Loafers are no longer just a prepster staple; these laceless slip-ons have become a ubiquitous (and supremely stylish) shoe choice regardless of someone’s chosen aesthetic. And why not? There’s something decidedly timeless about a loafer’s easy-to-wear silhouette, but as more brands (from the big-name designers to cool-kid start-ups to mall chains) craft loafers in a variety of silhouettes and materials, there’s quite literally an option for everyone. And if you look at fashion magazines and social media today, you’ll realize that everyone is indeed wearing them. You can even rock loafers—lined with shearling or done in flannel—during the winter.
I’ve been wearing loafers since my grade school years. They were part of my Catholic school uniform. And 30 years later, as an adult who travels for a living, I don’t think there’s a style of shoe I love or wear more. I own countless pairs, largely because their classic shape goes with most activities and outfits. You want to wear them to a summer wedding in Capri? Great! You’ll love a Belgian loafer. How about with shorts and a linen button-down while exploring the pyramids in Egypt? Cute! A classic driving loafer is all you need. Want to run around on a cruise with jeans and a T-shirt? Just slip your penny loafers on and head to the buffet. I’ve literally done all of the above with loafers on. And don’t even get me started about how easy loafers make getting through airport security.
Not convinced yet? Here are 17 pairs that’ll make a believer out of you.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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The best everyday loafers
Astorflex Dartflex Loafer
Sometimes you just want a pair of classic loafers that’ll go with everything you own to slip on nearly every time you need to leave the house. These leather moc-toe loafers are it. Crafted out of thick cow leather with a pillowy-soft interior, these slip-ons are meant to mold to the contours of your feet as you wear them. (So you’ll want to wear them a lot.) There aren’t a ton of visible bells and whistles, and that’s why we love them.
Sizes available: 7–14 (excluding half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, leather outsole, memory foam insole
Banana Republic Amir Penny loafer
A classic black pair of loafers is a year-round staple in every traveler’s wardrobe. Made in Portugal, these sleek leather loafers are versatile, matching nearly any outfit’s color scheme and any occasion, and effortlessly help elevate your style.
Sizes available: 7–13 (including half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, leather soles
Greats The Essex Penny Loafer
The chic combination of colors on these loafers screams Ivy Leaguer in the most stylish possible way. Lean into the aesthetic by pairing them with jeans and a navy blazer for date night or with a pair of chino shorts and a button-down oxford for a warm day of exploring a new city. And if you really want to have fun with it, keep checking back for limited-edition releases, like the vacation-ready light gray.
Sizes available: 7–13 (including half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, rubber panel on the leather outsole
Sanders Edwin Unlined Loafer
From centuries-old British shoemaker Sanders, this elegant, unlined pair gives the enduring loafer a vacation-friendly twist. In wear-it-everywhere brown suede, the shoe is fixed with a Goodyear-welted crepe sole, which looks a lot less stuffy than your more traditional iterations, but more than that, a crepe sole is very durable. This means if you take care of the suede upper, you can get a lot of years out of these loafers without having to get them repaired. And why wouldn’t you? These easy-going shoes will look great with shorts during a trip to Europe or at a casual summer wedding with a seersucker suit.
Sizes available: 8–13 (including half sizes)
Features: Suede upper, crepe sole
Sebago Dan Boat Roughout
Made in the style of a classic boat shoe, Sebago’s Dan loafers are primed for all the best coastal adventures. It’s very preppy, for sure, but isn’t that exactly what you need if you summer in Maine or Cape Cod? Classic loafer details like the beef roll penny strap are built on an anti-slip rubber sole that you often find on boat shoes. It’s the perfect footwear choice for getting on and off yachts. Don’t forget the piqué polo shirts to match.
Sizes available: 6.5–13 (including half sizes)
Features: Suede upper, rubber outsole, sock lining
The best loafers for travel
Amberjack The Loafer
The upper silhouette of these shoes is your classic Venetian, and that comes in several colors and materials. There’s black leather, taupe suede, and there’s the blue suede that looks perfect for yachting. (Amber Jack uses water-repellent suede, by the way.) But what sets the brand apart is the proprietary tech that goes into the soles of the shoes. This includes a durable memory foam insole and a TPU outsole similar to what you’d find in more athletic shoes. And the back part of the sole is actually made of hiking boot material for added support. These are the kind of loafers you could pound the pavement in, for all-day sightseeing and the late-night stroll to walk dinner off.
Sizes available: 6-15 (including half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, sheepskin lining, heat-activated insole
Paul Stuart St. Croix Suede Espadrille
The Venetian loafer meets the classic espadrille to make the perfect vacation shoe. You have the sleek stitched suede upper and the rope detail over the rubber sole to create the type of shoe you’ll want to wear with all your linen basics when you’re visiting the tropics, maybe with wide-leg trousers while exploring Bangkok or to go with a suit for a wedding in the Caribbean. All the classic colors this shoe comes in will match everything in your closet. The gray is a fantastic summer pick, but this khaki you could truly wear year round.
Sizes available: 7-13 (including half sizes)
Features: Suede upper, memory foam footbed, rubber sole
Swims Braided Lace loafer
Scandinavian lifestyle brand Swims turns the classic loafer on its head with this water-friendly iteration—the perfect shoe for your next trip to the tropics. A breathable textile over a cushy insole and a grippy rubber outsole make this a comfortable pair to slip into for a week spent island hopping around the Caribbean. Details like the braided tie-up top and the woven toe box lend it some stylish flair if you want to rock ‘em for a cool beachside dinner. Swims offers them in countless colors, too, from classic navy to a head-turning Bordeaux.
Sizes available: 7-13 (including half sizes)
Features: Rubber outsole, machine washable, moisture wicking
Vince Shane loafer
These sneaker-inspired loafers are lightweight and comfortable enough to walk in all day long, making them an ideal pair to toss in your carry-on. Crafted with a velvety-soft suede, these simple kicks are casual enough to dress down, yet still look put together enough for whatever’s on the agenda.
Sizes available: 8.5–13 (including half sizes)
Features: Removable insole, leather upper, rubber sole
The best budget-friendly loafers
G.H. Bass Larson Weejuns loafers
You can definitely find loafers that are less expensive than these, but Bass has been making them for nearly 100 years. This in mind, you’d be hard-pressed to find better value in the category. They capture the preppy essence of the penny loafer with the classic Larson style perfectly. You can’t go wrong with a standard black or brown for their wear-forever quality.
Sizes available: 7-13 (including half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, leather outsole, exposed stitching
Rothy’s The Ravello Loafer
Zero-waste accessories label Rothy’s built its brand offering around three main pillars: comfort, convenience, and sustainability. And that’s exactly what you get with this minimalist, wear-with-everything pair of loafers. The knit upper is made from recycled plastic bottles; the entire shoe is machine washable; and it features a plush footbed that makes them easy to wear on those 15,000-step days. We love the navy for how well the classic color will pair with any outfit, but both the faded brown and fog gray will make for beautiful wardrobe staples, too.
Sizes available: 7–16 (including half sizes)
Features: Knit upper, rubber outsole, machine washable
Deer Stags Men’s Herman Tassel loafer
We love the vintage appeal of these tasseled loafers. They look like the perfect shoe choice to go with a pair of Madras trousers and a cable-knit sweater. These slip-ons feature a ton of unexpected details like the woven leather construction at the toe box, the side stitching that runs along the length of the shoe, and, of course, the fun kiltie on top. There’s a lot to look at, sure, but they’ve included comfort touch points, too, such as a textile lining that will make these easy to wear with or without socks.
Sizes available: 8–13 (including half and wide sizes)
Features: Leather upper, rubber outsole, molded memory-foam insole
Cole Haan American Classics Penny Loafer
If you already have a classic pair in black or brown but want to step your footwear game up a bit, we love the swirling ombre effect on these patent leather penny loafers from Cole Haan. In addition to the unusual, eye-catching material, you also get the lug sole which gives the entire shoe a fuller shape. But for all these details, you still get the timeless penny loafer style that will go with everything you like to wear. We also love it in deep burgundy, a color that’s sure to be on-trend come fall and winter.
Sizes available: 8–13 (including half and wide sizes)
Features: Patent leather upper, rubber outsole, EVA footbed
The best splurge-worthy loafers
Todd Snyder x Rubinacci Marphy loafer
American designer Todd Snyder partnered with Italian style icon Luca Rubinacci on a collection of Belgian loafers that come in a variety of materials and colors. This pair in green velour is very classic-with-a-twist on a silhouette first introduced by Henri Bendel in the 1940s. Belgian loafers, with their unusual tongue shape and quirky leather bow, are a popular choice for more formal occasions. (For instance, they’d be great if you’re heading to a European ball.) But in recent years, they’ve been showing up on more casual outfits, too, proving their enduring versatility. We’re also partial to this version in croc leather, which is elegance personified.
Sizes available: 8-12
Features: Velour upper, leather lining, leather outsoles
Sperry Gold Cup handcrafted in Maine 1-Eye Driver
If your preferred vacation experience is a multi-destination road trip (say, through Italy or across the United States), then you’ll want a driving loafer. These sexy slip-ons were made for road trips—hence the name! They were invented in the 1960s for that purpose: a comfortable, fashionable shoe to wear on long drives. The thin leather bow on the vamp plus the rubber nubs on the sole are classic design features of the driving loafer, but the bold color blocking is a bit of an unexpected play that we love. Bonus: Each pair is handmade in Maine.
Sizes available: 4–13 (including half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, rubber outsole
Gucci Loafers with Horsebit
We can’t talk about loafers without including Gucci, especially if you’re looking for a pair with hardware. I’ve always admired the brand’s Horsebit loafers, and after landing my post-college magazine job in 2007, my first real splurge was on a pair that looked a lot like these (except mine were suede in a light shade of camel). They look a lot like a classic pair of penny loafers, but the yellow-gold hardware adds that dash of glamour the brand is famous for.
Sizes available: 5.5–14.5 (including half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, leather outsoles, gold-tone hardware
Jacques Solovière Lex loafer
Paris-based Jacques Soloviere was an if-you-know-you-know brand for a long time, but its modern, chic footwear is starting to find more popularity in the US. I have three pairs of the brand’s shoes myself, and next on my list to purchase is the Lex loafer. In a textured grainy leather, it is effortlessly stylish, making it a fantastic all-purpose shoe. The kind that you can bring on a trip and have it work with just about everything you’ve packed: Pair it with a lightweight wool suit if you’re on a work trip or slip it on with chino shorts and a T-shirt for a day at a museum followed by a long lunch. It’ll be an elegant look either way thanks to these loafers.
Sizes available: 7–12 (including half sizes)
Features: Leather upper, lightweight micro sole
