5 Tips I Wish I Knew About Wearing Loafers
Here are tips I wish I knew before I got into loafers, from sizing to styling
Loafers have taken the internet by storm, from your favorite content creator to your favorite artist, the classic loafer is becoming a staple in anyone’s wardrobe, and for good reason too! It’s a shoe that can be both dressed up and down and did I mention the timeless silhouette it has?
However, for those who have never worn loafers or for those who want to get into wearing this classic piece of footwear, you might be scratching your heads and wondering, how does sizing work? Which loafer should I buy? and how can this be dressed up or down? Well, look no further than here! I remember when I got my first pair of loafers two years ago, they were none other than the popular Dr. Marten Adrian Loafers. At first, I was hesitant to wear them with literally anything. I thought this was just an item used for a dressy occasion or something I could only wear with certain pants. However, as time moved on and I started becoming more comfortable with myself wearing loafers, I started to wear them almost every day to the point that now, all I seem to wear is loafers! So I am here now looking to help answer some questions that I wish I had answered to when I first got interested in wearing them!
1. Sizing
Alright, let’s get the big question out of the way! Sizing! Here is the simple answer, first look to see if the website or brand you are buying from has a sizing guide. If not or you don’t trust the sizing due to reviews then here is the rule that I always follow. GO HALF A SIZE DOWN!
Now onto the explanation for this section. When I got my Adrian Loafers, I scoured the internet for videos or articles on sizing and even went as far as to measure my feet. I always wear a size 10 in shoes so it was weird for me to order a size down. Especially because the Adrian loafers don’t go half sizes. This meant that I had to go from a 10 down to a 9. However, when I finally got them, they actually ended up fitting really well! This doesn’t just apply to the Dr. Marten loafers, I also have a pair of GH Bass Weejuns and Solovair loafers as well, and some Steve Madden loafers that I sold a year ago.
Before I got those loafers, however, I experimented with thrifting loafers in different sizes. Sure I had my Dr. Marten loafers but that sizing is exclusively for Dr. Marten. I bought so many cheap $15 loafers in different sizes to test out what loafer size I was. I tried every trick in the book. I tried a loafer in my usual 10 size and there was way too much room. I tried a size 9 loafer and I could barely fit my foot in them and when I did, walking with them felt like a pain. I even went up a size as one person online suggested and that was even more room. Finally, I decided to do a half size down and it was the perfect size that I needed. There was enough room for my feet to breathe but not too much where I felt like my shoe would fall off.
2. Lug Sole
So you finally got the big question out of the way with sizing, now you might be thinking about going all in just buying a random pair of generic loafers. Now of course you can do that! However, something that I wish I had known before buying so many loafers is that loafers will generally be uncomfortable during your first few wears. If any of you have ever worn any sort of Dr. Marten shoes then imagine that break-in period but a tiny bit softer. So it’s for this reason that I recommend going for a loafer with a lug sole to start off your loafer journey.
The lug sole loafer is a trendy look since it adds to that chunky shoe trend that is still around today. Not only is it trendy but the lug sole will provide similar comfort to wearing sneakers. This will initially help you get used to wearing loafers normally since regular classic loafers are made with a leather sole and let me tell you that switching from a lug sole to a leather sole is like night and day. A lug sole feels like clouds while the leather sole feels like you are walking literally barefoot all over the city. So to avoid the discouragement that you could receive with wearing a normal loafer, try wearing a lug sole loafer so that the transition from sneaker to loafer is easier.
3. Recommended Loafers?
The loafer catalog is full of beautiful pairs. Some have silver details, others have tassels and then there’s the plain penny loafer. With a wide range to choose from, here are some of my favorite brands that offer both comfort and style
GH Bass Weejuns
If you are looking for a classic timeless silhouette loafer, then look no further than the GH Bass Weejuns. For those unaware, GH Bass is actually the first ever company to introduce the world to the penny loafer. So then it is no surprise that GH Bass’s loafer selection will look good with any outfit. For those who want that leather sole, GH Bass has you covered, and for those who want that lug sole chunky loafer look then GH Bass also has you covered!
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The price for GH Bass loafers can be on the pricier side, however, I do believe that it is worth saving up for. I own a pair of GH Bass Weejuns and they always deliver with any outfit.
Solovair
Made in England, Solovair loafers provide you with, in my opinion, the best lug sole loafer that you can find. Not to mention if you are a fan of Tyler the Creator then these loafers might look a bit familiar. Solovair and Tyler the Creator collaborated to create the Golf Le Fleur loafers that you see Tyler wearing with his outfits. So if you missed out on those loafer then this is a perfect alternative.
Now price-wise, Solovair is by far the most expensive brand on this list. I did buy from the brand and “Guacho Crazy Horse” loafers are by far my favorite loafers in my collection. They are comfortable right off the box, the shape although still classic, makes the loafer look chunkier, and lastly, the shine that this loafer gives is by far the best feature that this loafer has.
Dr. Marten
If you like the look of the Solovair loafers but not the price tag then I would recommend going for the Dr. Marten Adrian Loafers. A fun fact about Solovair and Dr Marten is that they were once made by the same company, so the Dr. Marten loafer can be a great alternative to the Solovair loafer.
The Dr. Marten Adrian Loafers are by far the most popular loafers on this list. This stems from the fact that they are chunky and affordable. The look is perfect for today’s trend and it comes in a variety of colors.
However, the downside to this loafer is the horror stories that this loafer always seems to get from customers. Talking from experience, I remember my first time wearing them out and at first they were alright, however as the day went on, I could feel discomfort in the top of my right foot and a stinging sensation in the heel of both feet. Needless to say, when I arrived home and took them off, I had terrible blisters and I was afraid to ever wear them again. The important thing with this loafer is to find ways to prevent the damage it can cause to your feet. I found that putting heel cushion pads inside of the loafer made for a more snug and relaxing fit. However as told in many reviews, the leather of the loafer will become less stiff over many wears and thus be comforting in any situation.
4. Thrift your loafers
It’s no surprise that the best loafers you can find with the best quality and comfort can sometimes be the most expensive. However as I mentioned at the top of this post, I did in fact thrift most of my loafers that I used to test out the sizing. Not only will this hurt your wallet less, but it can also hurt your feet less!
Thrifted loafers are usually already broken in, this means that you won’t have to suffer the pain that fresh new out-of-the-box loafers will give your feet. Additionally, thrift stores may surprise you with what they have. All of my GH Bass Weejun loafers are thrifted and as a result, I paid a quarter of the retail price that GH Bass sells them for on their website.
If thrift stores do not attract you then look no further than online resell apps or websites. Places like Depop, Mercari, and eBay offer a great alternative to in-person thrift stores all while still delivering a great deal on some of your favorite brands. However, always be careful with whom you are buying from. If the listing is too good to be true then chances are that the person selling the item is a scammer.
5. Styling Loafers
Closing off these tips is the best piece of advice that I can possibly give. Styling loafers. Loafers are one of the best pieces of footwear that you can possibly own because of how versatile it can be. Add in a pair of relaxed fit denim and you have yourself a smart yet casual look. Going out for a date, add in some chino pants and the loafer will carry that fancy look you are going for. With spring coming our way, hot temperatures are on the rise, still, loafers can be paired great with jorts, chino shorts, and especially with pleated long shorts.
Styling loafers is not hard. It can be daunting at first to go out with this smart piece of footwear but once you become comfortable in wearing loafers, you can then see how much they go with quite literally anything. Some crazy people even decide to wear sweatpants with their loafers.
So to close this off, loafers will always be in style, whether on a date or a night out, loafers provide that smart look that can make any casual outfit just a bit more stylish. I Hope that these tips helped!
