Spring’s Men’s loafers-
A rising class of stylish footwear brands is turning out slip-ons with the streetwise hype of the latest Nike drop.
The following written content Benedict Browne
I’ve been pondering a controversial question: Are we advancing into a post-sneaker age in which the loafer reigns supreme? To answer that, it’s worth bearing in mind that sneakers have dominated the footwear market for some years now, driven by hypebeasts with an insatiable appetite for rare kicks and a willingness to pay insultingly inflated resale prices. Even during the pandemic, retailers have touted sneaker sales as a bright spot in a dreary retail climate and Nike’s swoosh has smashed records at auction. But, after a year of wearing the same sweatpants and sneakers, there’s an urge to dress up. What could be better than the loafer for transitioning back into well-heeled society? Step aside, sneakers—it’s time to reset.
At the vanguard of this movement are a number of young brands changing the way in which loafers are being designed, worn and perceived. With competitive price points, they have highly engaged audiences who buy into the stylistic freedoms that loafers embody. Worn with gray joggers and a bucket hat for some high-low action, or with vintage Levi’s and white socks because, why not? There are cow-print pony-hair snaffles and punchy two-tone penny loafers alongside the perennial snuff suede and cordovan. It’s a fresh and exciting age, and the sheer irreverence of these latter-day loafers recalls the bygone days of counter-culture style.
Penny loafers and sweats? Why not? Horatio London
Over at Mr Porter, the hype for loafers is very much real. “Our loafer category is performing particularly well and as a response to a heightened demand from our customers, we’ve increased our investment in the category with over 140 loafer styles now available online,” says Olie Arnold, the retailer’s style director. So where has this demand come from? “I would argue that ‘loafer culture’ stems from the same kind of ease, variety and versatility that sneakers deliver,” Arnold notes, adding, “There’s an inspiring array of options and, shall I say, genres for spring and summer.”
It’s nothing new that the loafer has been embraced by the young. “If you think back to the ’60s, young Parisians turned their J.M. Weston loafers into a cult classic by wearing them without socks. In America, Ivy League students rolled up their jeans and paired them with Weejuns, creating the renowned Take Ivy style,” explains Arnold. Today, he says, the likes of Aimé Leon Dore, Noah and Palace—all of which have cultish followings—have “tapped into loafer’s latest iteration, the neo prep trend.” Read more Robb Report.
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