Oxford or loafers with a single-breasted suit?

I wouldn't wear a suit with loafers, but I suppose it depends on the suit you're wearing and the style you're trying to present. A skinny-lapel slim-cut black suit worn without a tie would probably look just fine with the classic Gucci bit loafer, for example.

I'd say it depends on if you're wearing a tie. If so, skip the loafers. If not, and you're going for that laid-back, Hollywood thing, a pair of loafers would suffice. But, of course, so would lace-ups.

I once had a boss that wore exclusively Gucci loafers with all of his suits. It looked OK, but I would never have done it. I say laceups almost exclusively with suits, and save the loafers for casual elegant.

let me first say that i agree with all the responses so far, but this is one of those questions where i want to rant about how you should just trust yourself to look the way you want to, and to hell with what is considered correct or not. i haven't had a pair of loafers in a couple of years, but depending on the the look you want, or the mood you're in, they certainly can go with a suit, and even a tie. choosing clothes is a matter of self-expression, and no one except you can know if you're doing that well or not.

matadorpoeta: You can where whatever you want if you willing to accept the judgements made about the image you are projecting. Traditionally a suit is a very dressy article of clothing and loafers are not acceptable to wear with a suit. However if you're in a non-traditional business or just don't care they are fine. In a situation where image is important (I can't really think of one where it isn't), like a job interview, oxford shoes are the right way to go. Andy

Traditionally, a suit is what a grown man wears as everyday clothes--job permitting. He may choose to wear a suit in a more elegant fabric and cut, or he may choose to wear a suit in a more casual fabric and cut. Furthermore I don't see how loafers are any less elegant than oxfords, less professional, yes, but certainly not less elegant. i agree that oxfords are a better choice for a job interview but men wear suits to many other places than that. in fact, when wearing a suit to a party or a restaurant for dinner, loafers are more appropriate because they help you look like you dressed for the occasion, whereas if one wears cap-toes or wingtips, you look like you came straight from the office. anyway, necktopoli, don't listen to us. where what you like.

Only during the last century, and more accurately, only for a period of about 60-70 years, tops. Is the suit still the uniform of the workplace today? Arguable. Depends moreso on the suit than the shoes these days, imo. No need for me to comment on low vamp loafers anymore now, is there? I realize what I hate nearly as much as the low vamp - no heel.

I think it all depends on what kind of image you want to put out, some fashion designer even put sandals with suits, and you may say 'wear what you like' --- but... I think we all have worn loafers with suits before though, My opinions is , wearing clothes is also a form of communication, so always thinking of what you want to tell others when you put on your clothes in the morning. There is no law saying you CANNOT wear loafers with suits.

IMHO, loafers and suits are verboten. But if you must, please, NO TASSELED LOAFERS.

And I was led to believe, tasselled loafers were the footwear of choice for every East coast lawyer.

la guy, i should have written "traditionally a suit was what a man wore as everyday clothes." i just don't like andy's assertion that a suit is inherently something dressy or formal. he's wrong. it can be dressy, but it doesn't have to be. i agree with you about the low vamp loafers. verogroup, if you're going to say they don't go together, at least tell us why. otherwise how can we make fun of your opinion? it goes without saying that it's all a matter of the look you're going for, so without knowing what look someone is going for, how can we tell someone that loafers do or don't go with a suit? remember the beatles early days? remember duran duran? (white linen suits worn with orange t-shirts and white loafers. no socks. not that i'm into that)