Penny Loafers get such a bad rap. They are not just the shoes of preppy-Ivy-Leaguers, but only preppy-Ivy-Leaguers wear them badly. Keep in mind that a Penny Loafer does not accept pennies, and it doesn’t really go with a sweater that you wrapped around your neck. Be careful and you can have Penny Loafers and enjoy them too.
How to Style Penny Loafers
The Penny Loafer is remnant of proper dress that matches well with dress and casual clothes. You can easily wear a Penny Loafer with a suit provided that the loafer has a lean profile.
Some companies make Penny Loafers with a wide toe and this distorts the silhouette and makes the shoe virtually un-wearable. Penny Loafers that have a narrow profile like your fanciest dress shoes are the only way to go. Wear these shoes with your suits, out of the office to dinner and with your jeans and khakis on the weekends.
Some guys think they can simply abuse their Penny Loafers by wearing them with shorts or without socks, or both. All of these options do not work. You will only succeed in making yourself look silly and ruining a perfectly good pair of shoes. Penny Loafers are sensitive and you must treat them with care.
If you go for Penny Loafers that are more casual in nature all the same rules apply. You must wear socks, you can’t wear shorts, and the profile must be narrow.
How to Care for Penny Loafers
Caring for your Penny loafers is a delicate procedure. The “penny” needs to be polished carefully because if you get polish all over the inside of it you will ruin the contrast in depth between the inside and the outside of that hole. If you’re careful you can keep your shoes shining bright for a long time.
Raparo Washed Leather Penny Loafers
Cole Haan Brush Off Penny Loafers
Ted Baker Suede Penny Loafers
Alden Beefroll Penny Moc
Chloë Sevigny For Opening Ceremony Bass M Penny Loafer
What the hell do you mean about the “penny” of the shoe needing to be polished carefully? There is the strap, there is a cutout on the strap, into which a penny (or dime, which was very popular for a while) can be inserted if one desires. It’s a very old preppy look, and it gave the shoe it’s name.
To be clear: a penny may be inserted into the cutout in the strap of the shoe. The penny itself does not have to be polished.
When I refer to the penny I do mean the slot for the penny. When I mention shining it carefully you have to remember that split calf AND top calf leathers will not always be the same color inside as they are on top because they have been dyed. If the inside of the leather is nearly white and you polish that white leather black by mistake you lose the perception of “depth” that you get inside the slot and that throws off the profile of the whole shoe. Basically, I’m just picky about my shoes
) Thanks for the comment!
Youy refer to a slim sillouette. Can you give me some examples. I’ve heard good things about the Bass Gilman. Would you consider this slim?