I love loafer

A country house shoe for the landed gentry, or a Norwegian farmer’s favoured style of footwear? Whatever you consider to be the true origins of the contemporary loafer, what’s indisputable is this timeless silhouette’s skilful blend of comfort and flair.

Unlike the – sometimes a little samey – holy footwear trinity of brogues, Derbies and Oxfords, loafers are often hugely underrated, written off as flamboyantly ‘dandy’ or too difficult to pull off with any real degree of success.

In truth, these slip-on styles are anything but. Being laceless, they’re practical, and with plenty of options on offer – from traditional penny versions to luxuriously finished horsebit numbers – there’s something to suit every taste. Before delving into the types of loafer you should be considering, it’s worth heeding a few memos on the importance of material. Like other smart shoes, loafers are generally made using one of two fabrics: leather or suede, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.