For the Love of Loafers

In addition to ankle booties and ballet flats, loafers are some of the most comfortable shoes you can wear year-round. But there are too many of you out there that still aren’t taking advantage of this near-perfect shoe. If you just haven’t gotten around to it yet, it’s about time you do so.

On the other hand, if you’re hesitant to buy your first pair because you’re intimidated by the design, there’s no need to be. You just need a quick trend breakdown of the latest loafers—a must-have for any shoe collection.

For starters, the loafer designs among the endless supply of flats on Lyst vary in detail, but aside from a few outliers by Kate Spade and Michael Kors, most of them stick to a classic black or brown palette. They’re made of leather, faux leather, suede, and various other textiles to give each pair of shoes a unique look. Leather is always good for a high-polished look, while suede tends to be a bit more casual.

As for additional exterior details, there are two common features. The first includes a metal accent across the front, like a buckle or a horsebit.

Surprisingly enough, an article from Footwear News credited Queen Elizabeth II for the resurgence of the horsebit loafer. They spotted her wearing a classic pair of black horsebit loafers to several different events over the last few months. It’s impressive that even at the age of 90, Queen Elizabeth II still sports some pretty stylish footwear. Especially considering that similar looks are worn by women more than 70 years her junior.

The second common feature is fringe along the front or a fringe tassel. They’re just as nice as the loafers with metal accents, and can easily be worn with a dress or skirt. Take Chloe Sevigny’s look for example. Daily Mail spotted Sevigny in a flirty print dress and a pair of classic tasseled loafers. They gave her outfit a chic, sophisticated air that you can only achieve with an on-point outfit.

Suede laces are also a popular look, but once you start adding suede details around the base of the shoe, it starts looking more like a boat shoe than a classic loafer.

As far as what to pair with your loafers, your options are endless. You’ve seen them with dresses, slacks, and jeans, and they all look great. If you’re unsure if they match your outfit, just make sure the same outfit would look okay with a pair of ballet flats. If they fit well with ballet flats, they’ll likely look good with your loafers.

Loafers don’t have to be scary. They’re chic, universal shoes that are both comfortable and fashionable year-round. If they’re not in your closet yet, do yourself a favor and get a pair as soon as possible. You won’t regret it!

*This is a guest post by Jasmine Pool.  Jasmine is a fashion writer living in the DC metro area. She enjoys traveling across the States, visiting every cafe in walking distance, and reading through her mini-home library.