Moccasins for Men

Loafers: From the Shadows to the Spotlight of an Essential Accessory

Loafers are extremely comfortable shoes that have gained a prominent position quite recently. For a long time, they were considered little more than indoor slippers, and it seemed they could not compete with their more prestigious siblings: formal, shiny, and especially lace-up shoes.

As they have no laces, a horizontal loop on the upper allows them to be easily slipped on. Today, loafers work well with a casual and sporty style, but not only.

It seems that loafers owe their origin to Native Americans who wrapped their feet in bands of soft leather: their all-purpose footwear. However, the loafers as we know them were produced in the United States in the early decades of the last century, and at that time, they did not receive particular attention, except as indoor or leisure shoes.

Stylistic Ascent: From Indoor Shoes to Fashion Icons

Their moment of glory, however, came when they were adopted by Fred Astaire, who used them all his life, even for tap dancing. It wasn't a fleeting glory, as American university students in the 1950s contributed to the spread of these shoes, giving life to the trend called the Penny Loafer. Later, after the 1980s, loafers were worn in several films and TV series and ultimately consecrated by Michael Jackson in his Moonwalk: his black leather loafers were auctioned in May 2018.

Today, these shoes are timeless and can be worn on all occasions and in all seasons: very trendy with sportswear, jeans, or casual outfits, decidedly chic with a tailcoat, elegant with a classic and formal outfit. After all, who could oppose Fred Astaire's style?