber soles, these suave penny loafers make for a versatile investment that can be paired with workwear or casual attire.
Brunello Cucinelli suede loafers
Crafted in a soft tan suede (perfectly fresh for the summer season), Brunello Cucinelli’s loafers are a more understated take on the timeless style. Featuring a rounded toe and subtle stacked heel, Cucinelli’s loafers are lightweight, comfortable and effortlessly elegant; a testament to the designer’s exquisite attention to detail.
Crockett & Jones Boston Loafers
The Boston from Crockett & Jones has all the hallmarks of a classic penny loafer, and is more than deserving of its place in the British heritage’s brand’s Icon Collection. Produced since 1993, the silhouette is crafted in fine dark brown suede with a leather sole, and may just be the perfect shoe to take you from daytime workwear to evening formal.
Church’s Gateshead Loafers
Tracing its roots back as far as 1617, Northampton-born cobbler Church’s imbues each pair of shoes with touches of the brand’s rich heritage – whether by using centuries-old lasts and patterns, or employing traditional techniques honed throughout the brand’s history. Rendered in a polished burgundy leather, the Gateshead loafer is a modern take on the classic thanks to pared-back detailing and a streamlined silhouette.
George Cleverley Cannes penny loafers
Handcrafted in England from brown suede, these formal loafers from George Cleverley feature a ‘high walled’ round toe. Complete with the brand’s two-tone Oak Bark soles, paired with a lightweight summer suit, these smart shoes are ideal for all manner of seasonal occasions.
Gucci Horsebit Loafers
He may now have moved on to pastures new but we have Alessandro Michele to thank for reinvigorating Gucci’s leather horsebit loafers (which nod to the Italian house’s heritage as a saddlemaker). Living by the idiom ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, the design of these polished leather loafers has hardly been altered since they were first released in 1953.
Christian Louboutin Danny Loafers
You can always count on Louboutin to take care of your feet. Add these slick black leather loafers to your footwear collection and they’re guaranteed to be worn on repeat, season after season, black tie event after dinner party after wedding. Polished and refined (with the brand’s signature red sole), they’re what every discerning gent wants and needs.
Crockett & Jones Richmond 2 Loafer
So great is Crockett & Jones’ loafer collection, we’re adding another one of the British shoemaker’s styles to the list. This time the all new Travel Loafer. Combining walnut-hued leather with a stone coloured canvas upper, the look is preppy and polished, oozing summer ease. Wear on your travels, as the name suggests, to keep feet cool, but never compromising on style.
