This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Dylan Fraize. Find him on Instagram at @fraize.jpg. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Amazingly, a shoe that first gained popularity amongst small villages in Norway has evolved into a 2024 fashion staple. The loafer slowly saturated U.S. markets in the 1950s and 60s being adopted by Ivy League students. Giving the loafers a rather preppy reputation they were most often worn with suits or classic knitwear. While loafers can always be a piece of a preppy outfit, more and more often you can see different iterations of loafers making their way into streetwear. This raises the question: are loafers casual?
Loafers provide more versatility than other casual options like sneakers. From the boardroom to the bus stop you can fit in with the loafer. While more traditional loafer options from luxury fashion brands will keep a slim and classic look there are plenty of brands entering the market with their spin. Altering the silhouette has given the loafer a revived fashionable reputation. Brands have also been daring enough to make their loafers loud as opposed to the more reserved looks from the past. Using fur, bright colors, metal adornments, or patterns brands have altered the perception of what a loafer is.
Pros
Fashionability is a must for some but for others comfortability outweighs all aspects. This is another reason loafers are perfect for casual wear. Loafers slip on and off which avoids the constrictions of laces. The loafer is designed specifically for comfortability like how a basketball shoe is built for performance. Loafers are also made with various materials which allows you to find what feels best. From leather to suede and even hemp there is a loafer that will fit your standards.
The rise of loafers has been a catalyst across the fashion industry. Sneakers quickly became an unavoidable fashion item over the past decade, but it seems as if the market has become oversaturated. This means more and more consumers and brands looking for the next thing. The loafer has stepped up to become the next thing in casual fashion. While the love of sneakers may never die in consumers’ hearts there still is room for something else. Loafers allow consumers moving on or maturing to feel comfortable and stylish.
Loafers are perfect for the Spring and Summer especially because of the ease of wear. Regardless of location or event you can slip in and out of these and look great. With more innovative styles down the pipeline, the sky’s the limit with what this shoe may turn into.
Loafer Culture
In fashion hubs around the world, there has always been space for the timeless loafer. Bespoke craftsmen and retailers all have their version of the shoe. Rather than looking at the manufacturers let’s look at who wears them and gives the shoe their character.
The businessman is seen as the more traditional or classic archetype to wear the loafer. This person needs a sleek and comfortable shoe to wear at meetings and on their commute to the office. This person pairs the elegance of the loafer with a slim-fitting suit. Their loafer choice is a simple clean black penny or horsebit leather loafer.
The maturing sneakerhead, a connoisseur of streetwear that’s willing to branch out into a new world. This person has succumbed to the renaissance of men’s fashion and added a loafer into their footwear rotation. Keeping the same casual feel to their style yet adding a mature flare. Their loafer choice is a multicolor leather horse tail loafer.
The risk taker, a true fashion innovator who’s willing to clash any pattern, color, or texture. This person believes in fashion over function. The kind of person posting aesthetic slides of their daily life on Instagram. They’ll be wearing the loudest loafer you could imagine a calfskin leather loafer in the brightest color available.
Similar to sneakers a culture around loafers is being built. Where there are “hype shoes”, classics, and new arrivals. The most tantalizing part of this newfound love for loafers is the freshness. The market is still growing and breaking norms. This style falls into the trickle-down theory where it was first accepted by the upper social class. This explains why the loafer had such a preppy stigma. Now that this style has reached the average Joe and is seen as more casual there are new ways to wear the style.
How To Style
The loafer lends itself to a multitude of different looks but there are some rules of thumb when styling.
Most importantly be careful with the pants you choose to wear alongside the loafer. You don’t want to have pants with a very open leg. For the best fit a slimmer taper or you could even cuff the ends of your pants. Ideally, you want your pants to sit just above the ankle to bring attention to the detailing of the shoe. If shorts are more your thing go for it but be careful with your choice of socks.
Socks are the true difference maker between your loafers looking like house slippers. While loafers are casual, without socks they look a little too casual. The socks give an added touch of effort that can help with the transition from bottoms to loafers.
Keep in mind the finish of your new pair of loafers. Since most are made of some kind of leather, they’ll each have a different finish which may alter the way you wear them. A shinier finish will draw attention away from the rest of the outfit. If going for a more casual loafer look you want a matte finish. Be attentive to details about the finish if you are online shopping.
Who Gets The Credit?
Who deserves the credit for loafers breaking onto the scene in a new way? Even though loafers are ubiquitous throughout fashion a notable early adopter was Tyler, the Creator. He shifted his image in 2020 and started constantly wearing loafers. On stage or at the red carpet you could see Tyler wearing a variety of different loafers.
Tyler, the Creator has become a style icon to many. With hit songs and his own clothing line, he has become an inspirational figure for men’s fashion. He is the personification of this change in style. He went from thrown-together low-effort outfits to an eclectic mature style that’s brought together with his signature loafer.
So, what do you think? Are loafers casual? If you’ve already been caught in the loafer madness, what pair are your favorite?
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