Loafers have had a serious reboot. Historically sported by Norwegian fishermen in the 1930’s, fast forward to 2022 loafers are now a staple footwear looked sported in the city. We think this a particularly exciting time in the industry, particularly for women, who are now are able to shuffle into a shoe that provides a touch of chic to an outfit but doesn’t result in any toe-painting or severe ankle pain in the process.

Far from being solely a corporate staple, these sturdy stompers have emerged as a top player in the casual street style market. The sell-out style has been a wardrobe staple for the likes of Camille Charriere and Bella Hadid, with Prada and MuiMui’s design of the shoe posing as the roadmap for this summer.

Despite their closed-toe design and somewhat rigid structure, loafers work particularly well in elevating flouncy summer dresses, with top-tier Scandinavian influencers such as Matilda Djerf confirming this theme.

We’ve picked our top three loafers with links to where they are available (one high street option of course)

Mango’s ruched loafers: If this is your first time purchasing a pair of loafers, these leather strap loafers from Mango are a good place to start. Coming in at under 40 pounds, they aren’t going to break the bank, but also stretch beyond the ‘typical’ structure of a loafer shoe with their ruched edges. Whilst only available in one shade, there is no doubt that their neutral quality means that they’ll compliment a range of tones, so functioning as a good kicks if you’re looking for versatility in a shoe. Carpe Denim recommends wearing these with some black slack pants and a chunky knit.

Ganni’s crystal embellished slingbacks- Scandinavian’s know how to nail a loafer and at carpe denim, this pair has us ‘head over heels’. The jeweled button provides a touch of elegance to the shoe whilst its open back is very endearing if you’re in search for a loafer with a slightly less ‘corporate’ feel. Considering this loafer’s less-traditional design, we recommend letting these shoes function as the statement piece of your outfit; pairing these shoes with an all-black or neutral number will really enable these shoes to really shine.

If you’re looking to really disrupt your loafer game, try these in the daring lime green snakeskin print version that Ganni also have available (some sizes are even in stock on The Outnet if you’re looking to get your hands on a discounted pair).

Weejuns Penny loafer:. There couldn’t be a loafer list without picking a shoe that replicates the classic penny loafer. Taken from Weejuns, we love the playful nature of this shoe, with the heart embroidery red leather patches a fun take on this timeless black polished leather loafer. The options with this shoe are practically endless.