I wish it didn’t have to come to this, but sadly, it does. Apparently this is "summer”, but the only way you’d know about it is from the sound of the collective groan after we’ve checked the weather forecast and acknowledged another day of scheduled drizzle.
Though the days are longer, you’d be hard pressed to spot a blue sky or a sunny spot in the UK at the moment. Instead, we’ve found ourselves in what appears to be early autumn, with a healthy serving of showers and a persistent cool breeze. Because of this, we're reluctantly accessing our autumn wardrobes earlier than normal.
It's not that there's anything wrong with autumn, but we're feeling a little short-changed on the summer front, is all. Until summer returns, we'll do what we can to take a premature autumn in our stride. Namely, updating our shoe collections with styles that can manage the demands of this time of year.
Modelled by our favourite celebs on a near-daily basis, it's hard to ignore the appeal of a classic loafer. A favourite of Hailey Bieber's, the model has been opting to style her pairs with crisp white socks and denim shorts on repeat in recent weeks.
Lending themselves to denim, trousers, dresses and shorts, black loafers are easier to style than you might imagine. Our top tip is to lean into the nature of these smart shoes and shop for tailored items that will complement the sharp silhouette. Or, do as the celebs do and treat the style like a souped up slipper, wearing it with everything from baggy denim to LBDs.
Below, I've rounded our favourite examples of how to wear loafers this season, along with an edit of the best pairs on the market, should you be looking to invest.
1. WITH HARD-WORKING TROUSERS
When styling sleek loafers with trousers, the biggest consideration should be the length of the trousers. You want to aim for a style that falls to the ankle, leaving enough room at bottom to show off your smart kicks. From there, add a neat white tee or a button-down shirt and you're set.
2. WITH BLUE JEANS
A great pair of jeans with polished loafers is an outfit combo we like to rewear again and again. Unlike pairing them with tailored trousers, styling loafers with jeans highlights the casual foundation of the outfit, injecting a French flare.
3. WITH A MINI
A short dress doesn't always call for a high heel. Recently, celebrities have opted to style their minis with ballet flats or chunky loafers well into the evening. Perhaps a hangover from lockdown, high heels just aren't as common as they once were. Instead, shoppers are opting for stylish shoes that will see them through the day in comfort.
4. WITH WHITE SOCKS
White socks play up the preppy side black loafers and are an easy trick for when the temperature starts to drop.
5. WITH WIDE-LEG TROUSERS
Chucky loafers can balance flared trouser,s grounding the wide-leg silhouette.
6. WITH SHORTS
Style your sleek loafers à la Kendall Jenner and pair them with short shorts. Stack on the accessories and consider a baseball cap to juxtapose to formality of the shoes.
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Next Up: 9 Major Shoe Trends That Will Be Everywhere This Autumn