Ten Pairs of Worthy Loafers for 2012
They’re not as dead as the Fedora, but you don’t see many guys walking around in loafers. Most of us are usually in lace ups, boots, or sneakers. But when lace ups are too business like, boots are too thick, and sneakers are too easy, the loafer excels.
Keep your loafers relatively slim, trim, and the toes round. Leave the squared off stuff to the club goers, and the stumpy battle ships to the retirement home. Strike the right balance and a good pair of loafers will help you communicate that you’re not taking wherever you’re at too seriously, all while maintaining a slick upgraded look.
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Florsheim Dividend Single Monk Strap – $79.95 ($90 – $110)
Brown suede or black leather in a single monk strap style. Great looking, simple, rounded toe that’s not stumpy. These aren’t available through the Florsheim website, but if you go through DSW, you can use the code SHIPR for free shipping, and the code INDULGE might still work to take $10 off the order. You do have to join their email list to use those codes. Wear these with everything from jeans to cords to flannel trousers or even a suit with some texture. Great for getting through an airport.
Mercanti Fiorentini Double Monk Strap – $139.95 (ships free w/ SHIPR)
The well loved affordable double monk strap is back. The “cognac” color appears to be more of a true brown this time, but maybe it’s just the new photos. Like the suedes from Florsheim above, Try the code INDULGE to save $20. Free shipping with the code SHIPR too. Full review over here. Made in Italy and decent quality for the price.
Mercanti Fiorentini Penny Loafers – $139.95 (ships free w/ SHIPR)
Proof that a penny loafer doesn’t have to be some stumpy old thing. Trimmed down just a touch, but not to the point where it looks freaky. Simple. Apron stitching along the toe that doesn’t square off. Like the double monks, made in Italy for the DSW house brand.
Florsheim Willett $102.32 w/ code LINK20 ($170)
A slip-on with wingtip details. Great medallion on the front of the toe, nice sweeping lines, and a silhouette that’s pretty trim by Florsheim standards (as shown at the top of this post.) Already on sale and ships free even after the 20% off code LINK20 is applied. Part of Florsheim’s upgraded “Imperial” collection. Made in China, but plenty soft and comfortable. Know that they seem to run a half size large. Maybe.
To Boot New York ‘Ross’ Loafer – $147.90 ($298)
You’ll pay for the T.B.N.Y. styling, but if you prefer a sleek loafer that doesn’t get overly modern at the toe, then this is one of the few options you’ve got. Sizes are a bit limited. Made in Italy. Ships and returns free.
Eduardo G. Florence Tassled Loafers – $139.97 w/ code ALJAN2 ($375)
Be not afraid of the tassel. Especially when the rest of the shoe looks like that. Made in Portugal, French Calf uppers, and allegedly pretty narrow. So be aware if you’re wide in the feet. The code ALJAN2 will knock 30% off purchases of $150 or more (as well as 20% off purchases over $100, and 25% off purchases of $125 – $150) and that drops these down to under $140. Can’t hang with the truck-nutz-esque tassels? Tassel free are over here.
Cole Haan Folsom – $100.80
($168)
These are a bit of a freak. $168 is asking way too much and even $100 is pushing it a little. The first thing you notice when you take them out of the box is how light they are. They’re a barely there kind of shoe. But the grey suede is soft, and the weird blue sole has decent cushioning. Bombproof? Hardly. But they’ve got a look about them that would go awfully well with a laid back summer evening. Ships and returns free from Endless.
Johnston & Murphy Tislon – $116.29 w/ code ALJAN2 ($225)
Or… you could go with these. There’s some burnishing at the toe and heel, but they’re made in Italy, and should have some more beef to them than the Cole Haan option. “Waxed” suede.
Mezlan Bradley II Loafer – $195.00
The split toe style don’t always look right. This one gets it. Not too stumpy and far from spear like. Italian calfskin and made in Mexico. Full price through Nordstrom but at least they ship and return free. Various sizes at various reduced price points at the various Amazon sites of Endless
Sebago Kerry Tassel – $67.50
($135)
Takes some guts to pull of since they’ve got the tassels, but the quality of the craftsmanship is unheard of for under $70. Made in the Dominican Republic, hand sewn, leather soles, and the uppers are made from some of the most comfortable and flexible leather you’ll ever get your feet into. Totally casual, but tons of character. Plenty of sizes but only available in a wider E width. Size down if you’re a standard D.
Are you a believer in the power of the loafer? Got a favorite not mentioned here? Leave it all in the comments…
Zappos has the double-monk To Boot New York Wickham on sale for $280: http://www.zappos.com/to-boot-new-york-wickham . Sizes are limited (they have an 8, 10.5, 11, 12, and 13 as of now). It’s pricey, but made in Italy and I’m a fan of the pebbled leather. And… they’re double monks. Other than the DSW, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any quality dubmonks under $300.
The reviews are weird on this one, since it’s the same guy who posted twice. Ships and returns free from Zappos, whose customer service rocks, so worth the risk?
In my mind I put monks just above loafers but below lace ups, as to me they are a bit dressier than loafers. Regardless, I work in a very casual office, so I tend to favor loafers and monks over lace ups. This is a timely article for me.
L. L. Bean penny loafers are awesome with full leather sole. I have the black and cordavan and wear them everyday to work. Plus if they wear out or your unhappy they will always send you a new pair or give you your money back. Only $99.99 but usually have 10% off or other deals.
The T.B.N.Y is already unavailable. And I could use a pair of loafers. Got anything in 6.5D ?
I’ve never been a fan of the tasseled loafer.
Dunno, can’t cosign. Loafers always look too feminine to me.
just a note: i bought a pair of the florsheim willetts and they run very narrow. i’ve never had to order a wide in a shoe before but i had to for these. the medium width also looks just a little odd in its proportion but otherwise a great shoe i’ve received many compliments on.
I like loafers… unsure if I’m ready to pull off the tassel, but really love those Tasseled Eduardo Florence ones. Color is great.
I’m not a fan of loafers but I’ve been trying to convert since I picked up a pair of mint condition Allen Edmonds Milfords at the thrift store. I think I’d like them better in brown. I do really like those Florsheims, though – probably because I’m a wingtip fanatic already.
<3 you loafers. I guess they are more popular in prep circles in the South. I have an old pair of Dockers tassel loafers that I love even though they don't look that great. Always on the hunt for penny loafers at the thrift store.
Joe, have you done a full review of the Willett before?
I’ve never been a fan of loafers.. Can’t stand ’em.
Anyone see the Kenneth Cole Fellow Men? The look like a great shape but seem be hard to find in many sizes: Kenneth Cole Reaction Fellow Men at Zappos.com
Do you have a Saks Off 5th store nearby? I recently walked in my local store, and they had a bunch to TBNY shoes for 40-50% off in various styles. That brought the total to $150 for most pairs. I’m sure there were loafers on the list. I don’t know if the sale is stilling going on, but I suppose it never hurts to look if it’s not too far out of your way.
I’ve got no particular objection to loafers, but it really depends on which ones we’re talking about. I don’t like tassles, but penny loafers (at least in suede) are growing on me. Those florsheim wingtips have really caught my eye, though.
Never heard of this store. I live in Canada, I don’t think we have those here.
I’ve got to say, the Florsheim Willets are pretty horrendous.
Not for me, with the exception of the monk straps to me they look like slippers, which is not a lookI am ever going for.
Yeah… a ruined wingtip.
I dunno if you have Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack in Canada, but at my local Rack they always have some stuff in smaller sizes, down to 6.5 or 6 IIRC.
We don’t have Nordstom either. I can order online from them, but it’s quite expensive with all those brokerage fees and taxes. A pair of Allen Edmonds Park Avenue priced at $335 would cost me a total of $465.
Yeah, fully agree. I hate loafers, they remind me so much of old pensioners, I can’t help it. Monk straps are a different kind for me, one day I’ll give them a try!
Not a fan of loafers at all, but remember, if you must wear them, loafers are for loafing. Wearing them with a suit ruins the whole look IMO.
This is interesting. In Denver the situation is completely the opposite: the only dress shoes guys seem to have here are loafers. Seldom do you see a good pair of lace-ups on a young guy. And you can forget about monks. It’s quite sad. Denver is like a wasteland of cargo shorts and gym-dwellers. What’s worse is that 98% of the loafers you’ll see have a toe as wide and square as a brick. Most of them will tell you that round toed shoes (or “pointy” as they refer to it), are too girly. They are most content to hide behind the familiarity and comfort of their bulky, square-toed loafers, which couldn’t, under any circumstances, be misconstrued as girls’ shoes.
Seems that most dudes in Denver don’t buy shoes (or any other item of clothing) because they look good. They only buy/wear anything remotely dressy when they absolutely have to. Which leaves anyone who puts even the slightest bit of effort into their style to deal with the constant barrage of “Why are you so dressed up?” questions. Oh well, I guess that’s better than “Oh, did you have an interview today?”
They’ve come up before plenty of times, but I can’t recall doing an in-person with them.
Amazon has the Cole Haan Folsom for $79.00 plus shipping. Also, prime eligible so free two-day ship or 3.99 for overnight.
Same situation here in Denver’s sister city Dallas. Cargo shorts and flip flops are the rage, even in the winter time.
TMT, you got one other fellow Dappered reader here in Denver. We’ll have to try to keep our “girly shoes” from messing with the cargo short vibe!
Haha, so true. I moved to Denver from Chicago. I wear the exact same clothes, and yet I receive about 10x the comments/complements/remarks on my clothing here. Funny how that works.