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Loafers are a classic shoe style that can be paired with anything, from work trousers to floaty dresses and rompers.
Our favorite is The Modern Loafer, an elegant, classic, slightly pointed style from the basics experts at Everlane.
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Loafers are one of those rare quintessential shoe styles that can be worn with just about everything in your closet. Office-appropriate trousers? Check! Floral sundress? Check! Velour tracksuit? Well, maybe not, but you get the idea.
A bit more polished than regular flats, with a cool menswear spin, loafers add flair without distracting from the rest of your outfit. They're notboring, but they don't (usually) make a huge statement either, which means they're easy to style.
You'll want to get a lot of mileage out of your loafers, so they need to be comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It's worth spending a bit more money for a supple pair that won't give you those horrible back-of-the-heel blisters.
Since many of the best loafers are priced below $200, we're not necessarily talking about a huge splurge, depending on your budget. The Modern Loafer, an elegant yet understated pair from Everlane that costs $168, is our favorite.
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The Modern Loafer from Everlane is a contemporary take on a traditional menswear-inspired shoe, with an elegant pointed toe and chic neutral color selection.
One of the styles that put Everlane on the footwear map is The Modern Loafer. It's an elongated, slightly pointed take on the traditional menswear loafer.
The design is no-fuss, with a stacked heel for a touch of added height and a body made of 100% Italian leather. The Modern Loafer comes in nine colors, most of them neutrals like olive green and camel — typical Everlane. There's also a bold-statement red and three versions of black — patent, suede, and traditional leather.
Customer reviews — of which there are more than 2,500 — recommend going up a half-size due to a somewhat slim, restrictive silhouette. Several shoppers also noted that The Modern Loafer takes some breaking in, but the leather will give as you wear them, resulting in your ideal, individualized fit.
Looking at Sam Edelman's Loraine Bit Loafer might give you a touch of déjÀ vu. The convertible leather slip-on loafers with gold detailing on the toe closely resemble a designer pair that you've definitely seen if you've been researching the best women's loafers.
The Loraine Bit Loafer is not the first affordable take on high-end, but it is the best. Unless you're an expert, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Designer comparisons aside, Sam Edelman's kicks are worthy in their own right. Made of 100% real leather, the quality shoes give off a cool men's smoking loafer vibe.
A convertible heel folds down so you can wear the shoe two ways — as a traditional loafer or a mule — while a gold horsebit detail on the rounded toe adds visual interest. Black is obviously the classic color choice, but the Loraine Bit Loafer is available in many other shades and textures. Options include fun patterns, faux fur-lined styles, and metallics.
I'm far from the first person to notice the Loraine's similarity to the famed Gucci loafers; InStyle featured them on a list of affordable alternatives and other publications such as Best Products, ElleBlogs, Health, and Rank and Style also note how stylish, comfy, and designer-like they are. HuffPost recommends them as a top pick for people with wide feet.
Pros: 100% leather, tons of colors and patterns, looks expensive, convertible back
Ready for the real deal? Get bang for your buck with the Gucci Brixton Convertible Loafer, which can be worn two ways thanks to a fold-down heel.
There's nothing like the real thing. If you've thought long and hard and you know that designer loafers are what your heart and closet desire most, get the Gucci Brixton Convertible Loafers.
Yes, these are the shoes you've seen on celebrities' feet. They're a lot more wearable than the brand's fur-lined mules, plus you get more bang for your buck thanks to a fold-down convertible heel. It's like you're getting two shoes for the price of one. Which is awesome because, at $730, these are not cheap.
When you consider that you're basically getting a loafer and a slip-on mule, the price-tag becomes slightly less intimidating. It's like a BOGO sale, Gucci edition! OK, maybe not.
These shoes will match almost everything you own and the supple leather will age like a fine wine. "Thought about purchasing a pair for about a year. Best thing I've bought in some time. They are beyond comfortable, the leather is so soft, and they make every outfit better," wrote one Nordstrom customer.
Overall, the loafers have almost a 5-star rating on Nordstrom's website based on more than 150 reviews. They've been featured by Racked, InStyle, WhoWhatWear, and Rank and Style.
WhoWhatWear's Allyson Payer put it succinctly: "I could've gotten 15 pairs of shoes for what these two [Gucci] pairs cost, but the price per wear must be miraculously low at this point."
Pros: Convertible, made of soft leather, classic and timeless
Everlane's brand-new Day Loafer is already a cult-favorite due to the soft, foot-molding silhouette that gives it a modern look and feel.
I don't know what I did before Everlane's Day Loafer entered my life. Actually, I do know — I suffered from frequent blisters and weird heel pains, and I looked a lot less put-together on days that required significant walking. Which is most days, since I live in New York City.
The Day Glove and Day Boot have changed my 10,000-plus-steps-a-day lifestyle for the better, so words cannot express how excited I was when I heard the brand was launching a Day Loafer. Like the other Day shoes, these are made of soft, supple Italian leather that molds to the shape of your feet as you wear them.
As a result, the shape is more glove-like than most loafers, giving them an updated silhouette. This shoe is everything I love about the Day Glove flats, but with the polished veneer of a more traditional loafer. A padded insole and elastic back add to the comfort factor. You may consider sizing up due to the tight leather, though the fit should relax over time.
These shoes are still new, but they already have a 4.4-star rating on the Everlane site based on more than 200 reviews. The Insider Picks team tested them out to rave reviews, though opinions differed about the elastic on the back. They've also been featured by Travel + Leisure and The Cut. InStyle called them "just as comfortable as a sneaker."
Pros: Molds to feet, soft leather, cushioned insole, unique color selection
The M. Gemi Felize is a cozy, suede take on the traditional driving shoe, with a more relaxed yet still polished silhouette.
M.Gemi makes some gorgeous shoes, and the Felize loafers are no exception. The soft suede driving shoes have a more relaxed fit but are still classy enough to pair with business-casual outfits.
Available in nine beautiful colors, there's an option for every look in your closet. The website suggests they fit true-to-size, conform to the shape of your foot over time, and are made with "genuine moccasin construction makes for distinctively cushy steps." Rubberized soles have plenty of traction, making these a great walking or driving shoe.
The Felize shoes have also been featured by Health, Today, and Cosmopolitan. Insider Picks reporter Mara Leighton reviewed them favorably, writing, "I take them to brunch, the office, and the airport — making them one of the most versatile pairs of comfortable shoes I own." The shoes have a 4.75 rating based on 772 customer responses on M.Gemi's website.
Pros: Made of supple suede, 9 color options, traction on soles