Fashion Men's Fashion

31 Game-Raising Loafers to Crush All Your Summer Fits

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Slip on a whole new you. 

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Loafers have been having what we in the business call “a moment” for a while now, but the best loafers for men feel more hyper-relevant than ever before. What other shoe, pray tell, is better suited to this particular time: laceless and comfortable like the slippers you’ve been lounging in for months; sharp and stylish enough for the post-vax life you’ve been dreaming about for those same months? (Sigh.) Convinced you need a pair—or five—in your spring rotation? Here’s what you should know. 

How do I choose one? 

Simple: think about what you’re going to wear them with, and then refine your search accordingly. (For more styling how-to, see below.) Once you’ve found a pair of that’s right for you and your wardrobe, slip ‘em on without a second thought, and ascend to verified style god status. It really is that easy. What you should be asking yourself is: How do I choose only one?

Which brands should I turn to?

Thanks to the Great Loafer Boom of 2022, you’ve never had more options—from heritage menswear brands and big-name designers and tiny startup labels alike. When in doubt, dust off your favorite dress shoes, double-check who makes them, and then review their loafer selection too. Chances are they sell a bang-up pair. 

What should I wear them with?

Good nows on this front: there’s not a damn thing in your wardrobe that a loafer won’t work with. Jeans (weird or otherwise), trousers (with pleats or without), shorts—especially the shorts of summer—and beyond. In other words: just about everything. And no matter the style you’re after, from classic penny loafers to dressy tassel loafers, we’ve tracked down the 31 absolute best loafers for men—all exhaustively researched, thoroughly vetted, and ready to roll. 


The Best Bang For Your Buck Loafer

G.H. Bass & Co. “Larson” Weejuns loafers

$135

G.H. Bass & Co.

Bass Weejuns have been an icon since the ’30s, and when it comes to loafers—or any shoe really—you’d be hard-pressed to find a better value. The brand’s casual-leaning style is a GQ fan-favorite beloved by old-school preppy legends like J.F.K. and modern-day loafer aficionados alike. The best way to wear them? Play down their clean-cut origins by pairing them with everything from cuffed Dickies to flower-child faded jeans. For the bargain-savvy shopper, these are about as close as it gets to a near-perfect black loafer that doesn’t compromise on quality and doesn’t call for a short-term loan to afford. In other words: as long as Bass keeps making ’em, we’ll keep recommending ’em.

Plus 6 More Affordable Loafers We Love 

Beckett Simonon “Roy” loafers

Don’t let the price fool you: Beckett Simonon’s velvety, water-repellent loafers don’t skimp on the wow factor.
$209

Beckett Simonon

Rockport classic loafers

Rockport’s legendary rubber outsoles just might help prevent an ACL injury.

J.Crew “Camden” English suede loafers

Whether it’s Derby Day or your niece’s baptism, these white suede loafers are a confidence booster that’ll make your tan suit pop. (You want it to pop, don’t you?)

Allen Edmonds “Cavanaugh” penny loafer

If you want to fully harness the retro charm of the penny loafer, a moccasin toe is the way to go.

Jack Erwin “Carmine” penny loafer

Handcrafted in Portugal from Italian-sourced suede, these are loafers that’ll confer instant native status the next time you touch down in Europe—even if it’s your first time on the continent.
$220

Jack Erwin

Cole Haan Pinch Penny Slip-On Loafer

As classic as they come.

Dr. Martens “Adrian” Smooth Leather Tassel loafers

For Doc lovers, details like a double tassel and kiltie fringe—all plopped on top of that signature cushioned sole—have helped loafer wearers look like counter-cultural icons since the ’80s.
$140

Dr. Martens

The Best Grail-Worthy Loafer

Gucci 1953 Horsebit Leather loafer

The word “icon” gets tossed around real casually these days, but Gucci’s horsebit loafer is the rare piece of design actually worthy of the moniker. There’s a reason the silhouette’s barely changed since it was first introduced in the early ’50s. Gucci loafers are still crafted in Italy, still embellished with the brand’s signature horsebit detail hearkening back to its legacy as a small-time Florentine leather goods operation. Explaining their appeal is easy: not only do they go with everything you already own, they’ll swank up every outfit your pair them with—from the casual-everydays vibe you’ll be bringing back to your re-opened office, to the suit you’ve been jonesing to bust out once the summer wedding circuit picks up in earnest.

Plus 3 More Lust-Worthy Loafers We Love

Manolo Blahnik Plymouth collapsible-heel suede and leather penny loafers

Sex and the City fans will be all too familiar with Carrie Bradshaw’s favorite shoes. These convertible versions let you go from loafer to slipper mode instantly (so it’s like you’re getting two shoes in one).

Drake’s Canal penny loafer

Loafers were already comfortable enough, but adding a crepe sole to some supple suede uppers puts these into cushy sneaker territory.

Bode leather house loafers

While everyone else clamors for Bode’s upcycled quilted works of art, eagle-eyed fashion fiends know that the brand’s house loafers are a true grail. The sleek shape and elegant cutouts make them arguably the sexiest shoes out there.

The Best Titan of Industry Loafer

J.M. Weston 180 Moccasin Suede loafers

If you’re looking for slip-on shoes that’ll make you feel like you’re on top of the world every time you wear ‘em these are the loafers for you. That’s because J.M.Weston’s most popular shoe is a tour de force of footwear design. Insisting on the 180 manual operations necessary to assemble each pair might sound a tad excessive, but if you’re dropping a rack on a pair of shoes, you expect that level of craftsmanship. Goodyear-welted for easy resoling and done up in a rich shade of dark brown, these are loafers that’ll sync up just as well with your most formal outfits as they will your most casual, from your finest “hostile corporate takeover” power suit to a pair of frayed 501s and your “weekend beater” Rolex. 

Plus 3 More Rich-Guy Loafers We Love

Fear of God leather loafers

A loafer upper and a sneaker sole are the perfect embodiment of the street-casual tailoring wave designer Jerry Lorenzo‘s been on.

The Row collapsable heel leather loafers

No one does elegant minimalism quite like The Row. Wear these to an art gallery opening with your flowiest pants to look like the smartest person in the room.

Loro Piana Summer Walk suede moccasins

Loro Piana, the Italian brand synonymous with you-need-to-touch-it-to-believe-it cashmere, makes loafers that are begging to be worn with brightly printed swim trunks and a chest-exposing linen shirt.

The Best Tassel Loafer

Alden Snuff Suede Tassel loafer

Tassel loafers are here, waiting, if you want something outside of a penny loafer that’s still got some showmanship. Alden’s signature version is absolute aces: handmade in Massachusetts from handsome snuff suede on a deceptively comfortable leather outsole. You’d be hard-pressed to find a pair of shoes that’ll complement a pair of dark indigo jeans more effectively, or more instantly elevate a creamy pair of linen trousers to the realm of “gracefully aging Italian gentleman.”

Other Great Tassel Loafer Options:

Ralph Lauren Purple Label “Luther” burnished calfskin loafer

Ralph Lauren’s burnished calfskin loafers are downright sensual. The tassle flourish is a standout, but it’s the lived-in patina that make these world class.
$1,250

Ralph Lauren

Our Legacy loafer

Consider these the decidely un-stuffy version of the usual tassel loafer.
$439

End. Clothing

The Best Venetian Loafer

Viberg slipper

Venetian loafers couldn’t be hotter right now, and you should absolutely learn what the fuss is about. Construction-wise, they’re similar to the conventional loafers you’re familiar with, absent a few crucial stylistic flourishes—namely, the straps, tassels, and kilties that typically lend the uppermost part of the loafer some flair. The style has exploded in popularity over the last year, which means it’s high time you discovered for yourself what the fuss is about. Viberg’s durable, Goodyear-welted option is one of the best of the bunch. The brand’s eco veg slippers merge the ease of the house shoes you’ve been wearing for the last year with the timeless style of the dress shoes you’ve been eyeing forever. Strip away all those excess details and you’re left with a loafer that feels—almost paradoxically—even more elegant than its elaborately-adorned counterparts.

Plus 3 More Venetian Loafers We Love

Engineered Garments x Tricker’s Golf loafer

Another bold take on the Venetian loafer, via Engineered Garments’ ongoing collaboration with Tricker’s.

Alexander McQueen patent leather loafers

Black tie events won’t be the same once you realize you don’t have to lace-up your shoes to get fancified. A pair of ultra-sleek patent leather loafers can look even more sophisticated—and save you a world of hassle after a long, boozy night out.

Todd Snyder x Rubinacci Belgian loafer

A cute little bow tied to some badass croc skin? That’s a juxtaposition our feet are totally here for.
$475

Todd Snyder

The Best Mood Board Loafers

Blackstock & Weber Safari loafers

$345

Blackstock & Weber

For decades, loafers remained an unbeatable footwear option for every type of sophisticated gent, but it’s only recently that brands cottoned on to their appeal as canvas for their wildest designs. Case in point: Blackstock & Weber’s Safari loafers, a veritable Animal Kingdom in shoe form. (Tiger, and zebra, and leopard prints, oh my!) These loafers are sure to do two things: 1) Make you the most confident dude at any function you attend, and 2) Do massive numbers on the ‘gram. We’re not in the business of making triple-digit guarantees, but if there were ever shoes that promised some well-warranted timeline love, it’s these. Keep the rest of your outfit classic (think a tan suit, solid knit polo, and a sleek pair of aviators) to really let ’em roar. 

Plus 6 More Wild-Style Loafers We Love

Vinny’s “Richie” penny loafer

Slip into these along with a pair of billowy slacks and a knit polo to enter your midcentury era.
$315

End. Clothing

Eytys “Othello” loafers

These loafers may seem lowkey at first. But the contrasting smooth leather and croc skin, in tandem with the collapsible heel, make them some of the stealthiest, slickest loafers we’ve come across.

John Lobb “Hendra” suede loafers

The unexpected red hue—from one of the world’s finest footwear makers, no less—will make you an absolute superstar at flex-worthy weddings for years to come.
Matches Fashion

Toga Virilis penny loafers

A pair of loafers with Iron Throne-esque metalwork calls for thrashed jeans and a biker jacket.

Horatio London “Beaufoy” loafer

Two tones is twice the fun.
$264

Horatio London

Rhude bandana loafers

As far as big, brash style swerves go, paisley prints are actually a fairly subtle way to stunt. When you want to keep people on their toes, rock ’em with sweatpants and black socks.

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