Loafers are everywhere this season. It could be because of the massive menswear-inspired suiting trend, but we’ve always had a soft sport for loafers in fall. Call it back to school nostalgia.
It’s not just nostalgia propelling this trend forward, though. Loafers are a great shoe for this awkward time of year when it’s too hot to wear your new fall boots, and a little too chilly for those strappy sandals you wore all summer.
Loafers are also the kind of magical shoe that you can dress up or down. They work almost as well for puttering around the house when you can’t find your slippers as they do with a suit. So which pairs do we have our eyes on, and how are we wearing them?
Animal prints are always big for fall, with an emphasis on leopard print. This season, there’s plenty of leopard to go around but we’re falling hard for snake and crocodile prints too. That means rich browns that look even more expensive than they are, like this pair from Schutz . If you feel like splurging, this high-cut brown croc pair from cult favorite brand By Far fits the bill. The brand also uses headstock Italian fabric, an eco-conscious move we love. Get your leopard fix with these Steve Madden flats at an unbeatable price. With an animal print loafer, we love pairing it with jeans and a white t-shirt to let the shoe really shine.
If you are feeling the tugs of back to school nostalgia, may we interest you in some penny loafers? The perfect preppy shoe is back this year, and now the private school uniform is fully optional. Sperry has a chestnut-colored option with white stitching that feels perfect for fall. If you’re looking for a slightly more luxe feel, Tod’s has a black patent-leather pair that is high-shine and high-drama.
Shop the rest of our favorite loafers:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.
