7 Chic Loafer Outfit Ideas for Spring Leave a comment

Everywhere I look, it seems like fashion people are switching out their stylish footwear regulars for one shoe in particular: loafers. Hold the ballet flats and sorry, sneaker-heads! As far as elegant and practical flats go, loafers always come out on top as the most versatile and timeless style, and for the most part, you can’t ever be underdressed when you’re wearing them.

Based on the winning looks I’ve spotted on my scrolls (see below), I’ve concluded that spring is when loafers truly come into their own, not autumn—even though the familiar preppy, back-to-school energy is unshakable for those of us who had to wear variations and similarly dressy shoes during term time. Autumn is, objectively, the worst time of year for shoes, because only the cold, rain and snow-proof survive, and the easier they are to clean, the more they get worn to death.

But come spring, loafers shine. Styled with structured tailoring for work, a trending pair of jeans, a kilt or even a chic pair of track pants, loafers add polish and poise that elevates but never overpowers whatever you wear them with.

Allowing us to put our best foot forward at all times, loafers signal that we mean business even when off-duty, but form isn’t sacrificed for function. In fact, the laceless slip-on shoe has been reinvented in recent seasons with noteworthy details that animate the alluring minimalism. Backless loafers were seen at Calvin Klein and Bottega Veneta, The Row and H&M excel at gathered styles, and Saint Laurent’s Le Loafer remains the designer go-to where modern classic styles are concerned. Another update gathering steam is the shift from chunky soles to slimline ones that has convinced me to dig out my own Prada patent loafers that I’d usually wear with a midi dress and invest in a slimmer pair.