I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but sadly, it does. “Summer” is here and the only way you’d know about it is from the sound of the collective groan after we’ve checked the weather forecast and acknowledged another day of scheduled drizzle.
Though the days are longer, you’d be hard pressed to spot a blue sky or a sunny-spot in the UK. Instead we’ve found ourselves in what appears to be an early autumn, with a healthy serving of showers and a persistent cool breeze. Because of the above our autumn wardrobes are being accessed a little earlier than normal.
It’s not that theres’s anything wrong with autumn, but we’re feeling a little short-changed on the summer front, is all. Until summer returns, we’ll do what we can to take the shorter season in our stride. Namely, this means brushing up our shoe collection with styles that can mange the demands of this time of year.
Modelled by our favourite celebs on a daily basis, it’s hard to ignore the appeal of a classic loafer. A favourite of the Hailey Bieber’s, the model has been opting to style her pairs with crisp white socks and denim shorts on repeat in recent weeks. Lending itself to denim, trousers, dresses and shorts, a black loafer is easier to style than you might imagine. Our top tip is to lean into the nature of the smart shoe and shop for tailored items that will complement the sharp silhouette. Or, do it as the celebs do and treat the style like a souped up slipper, wearing it with everything from baggy denim to LBDs. Below we’ve rounded our favourite examples of how to wear loafers this season, along with an edit of the best pairs on the market should you be looking to invest in some.
In our opinion, there isn’t a better style of trouser out there to wear with a sleek loafer. When styling with trousers, the biggest consideration must be the length of the trouser. You want to aim for a style that falls to the ankle, leaving enough room at bottom to show off your smart kicks. From there add a neat white tee or a button-up shirt and you’re set.
A great pair of jeans and a polished loafer is an outfit combo we like to re-wear again and again. Unlike pairing with a tailored pant, styling loafers with jeans brings elevates the casual foundation of the outfit, injecting a French flare.
A short dress doesn’t always call for a high heel. Recently celebrities have opted to style their minis with ballet flats, or a chunky loafer well into the evening. Perhaps a hangover from lockdown, high heels just aren’t as common as they once wear. Instead, shoppers are opting for stylish shoes that will see them through the day in comfort.
White socks play-up the preppy side of a black loafer, and are an easy trick for when the temperature starts to drop.
Chucky loafers can balance a flared trouser, grounding the wide-leg silhouette.
Style à la Kendall and pair your short shorts with a sleek pair of loafers. Stack on the accessories and consider a baseball cap to juxtapose to formality of the shoes.
