Why are loafers…

[NassimBandini]

… so prevalent among menswear aficionados ?

 

[GaiusM]

-look good
-easy to wear
-can be dressed up or down
-go with almost anything
-comfortable
-no laces to break
-iconic
A good pair of loafers will change your perspective on footwear

 

[mak1277]

-look good
-easy to wear
-can be dressed up or down
-go with almost anything
-comfortable
-no laces to break
-iconic
A good pair of loafers will change your perspective on footwear

Agree with this. I’ll add that the influence of Ivy probably has a bit to do with popularity

 

[gimpwiz]

So lightweight, so comfortable, very nice in the summer.

 

[William Kazak]

What brands of loafers are Goodyear welted? I don't want Blake stitch.

 

[Blastwice]

What brands of loafers are Goodyear welted? I don't want Blake stitch.

What's wrong with a blake stitched loafer?

 

[Harwid]

Allen Edmonds.

I used to wear loafers a lot but not as much anymore for dress clothes.

Jeff

 

[BlueSteel]

What brands of loafers are Goodyear welted? I don't want Blake stitch.

Alden or some of the British makers, like Trickers, C&J, Edward Green, etc.

I have a pair of Trickers "Elton" tassel loafers that are GYW. Really nice shoes.

 

[DorianGreen]

I agree, loafers are great: they look good and match equally well with casual as with more formal clothing.

They are tricky though, they have to fit perfectly, as no fastening, in form of laces or buckles, will help. As much as I love this style (admittedly a late love), I have no pairs yet, because every model I tried on had slipping issues on the heel. Recently I commissioned a MTO one with some adjustments to reduce the room in the heel area and achieve an ideal fit.

 

[Satoman1]

I agree, loafers are great: they look good and match equally well with casual as with more formal clothing.

They are tricky though, they have to fit perfectly, as no fastening, in form of laces or buckles, will help. As much as I love this style (admittedly a late love), I have no pairs yet, because every model I tried on had slipping issues on the heel. Recently I commissioned a MTO one with some adjustments to reduce the room in the heel area and achieve an ideal fit.

Agree, I have to put an extra grip patch on the heel area of all my loafers, some people's feet just don't seem to be made for wearing loafers.

 

[Johnniegold]

For me, the loafer is like the Jack Purcell of shoes. Iconic in their look that just displays a relaxed vibe. From the more Ivy-feel of a beefroll penny, to a sleeker, dressier style of the Alden LHS to a more traditional look of the Aurland Norwegian-style loafer, it just hard to beat a nice loafer for comfort, ease of wear and just enough detail to make them interesting. A suede loafer is fun as well. 😀

A few pair of the since discontinued Ski-Moc II version of the beefroll penny offered by Johnston & Murphy back in the day when J&M were making a higher quality, recraftable, shoe.

The classic Alden Leisure Handsewn (LHS)

A pair of the Buxton loafer by the Norway-based shoemaker, Aurlands, who claim to have been the originator of the Norwegian-style loafer that George Bass made famous in the US in the 1930s with the Bass Weejun loafer.

Chocolate suede can make any shoe appear a bit more decadent and this Allen-Edmond “Cole” model is no exception.

 

[DorianGreen]

Agree, I have to put an extra grip patch on the heel area of all my loafers, some people's feet just don't seem to be made for wearing loafers.

Yes, I had the luck of finding a pretty ideal last, otherwise the best option would be to go bespoke, if you can afford it.