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, Farrah-May Archer, former styling team lead at Stitch Fix UK, 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, must-have investment that can be paired with workwear and casual attire alike.
Brunello Cucinelli suede loafers
Crafted in a soft greyish-brown suede, Brunello Cucinelli’s loafers are a more understated take on the timeless style. Featuring a rounded almond toe and subtle, stacked heel, Cucinelli’s loafers are adorned with soft leather tassels on a saddle strap; a testament to the designer’s exquisite attention to detail.
Church’s Gateshead Loafers
Tracing its roots back as far as 1617, Northampton-born cobbler Church’s imbues each pair of its expertly-crafted 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 style thanks to pared-back detailing and a streamlined silhouette.
Crockett & Jones Boston Loafers
The Boston from Crockett & Jones has all the hallmarks of a classic penny loafer, deserving 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.
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) back into a true collector’s item. 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.
Tod’s leather loafers
The chunky rubber sole on these brushed leather loafers by Tod’s makes them a stand-out style for this summer. “The bigger, bolder, stompier silhouette makes the perfect addition to add a little edge to your look,” says Archer. Hand-stitched and sleek, this polished pair will look great whether worn with rolled-up jeans or your sharpest suit.
