Would you wear it? The Bit Loafer

Magnanni Belmont Bit Loafer – $161.25 ($315)

Price reflects the current extra 25% off sale LastCall.com is running.  Available in brown or black.   Made in Spain.  Ships free with the code FSANN4.  Sale ends 3/13/12 at 8 a.m. CT, but c’mon, there will be more LastCall sales.

As in horse bit.  If this really is going to be the year of the loafer, then these things need to be debated.

To some, they’re a standard.  No big deal.  To others, the bit loafer is the shoe version of a clunky metal man-bracelet.  Jewelry for the sake of flash.  Cheesy and even a bit skeezy.  Not easy to pull off well.

But just about everyone seems to make a pair.  In all sorts of price ranges:

• Aston Grey Belmont – $89.95
• Allen Edmonds Bit Driver – $195.00
• Cole Haan Air Adams – $198.00
• Brooks Brothers Alligator (yes.  Gator.) – $1498.00

Would you wear a pair?  Some would argue that they’re not that different than a monk strap.  A detail that’s tough to ignore and more or less useless.  Monk strap apologists will argue the straps do help keep the shoe on your foot.  That and the straps are leather, not huge hunks of metal (aside from the buckles).  Leave your take in the comments.