It has happened to all of us: you see some beautiful loafers, you try them on, they are extremely comfortable, but when you get home and look in the mirror with your everyday clothes, doubts assail you: Are they too formal? Will I wear them? Do they really match my clothes?
Women's loafers are a perfect type of footwear. They are more fashionable than ever and are a wildcard for all kinds of looks. Therefore, at Rivera Spain we help you solve all your doubts with this guide and propose several outfit ideas with loafers so you can see that it is an all-terrain footwear.
Common doubts about loafers
Before talking about specific garments, let's clear up the three great myths surrounding this footwear:
Do they shorten the leg? It is the most common fear when using closed flat shoes. A trick to avoid this optical effect is to leave the ankle or instep visible, thus creating a visual cut that stylizes the figure.
Are they only for formal or office looks? Not at all. Although they have a masculine and classic origin, currently, there are casual and dressier loafers so you can use them in all kinds of looks.
Are loafers worn with or without socks? For the transitional season (spring and early autumn), the most flattering and elegant option is to wear them without visible socks (you can use invisible liner socks). This helps apply the trick of showing the ankle we talked about earlier.
What garments do loafers pair best with?
If you don't know where to start, here are the wardrobe wildcards that never fail when paired with this type of footwear:
Cropped trousers. They are, without a doubt, the perfect pair. By leaving the ankle exposed, they visually balance the look. They work in both skinny and straight cuts.
Look with pistachio colored loafers.
Fluid and wide-leg trousers. A game of contrasts that exudes style. The key is to mix the slightly rigid structure of the loafer with the soft and moving drape of a wide or palazzo trouser.
Look with loafers and wide-leg trousers.
Light outerwear like trenches or frock coats (levitas). Fluid outerwear is the ideal finishing touch. A long trench or an unstructured levita accompanies very well the "smart-casual" air that loafers provide.
Dresses and skirts. Who said loafers are only to be worn with trousers? Use them with midi skirts or fluid shirt dresses. You will achieve an urban and very comfortable look, breaking the excessive romanticism of the skirt.
4 inspiration looks to wear loafers in your day-to-day
To move from theory to practice, we have selected four of our seasonal proposals. This way you will see how we apply these rules to real day-to-day situations:
Look with loafers for the office
Women's office look with loafers.
If your goal is to look professional but you don't want to suffer getting on heels, fluid garments are your salvation. Combine a wide trouser and jacket set in an elegant tone like lead gray. To prevent the look from looking dull, break the monotony with a braided belt and die-cut loafers in a sand tone. This color contrast brings light while maintaining the seriousness required by the work environment.
For a lunch or daytime event
Women's total look with loafers.
Do you have an important lunch or event and are looking for a fresh look? A total white look is a winning combination. The golden rule here is not to use black shoes, as the contrast would be too sharp. Instead, use suede loafers in a tan or sand color. By combining them with a neckerchief and a bag in the tone of the shoe, you get a luminous, warm, and extremely elegant outfit.
For trips and weekends
Women's casual total look with loafers.
Those days when you don't stop and the weather is unpredictable, the layering style is fundamental. Mix different textures within the same range of neutral colors: fluid beige trousers, a light knit sweater, and a trench coat. Light die-cut loafers will unify the entire outfit. They are the perfect all-terrain footwear for walking hours around the city or enjoying a weekend without losing style.
In monochromatic looks
Monochromatic look with matching loafers.
If you want to look slimmer but refuse to wear heels, this is the ultimate stylist trick: dress in a single color from head to toe. By wearing an overshirt and fluid trousers in olive green, and finishing it off with loafers in exactly the same chromatic range, you create an uninterrupted vertical line that magically visually elongates your figure.
What you should look for when buying loafers so they don't hurt you
No matter how much style theory we know, if the shoe is uncomfortable, it will stay in the closet. A loafer should be an investment in health for your feet. When you go to choose some, make sure of these three points:
- Materials. Avoid rigid synthetic materials. Always look for quality materials such as leather or suede, since they adapt perfectly to the foot after several uses.
- Breathability. If you are going to use them in warm or transitional seasons, the foot needs to breathe. Die-cut models (with small perforations in the leather) are perfect to keep the foot cool and prevent chafing.
- The heel area. This is where the dreaded blisters appear. Make sure the seam and heel reinforcement are smoothly finished and not excessively high.
To find the ideal loafers you may need to try on several models, but once you find the right ones, they will become your next favorite footwear.