A Guide To Men's Loafer Shoe Styles

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOAFERS ORIGIN A loafer is a "low shoe," meaning that the ankle is exposed the shoe does not wrap snugly around it. The sole of a loafer is separate from its upper. Loafers often feature heels with a relatively low profile. The upper vamp has a moccasin-like construction. HISTORY Loafers came from an English royal commission for a new form of house shoe, and/or had their beginnings when a Norwegian man, Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger, hybridized traditional Native American and Norwegian footwear. TYPES OF LOAFERS: PENNY LOAFER The penny loafers for men are popular and known for their style. They come with a leather strap on the top and are mostly preferred by businessmen. The diamond shape design is the attractive element which makes them best loafers as compared to others. TASSEL LOAFER By definition, tassel loafers are just laceless shoes that have decorative leather laces hanging from the vamp. They often have a 360-degree lacing system, but not always. A stylish alternative to penny loafers, tassel loafers feature knotted or frayed laces that hang from the vamp. BOAT LOAFER Boat loafers are comfortable, casual shoes usually made of leather or canvas. Their soles are usually rubber, and grip well, due to their origins as a useful shoe for boating. They are worn without socks, displaying the wearer's ankle and upper foot. DRIVING LOAFER A driving loafer is essentially a moccasin-construction slip-on with a snug but comfortable fit. The defining features are the small rubber pebbles that cover the sole and extend to the back of the heel - they are very flexible and provide added grip on the pedals.