Loafing About
A week dedicated to my favorite footwear
Call it Loafer Week here at AWWD HQ. On the podcast this week, Ben and I break down some loafer basics, on Friday I have a review of some loafers that Meermin sent to me for review, and Sunday, a handy graphic guide to loafers and the situations you might wear them in.
Ben and I get into the when and how of wearing loafers, the sock debate, and our fear of being roasted by the younger generations.
Onward.
Today’s dispatch is to serve as a visual guide to the episode, with some points of comparison and examples of loafers that Ben and I discussed in the episode.
On the left is an American-shaped Penny Loafer (Sid Mashburn) and on the right is an Italian-shaped Penny Loafer (Meermin). Though both have moccasin style stitching associated with penny loafers, the Italian-style has a sleeker, pointier silhouette that makes it more formal.
Here are three Italian pennies in suede (Alden LHS), pebbled (Grant Stone Penny), and smooth leather (Crockett & Jones Sydney). The smoother the material, the more formal the loafer can flex.
As with other shoes, the kind of sole also determines how formal/informal the shoe is. Lug soles might not be the right sole for a court room, and a leather sole around a pool is a recipe for a fall. When in doubt, a rubber sole will give you the most range in formality, and some extra comfort when walking or spending days on your feet.
There are many kinds of loafers: Ivy penny, Italian penny, tassel, string, kiltie, Belgian, horse bit, slippers/pumps, the list goes on. Find a shape you like, think about what and how you wear your clothes, and pick a loafer to fit in, or be a point of contrast.
As always, if you have questions, let me know in the comments or replay to this email.
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