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Know Your Shoes: Loafers

Shahid Kapoor wearing loafers -Trumpet Shoes

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A skilful blend of flair and comfort, loafers are must-haves in any man’s shoe closet!

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Timeless. Chic. Classic yet contemporary! A pair of loafers tick all the boxes when it comes to style. However, it’s not the only reason why they’re experiencing a ‘post-pandemic revival’. Can you name another shoe that’s laceless, is lightweight and a slip-on? We think not! 

On paper, a slip-on shoe without laces sounds the opposite of smart and classy. In reality, loafers are anything, but shabby! While most consider—Oxfords, Derbies and Brogues the holy trinity of formal shoes, we at Mans’s Life believe that—a quality loafer is an indispensable addition to a guy’s shoe collection!

WHAT ARE LOAFERS?

Men's Loafer Shoe

In simple terms, loafers are shoes without laces that can be slipped on with ease. These slip-on shoes also come with a low heel. Loafers are said to have been first manufactured by a London-based bespoke shoe company in the mid 1800s—as a country house shoe for the landed gentry and British royal family! There’s also another origins theory floating around where it’s supposed to have been the favoured footwear style of a Norwegian farmer! Like most smart shoes, loafers too are available in leather or suede.

KEY STYLES  

▶ The Penny Loafer

a pair of dark blue penny loafers

A lifelong wardrobe staple—Penny Loafers are simple, fuss-free, and as versatile as it can get. This style has a decorative slotted leather strip over the upper, and has an interesting backstory! Legend has it that, wishing to make a fashion statement, ‘prep school’ students in 1950s’ America—took to inserting a penny into the diamond shaped cut-out of their shoes—and coined the term Penny Loafer. An alternate theory is that, in the 1930s, two pennies were sufficient to make an emergency telephone call at a public phone booth—and these were stashed in the shoe upper as well. Smartphones have taken over phone booths, but the moniker and style remains hyper-relevant even today!

 

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EDITOR’S TIPS: Penny Loafers are great with summer suits. They add a refined touch to smart casuals. They look great with tailored separates like a blazer and chinos, as seen on actor Abhishek Bacchan OR with a T-shirt, varsity/bomber jacket and cropped trousers.

▶ The Tassel Loafer

 

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This style is elegant and dressy without compromising on practicality and comfortability! It has, like the name reveals, tassels on the shoe upper. The Tassel Loafer owes its birth to Oscar-winning-Hungarian-born-American actor, Paul Lukas.  Known for his debonair style, during the 1940s Lukas is said to have approached several shoemakers, instructing them to design a shoe that riffed on a tasselled Oxford style he’d picked up in Europe. By 1952, the tasselled loafers were flying off the shelves created by a popular American shoe-making company.

EDITOR’S TIPS: Wear them with tailored separates. Or even with cropped trousers or an unstructured suit. When wearing a suit with loafers, the most important factor is the length of the trouser leg—so that the silhouette appears clean, and you can still see the detail of the shoe. Make sure to wear no-show socks!

▶ The Horsebit Loafer

 

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The Horsebit Loafer was created in 1953 by the Italian fashion giant, Gucci! This is the shoe responsible for catapulting the label to superstardom! The Horsebit Loafer has a golden brass strap in the shape of a horse’s snaffle bit across the front. Its equestrian vibe lies rooted in the company’s saddle-making heritage. Until this loafer was made, Gucci was predominantly known for making luggage. This shoe is so iconic that now it’s a part of a permanent exhibition at MOMA in New York City, US. Today, you will get the horsebit shoe from affordable brands as well!

EDITOR’S TIPS: The dressiest loafer of them all, this works really well with formal suits and even contemporary Indian wear.

▶ The Venetian Loafer

Construction-wise, the Venetian is similar to conventional loafers, but without all the extra bits. Namely—the straps, tassels, and all kinds of other embellishments that generally sit atop the uppers. The Venetian loafer’s tasteful restraint is what makes it a keeper! If you’re someone who likes to make a style statement without looking like you’re trying too hard—this IS the shoe for you!

EDITOR’S TIPS: Pick a suede one for spring/summer to pair with distressed jeans or tapered, cropped trousers. The Venetian slip-ons will look great with shorts as well!  A leather one’s a classic and will nail any look!

Belgian Loafers, ones with monk straps and Butterfly loafers are other styles from the loafer line up! Comfortable as the slippers you’ve been lounging in for over the last 18 months, and sharp and stylish enough to live it up in a post-vaccinated world—loafers are here to stay—and the sooner you add one to your shoe rotation, the better!

 

[Featured Image Credit: Trumpet Shoes/ Instagram]

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