A guide to the best men’s loafers

Lara Mansour   |   18-09-2016

A country house shoe for the landed gentry, or a Norwegian farmer’s favoured style of footwear? Whatever you consider to be the true origins of the contemporary loafer, what’s indisputable is this timeless silhouette’s skilful blend of comfort and flair.

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Penny Loafer

The penny loafer is one of the all-time greatest casual classics, almost a century on from its invention. This preppy footwear classic was originally conceived in Norway when a strip of leather was added across the saddle of the shoe with a diamond cut-out detail, which, incidentally, doubled up as the ideal compartment for stashing a dime.

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Horsebit

With bluer blood than its brother styles, the horsebit loafer is the definitive dress loafer, and no brand does them better than luxury Italian label Gucci. In 1953 refined style was combined with the company’s saddle-making history, fashioning the first horsebit loafer, an iconic shoe that would soon after skyrocket the brand to stardom. Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele has now given the famous loafer his own spin with fur and prints.

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Tassel

The tassel loafer style first came about by an American actor called Paul Lukas, who was well known for his debonair style, and at some point during the 1940s approached several shoemakers, instructing them to design a shoe based on a tasselled Oxford style he’d picked up in Europe. Subtly decorated in comparison to the fairly sober and traditional penny, tassel loafers satisfied mid-century America’s demand for an elegant, dressy shoe design that didn’t sacrifice practicality.

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Driving

Though they were originally designed for driving, the driving loafer has evolved to be worn daily as well. Characterised by a flat bottom and grippy rubber studs on the sole, they’re quite possibly the ultimate casual everyday loafer. And the iconic Tod’s Gommino is the archetype.

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Slipper

These are a fun shoe, a little dressy and a little dandy. They’re a pair of loafers for the guy who is confident in his style. Despite their quirkiness, this loafer is surprisingly versatile. In prints and finishes which are a little fancier than the average loafer, sartorial caution is thrown to the wind.

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Velvet 

The velvet loafer is historically associated with the sitting room and fireplace, but it has become an increasingly common site at black tie events. The velvet finish and embroidery is associated with extravagance, especially since they aren’t ideal for wearing outdoors due to their construction which requires less material than more traditional oxfords, and their fastening, which is non-existent and makes them looser on the foot.

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