With these warm temperatures, we tend to dress lighter and more summery. Unfortunately, shorts and flip-flops are generally not accepted in the workplace. But don’t be discouraged! There is footwear with which you appear stylish at the office and effortlessly get through the day. Of course, GENTS is talking about the loafer. Discover here everything you need to know about loafers!
The cliché goes that women have a separate pair of shoes in the closet for every season and every type of weather. Generally, men have fewer choices for what to wear. Fortunately, there is indeed an option available for very summery, warm weather like last week: the loafers. These stylish shoes come in various variations. Moreover, loafers are extremely suitable for both chic and casual outfits. Are you curious why loafers are such a good investment for this summer? GENTS explains it to you!
Elegant slip-ons
The loafer is a shoe with a fairly low entry. This allows you to easily slip them on, and this shoe is also called a “slip-on.” Besides the convenience of putting the shoe on, this footwear is also known for its distinctive style. The slip-on is informal compared to a lace-up shoe or patent leather shoe. At the same time, this type of shoe is formal compared to a sneaker or flip-flop. Combined with the fact that these shoes are not as warm as lace-up shoes, slip-ons are extremely suitable to wear to the office when temperatures rise above 25 degrees. When you wear a pair of elegant slip-ons, you won’t hear any complaints!
Specifications of loafers
Slip-ons are generally classic shoes. The first slip-ons were worn in 1847. However, nowadays there are all kinds of modern variants available. Don’t know how to recognize a real loafer? GENTS is happy to help you. We have listed the specifications of slip-ons for you:
- A loafer is always a low shoe. That means the ankle is exposed and the shoe does not fit too tightly around your foot.
- An authentic loafer has no laces. After all, it is a slip-on shoe.
- Usually, loafers have a heel, albeit with a low profile. Only the moccasins are an exception to this.
- The sole of the shoe is always separate from the upper.
Different types of loafers
Of course, there are several loafers for sale that have a distinctive appearance. In other words, there are different types of loafers on the market. Terms such as penny, kilt and tassel are flying around. But what does it all stand for? It indicates the characteristic features the loafers have. To guide you a bit in the world of loafers, GENTS covers the 5 most well-known types of loafers.
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The classic loafer; the penny
When we talk about the classic loafer, we mean the penny loafer. You recognize this type of footwear by the iconic leather strap that runs across the instep. The loafer owes its name to this strap. In that strap, there is an opening where you can place a small penny (a coin). This loafer dates back to the 1950s and is therefore often called "the classic loafer." You best wear these loafers as a complement to a neat outfit because they are fairly formal shoes.
2. The kilt loafer
Another well-known loafer is the kilt. These shoes are essentially an ode to the traditional dress of Scotland. You recognize these loafers by the elegant tassels on the instep. This makes this variant look very much like the tassel loafer. However, the difference lies in the distinctive decoration also found on the instep of the kilt loafer. There you see a pattern reminiscent of the Scottish kilt, hence the name. Usually, these loafers are worn at various events.
3. The tassel loafer
As mentioned earlier, this type of loafer closely resembles the kilt variant. With these loafers, you see a decorative tassel, also known as a tassel, on the instep. Logically, this type of loafer also owes its name to this. Usually, you only find these loafers made of suede. However, nowadays shoes with this recognizable design are also made of leather. These loafers are a bit less formal than the penny variant, making them perfect to wear on occasions with a casual or semi-chic dress code.
4. The Gucci loafer; the snaffle slip-on
When the big fashion houses noticed that slip-ons were becoming increasingly popular, they decided to bring their own variant to the market. Each fashion house came up with a design. Eventually, one really broke through: the snaffle loafer. However, this term is used less often. We rather speak of the Gucci slip-ons, because the Italian designer made this design. The Gucci slip-on can be recognized by the golden copper band that runs over the instep. When you see the band, it reminds you of a kind of buckle. You wear these slip-ons under stylish jeans or with a suit with a fairly casual appearance.
5. The driving loafer
Finally, GENTS would like to mention the driving loafers. This variant of the slip-on has a special origin: the shoe was designed to make driving expensive cars easier. Thanks to these stylish loafers, the driver no longer needs to faux-pas (committing the faux-pas of wearing shoes that don’t match the rest of the outfit). On the sole of this loafer you will find a remarkable profile designed to create more grip on the pedals while driving. Besides the iconic sole, you can also recognize the driving loafers by the bow that runs horizontally around. On the instep, this bow takes the shape of a leather band. If you are looking for a handy slip-on for the summer or in general, then this loafer is really recommended! Thanks to the design, these loafers are very accessible and you can easily wear them throughout the day.
A stylish, airy outfit for the office
So, with these tropical temperatures, don’t feel like sweating at the office? Be smart and wear airy clothing that is also stylish. GENTS advises you to combine loafers with a chino and polo shirt. Don’t have this at home? Then put on your neatest jeans and on top of that a shirt made of breathable material. In addition, short-sleeved shirts are also accepted when it is as warm as today. Whatever you wear to the office or on the shop floor, with a pair of neat loafers you can be sure your feet won’t get too warm.
