Why it's time to dust off your loafers
Just when we thought we’d seen the last of the harsh winter weather, it gave us an icy encore this week. So while you might not be able to retire your sturdy boots and heavy-duty brogues quite yet, it will soon be time to start thinking about lighter alternatives.
However, smart warm-weather footwear for men can be tricky. Espadrilles, sandals and breathable trainers are all well and good, but not exactly boardroom-ready; while clumpy Oxfords and chunky monkstraps can feel cumbersome. Which is why it’s time for the loafer to shed its sartorial stigma.
City Gommino in leather, £380, Tod's
A happy hybrid between a slipper and a more formal shoe, the loafer’s bad rep in fashion circles comes from its connotations of suburban cosiness (it’s seen as being the sort of “dad shoe” that Jerry from The Good Life might slip on with a mustard cardigan). Which is a pity, because the shoe’s lightness and wearability make it a handy spring companion, and one that works fluidly from off-duty chinos to more corporate environs.
Weejuns in leather, £135, G.H Bass
It also comes with a rich style legacy; Maine-based footwear brand GH Bass claims to have invented the loafer in the late 1800s, taking a cue from Norwegian boots and adapting them for “loafing in the field”. During the golden age of Hollywood, MGM’s roster of handsome matinee idols adopted them as their go-to shoe for the broiling Los Angeles heat.
Leather GG Web loafers, £540, Gucci
When Alessandro Michele took over Gucci in 2015 he set about casting into the archives and revisiting its classic. The new maximalist version – covered in glitter, lined with shearling, spangled with gemstones – has become one of the brand’s biggest sellers for men.
While you don’t have to opt for such hifalutin varieties, keep an eye on the shape of your loafers – soft structured ones can look ready for the nursing home, so go for something with form and solidity. And while Cary Grant and Michael Jackson were prone to wearing theirs with white socks, for a modern look invest in some “invisible” socks instead, and let those mankles roam free. It’ll put a spring in your step.
Tracking the trend
Early years
American brand GH Bass invented what’s widely credited as being the first loafers, going on to dress a Hollywood that was becoming less rigid in its dress codes.
That MJ magic
What would the moon walk be without those black loafers, sliding across the floor and framing Michael Jackson’s feet in the use of stand-out white socks? Loafers got a seal of approval from the superstar in the early 1980s.
Gucci Gucci coup
Designer Alessandro Michele has reinvented the house’s iconic loafer in truly exuberant fashion, from wildly opulent version to more classic and restrained varieties.
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