Style Notes
Women’s Loafers: Discover How To Shop And Style Loafer Shoes
17 April 2024
Once a preppy, back-to-work shoe, now an icon of smart style for both men and women. Loafers have come a long way since their humble beginnings. As they continue to take the fashion world by storm, we take a deeper look at the different types of loafers, their history and styling.
What are loafers?
Loafers are slip-on shoes, traditionally made with leather or suede and completely free of fastenings.
Not the first of its kind, several types of leather slip-on shoes had already been worn around the world for centuries before loafers were invented. They were practical, easy to wear styles that could be dressed to look smart or casual. As people caught on to these benefits, they became increasingly more popular, and it's thought this is the origin of the loafers we know today.
It’s also believed that a bespoke British shoemaker was commissioned to make the first smart leather loafers for men back in the 1800s. These were designed for members of the royal family and the landed gentry who would wear these loafers as a country house shoe.
In the 1930s, it was American shoemaker G. H. Bass who introduced the first penny loafers – named after the subtle strap across the vamp of the shoe, which has a split through it that’s large enough to hold a single coin. (A handy way to carry change for a pay phone back in those days.) They’ve been around ever since.
While they were first thought of as men’s shoes, fashionable loafers are now unanimously known as an androgynous style. Over the past few decades, we’ve seen many female celebrities wearing women’s loafers, from the likes of Julia Roberts to Diana, Princess of Wales. Even Jennifer Anniston admitted taking ladies’ loafers from the set of Friends – a pair that her character, Rachel Green, wore on the show.
As they gained a much bigger audience, many more variations of black loafers in fashion have emerged. That includes flat and heeled loafers, those with chunky cleated soles, and some where horse-bit hardware replaces the traditional penny slot. We are also seeing more examples of how to wear loafers on the catwalks and from style experts.
Women’s Loafers
There is a large overlap between leather loafers for men and women. They often have the same selection of styles, with the main difference being the fit – ladies’ loafers will often be narrower than men’s. Some fashionable loafers for women may also have a larger heel or come in alternative leather textures. For example, crocodile-embossed leathers or animal prints are more popular in women’s fashion.
What’s the Difference Between Oxfords and Loafers?
They’re both smart shoes, made with leather but there is one key difference between Oxfords and loafers. The latter doesn’t have laces. Loafers are meant to be slipped on without the hassle of fastening them, while Oxfords feature a sleek, closed lace panel. They’re a typically smarter style and a polished dress shoe that can be worn with suits.
But don’t get either of these confused with Derby shoes or brogues – these are also men’s dress shoes in their own right, with subtle nuances that differentiate them from one another.
Types of Loafers
Penny Loafers
As mentioned, penny loafers are named after the strip of leather across the front of the shoe, which has a split that can hold a penny. While the name makes sense, we don’t know how or when it was coined. Some modern, designer penny loafers are detailed with branded hardware, such as an etched logo disc, tucked into that traditional hole in the strap.
Tassel Loafers
With the same appearance and silhouette, these loafers have leather tassels attached to the vamp instead of the penny slot. Due to the playfulness and character of this extra detail, a tassel loafer is thought to be a slightly less formal choice of black loafers for men. Among this same category are the kiltie loafers – named after the fringed trim, which you may find finished with tassels too.
Snaffle Loafers
Also known as horse-bit loafers, these shoes are named after the equestrian-inspired hardware trim that decorates the front of the shoe. These first emerged during the ‘50s and are still one of the most popular styles of men’s and women’s loafers worn today. As the snaffle only refers to the hardware, these types of loafers may come in the shape of flat or cleated, heeled loafers.
How to Wear Loafers
If you walk around the city, open social media, or flick through the pages of a glossy magazine, you’ll see leather loafer shoes being worn all year round. Because when you have an item that’s as versatile and timeless as this, they never go out of fashion. So how can you wear your favourite types of loafers throughout every season?
Top off your tailoring
Take them back to their roots and slip on your fashionable loafers with some of your smarter pieces. They go hand in hand with a blazer – no matter what’s underneath. That could be your smarter, tailored trousers, casual denim shorts or a checked mini skirt. If you opt for a higher hemline, try wearing your black loafers with socks. You can also wear them with tights during colder months (or both).
Keep it casual
From super skinny to baggy wide-leg fits, even your denim can be dressed up with a pair of polished loafers. After all, your accessories play a key role in transforming your look. Socks or no socks – this decision depends on the jeans you choose, but we’d say don’t wear loafers with socks if your ankles are on show.
Give a new meaning to dressing up
It's true, they work with dresses too. You can make even mini dresses look office-ready with the right pair of polished women’s loafers. Next time you’re wearing a dress, try it on with a pair of heeled loafers. And there’s no need to shy away from dresses with midi hemlines – this is a street-style look you’ll see everywhere.
Make them your staple
The bottom line is that classic loafers look chic with everything. You can see why fashion insiders would say loafers are a key part of any capsule wardrobe.
And remember, there really is no set right or wrong way to wear loafers, so think of them as your footwear heroes. The same goes for when you’re styling black loafers for men too.
How to Clean Leather Loafers
When you have a pair of shoes that you can wear with everything, all year round, it makes sense that they'll need to withstand some wear and tear. Our first tip? Make sure you invest in a high-quality pair made from premium materials that will last.
Our Radley leather ladies’ loafers are a good example. Not only are they made using the same gold-standard leather we use to make our handbags (which you can read all about over on our Sustainability page), they’re also the result of over 25 years of leather expertise.
But you’ll also want to do what you can to keep your leather in good condition. To ensure your leather accessories maintain their exceptional quality, take note of our leather care tips.
Store them properly
As leather is a natural material, it can be affected by damp and light. When storing your leather loafer shoes, keep them away from the sun, which can bleach the colour, and ensure the air around them isn’t moist, as this can cause mould and mildew to grow. (Make sure you keep those silica gel packets in the box, as they manage the moisture levels.)
Leather’s suppleness also means it can change shape over time. The best way to preserve the shape of your fashionable loafers is to keep them padded when not in use. Tissue paper is perfect for this. Some may have arrived as part of the packaging that came with your new loafers. Slot this back inside each shoe when storing them away.
Use leather cleaners
The method for cleaning your loafers depends on the material they’re made from. For example, the processes and products for cleaning suede will be slightly different from those that clean leather. Be sure to research and shop leather care products when you make a new purchase.
First things first, we’d suggest protecting the leather of your ladies’ loafers before you begin wearing them. It’s the same advice we’d give if you were buying a new handbag too. Our leather protection cloths create an invisible barrier that minimises the effects of everyday dirt.
Once you’re out and about in your loafers, it’s only natural that they might get a little dirty or scuffed. To remove stains on the leather, use a specific leather cleaner and apply it with a soft, clean cloth. For the chunky rubber soles on your heeled loafers, you can mix a little washing up liquid with warm water. This will clean off any visible dirt and keep them looking fresh.
If you’ve chosen a shiny, patent leather pair, they may benefit from a regular polish too.
That’s the low-down on loafers. You can see why they’re so popular, but your footwear collection won’t be complete without a pair of designer trainers and leather boots. We can help you there too. Before shopping, be sure to read our Trainers in Fashion guide or find out How to Pick Between the Different Types of Boots for Women.
For more about all our expertly made designs, head over to Radley Stories or check out our Instagram.
