Where you’ll wear them decides which pair is yours: a penny loafer or a formal pump sits comfortably under a suit, while an espadrille loafer, a driving shoe and a lug sole belong to weekends and warm weather.
The range runs from a formal pump for evening to a chunky lug sole with a casual button-down and trousers, and what changes along the way is how much the sole, the hardware and the material carry.
Rope soles, thick lugs and gold horsebits all add attitude, so I’d pick the dressiest shoe your calendar actually calls for.
1. Penny Loafer
Black leather pennies with dark pinstriped trousers is a pairing I like for how little it asks of you.
The loafer relaxes the pinstripe without wrecking it, so trousers that feel stiff with oxfords start to look like something you’d wear on an ordinary Tuesday.
Keep the shoe plain and polished. If the trousers carry the pattern, the shoes should stay quiet.
A penny loafer is the one pair I’d buy first if you own no loafers at all.
2. Tassel Loafer
Tassels are the loudest detail a loafer can carry, and a dark brown pair with a textured toe shows how to keep that volume under control. The color stays low, so the fringe does the talking.
I’d wear them with plain trousers and solid socks, or none. Let the tassels be the only busy thing below the knee.
Dark brown forgives more than black, so it’s the pair I’d grab most often.
3. Horsebit Loafer
A gold horsebit across the vamp is jewelry for your feet, and a black crocodile-embossed pair pushes that further. The embossing adds texture, the metal adds shine, and together they are dressy enough that nothing else needs to compete.
Grey trousers are a sound partner: quiet, and they let the hardware stand out. I’d skip loud socks and busy patterns.
A horsebit loafer draws attention, and that is the cost of owning one. For the strap without the texture, smooth leather is the calmer route.
4. Kiltie Loafer
Kiltie loafers add a fringed flap over the vamp, and in black leather it reads as sharp rather than costume.
Grey trousers with grey striped socks, as here, is an easy way to wear them: tones stay close, so the fringe is the only surprise.
Pick socks that match the trousers family, not the shoe. That keeps the line of the leg clean.
I’d take black over brown if you plan to wear them with gray or charcoal.
5. Belgian Loafer
Soft and unstructured, the Belgian loafer is built to bend with the foot, and it comes in suede as easily as leather. A light beige suede pair and a black leather pair cover two very different moods.
Beige suede suits warm days and lighter trousers. Black leather is the one I’d wear when the outfit needs to stay a little more serious.
If you can only buy one, I’d start with the black. It goes with more of what most men already own.
6. Espadrille Loafer
Thick rope soles mark the espadrille loafer as a summer shoe, and a navy suede upper keeps it from looking like beachwear. Navy handles more than people expect; it works with white, tan, and light blue trousers or shorts.
Espadrille loafers belong to warm weather, so don’t expect them to handle rain.
Rope soles are casual by nature. Save them for weekends, not the office.
7. Formal Pump
Black leather with cream trousers is a high-contrast pairing, and a sleek, minimal loafer cut like a pump is the most dressed-up version of the shoe. Nothing on the upper competes with the trousers.
I’d keep the trouser hem clean and slightly short so the shoe shows. Polish matters more here than on any other pair.
For evening or formal events, this is the loafer I’d reach for.
8. Loafer Materials
Black patent leather on a loafer gives a glossy, mirror-like finish that smooth calf never quite matches. Paired with a thick lug sole, the shine turns a dressy material into something with an edge.
Patent is a statement, so I’d keep the rest of the outfit plain: dark trousers, solid socks.
Smooth leather is the calmer choice for daily wear. Choose patent when you want the shoe to be noticed.
9. Loafer Shapes
Chunky loafers sit wider and taller than the slim, low-profile kind, and a thick lugged sole is what gives the shape its weight. In all black, with black trousers and socks, the shape reads as one solid line.
Wider shapes want trousers with some room at the hem. Skinny legs make the shoe look oversized.
A chunky pair is the quickest way to change your look if all you own are slim loafers.
10. Suit with Leather Loafers
A brown tailored suit with a white shirt and black tie looks sharp, and black leather loafers make it less formal than the usual lace-ups. The contrast is deliberate: dark shoes anchor a warm-toned suit.
Mixing black shoes with brown is a choice I like, though dark brown loafers are the safer match when you can’t afford a misstep.
A suit this clean shows scuffs fast.
11. Casual Button-Down and Trousers
Wide-leg black trousers with a brown button-down and chunky black loafers make a relaxed outfit from 3 pieces. The roomy trouser leg balances the heavy sole, so the shoe doesn’t look clumsy.
A black belt ties the trousers to the shoes. Wear the shirt untucked or half-tucked, whichever sits better on you.
This is my pick for a normal weekday when you want to look put together without effort.
12. Lug Sole Loafers
Brown burnished leather with horsebit hardware and a thick black lugged sole gives a classic loafer a harder, more rugged build. Brown trousers and tan socks keep everything in one warm family.
Tonal dressing like this works because the sole supplies the contrast. I’d skip anything flashy on top.
The lug sole adds bulk, so it suits casual days better than formal ones.
13. Driving Shoe
Driving shoes are casual slip-ons, and a black leather pair with a silver G buckle on the vamp dresses the idea up without losing the easy fit.
A bit of metal hardware is the one bright spot, which lets the shirt, trousers and jacket stay quiet.
Dark jeans or simple trousers work best with them, and low socks or bare ankles finish the look. Silver hardware on black reads cleaner than gold.
They’re a weekend shoe first. I’d choose them for errands and relaxed days, and keep a penny loafer for the office.
Loafer Versatility
A loafer is a laceless slip-on cut low at the ankle, with a small heel and a bit of detail, like a strap or tassel, across the vamp.
That last part is what sets one loafer apart from another, and it also sets how dressy the shoe reads.
A suede driving shoe suits linen trousers and summer chinos. Black penny loafers and patent leather slippers are the 2 styles dressy enough to sit comfortably under a suit.
Match the shoe to the occasion and to the shape of your trousers, and one pair does a lot of work.
Loafers go with nearly any casual look except sportswear, so a pair with linen shorts and a polo on vacation is fine.
There are endless varieties of the essential slip-on shoes to choose from, from classic penny loafers and swanky bit loafers to daddish kiltie loafers and daddish sneaker loafers.
— GQ
Socks with Loafers
Socks or no socks is your call. Both are in style now, so pick what suits the outfit.
Going sockless, wear no-show socks, especially if you’ll be on your feet for more than a quick walk.
Going with socks, make them look intentional: tonal dress socks are the safe choice with tailoring, while white socks with black loafers lean Ivy League or old-school prep. Match the sock color or pattern to the outfit.
Thick gym socks under a slim leather loafer look bulky and wrong, so skip them. Keep the fit tight and tailored either way, because a loafer still carries a slightly formal edge.
Current Trends
The sneaker loafer is the style to know right now. The upper is unstructured, usually suede or mesh, and the flat rubber sole keeps it comfortable for daily wear.
They go with almost any trouser.
Wide-leg trousers or baggy jeans suit it best, paired with a boxy tee and, once the weather cools, a jacket on top. A tall, slender man can also wear them with pleated chinos cut straighter in the leg.
Price matters here.
Bottega Veneta’s Astaire loafer, a semi-formal take, struggled to catch on at AUD$950. A sneaker-brand version such as the New Balance 1906L gives you the same idea in a more familiar package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are loafers still fashionable for men?
Yes. Slip-on, laceless, a low heel and a strap or ornament across the vamp: that is a loafer, and it lands in the middle of the dress code.
Black penny loafers go with a suit; a suede driving moccasin is better with linen trousers or summer chinos. Only sportswear is off the table.
What loafers are trending right now?
The sneaker loafer leads.
Look for a soft, unlined build in suede or mesh, set on a flat rubber sole that stays easy on your feet all day. Chunky lug-sole pairs are also popular, and both look best with roomier trousers.
Can you wear loafers with socks?
Yes, and going sockless is equally fine; both are in style. If you wear socks, pick ones that look chosen: matching-tone dress socks with tailoring, or white socks with black loafers for a prep, Ivy-style feel.
Without socks, wear no-show pairs. Leave the thick athletic socks in the drawer, since they bunch up inside a slim leather shoe.
