Adorned with leather tassels or blanketed in soft suede exteriors, loafers are enjoying their well-deserved moment in the limelight. After what seems like a decade of trainers being the go-to shoe style for women seeking comfortable footwear laced with androgyny, loafers are proving their value as an appealing alternative.
The best part of this trend? It’s as diverse as the feet that don them. Some are slim and sleek, others are chunky with platform heels. The loafers in the market right now are made for a myriad of moods, styles and aesthetics. Described as autumn’s “chicest comeback shoe”, these are the styles that are fast-tracking to the top of our shopping lists, come payday:
Originating in the 1930s and reminiscent of preppy Ivy-league students, this elitist shoe has been reimagined by luxury labels for autumn/winter 2025. Miu Miu’s all-black tasseled loafer is polished and pristine, with embossed logo lettering for a luxe lift. Tommy Hilfiger’s meanwhile feature a slightly elevated platform, combining tassels with the chunky-sole trend. Wear yours with high-waisted trousers and a T-shirt for a nonchalant approach to the trend.
Chunky loafers are the best type of loafers according to this particular writer, who has always admired the bold sense of command that they exude with each reverberating step. Rebellious rockstar meets geek-chic in these versions by Prada and Valentino. Commit wholeheartedly to the oversized theme and pair them with distressed denims and a boxy blazer for maximal impact.
While it may be a risky textile choice for certain climates, suede exteriors are giving a plush and cosy twist to the traditional loafer. Moccasin-style or embellished with buckles, mark our words – suede loafers will sell like hotcakes this season. Shorts or skinny trousers look best with these shoes.
There was a time when Gucci’s leather horsebit styles had a monopoly over fashion’s supply of slim loafers. This is no longer the case – sleek offerings from Bottega Veneta, Givenchy and Tod’s are refined, no-nonsense alternatives to clunkier loafers. This autumn, narrow styles are the perfect finishing touch to a pleated skirt with a blouse, or an oversized knit over leggings.
If you’re on the fence about making the transition from trainers to loafers, consider one of the year’s hottest hybrid shoes – the “snoafer”. At the forefront of this clever, comfort-first combination is New Balance, which first introduced its 1906L last year. This month, the American brand released its collaboration with Danish label Ganni – a snoafer merging black and silver with gold python accents, giving a further edge to the sporty silhouette. The best outfit we've seen with snoafers? An all white, skirt-and-sweater pairing, sublimely balancing feminine with masculine.
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Finish off your loafers look with frilly socks – or better yet, knee-high argyle socks – to lean into the geek-chic trend with just the right touch of irreverent charm.
