Mens Fashion - Livin La Vida Loafer

Ever since G.H. Bass produced their first release of the style, loafers have been a very popular item, and have even grown into a style staple in the last couple of decades. Nowadays, you can find loafers of all sizes, colors and styles, from $10 disposable pairs at the nearest discount store to $1,000 leather creations made all the way in Italy. Here is a guide on picking, wearing and caring for your first or fortieth pair of loafers.

Respect the Code
Loafers present an irresistible combination it is a stylish piece of apparel that is also very comfortable, especially in warmer weather. It is a different discussion however, once you intend to wear that pair of penny loafers to the office. The very casual look of the loafer even one made of leather, could very well earn you style points but lose you your job.

Check with your office first if loafers are acceptable for everyday office attire. If your employers do not have an official list for office wear, try noticing if any of the bosses are wearing loafers. Another good indicator is the denim factor. If jeans are considered acceptable workwear in your office, then loafers will likely be a good choice.

Loving and Leaving the Loafer
One possible problem with loafers is that their appropriateness is limited, especially when you are considering formalwear. Pairing something as casual as a pair of loafers to something as formal as, say, a two-piece suit is difficult. Heck, it is nothing short of impossible once you get to really formal attire like a tux or a three-piece suit.

The best rule of thumb is to just leave your loafers at home and wear lace-up wingtips to formal events. Loafers are much too casual for anything beyond the workplace or a nightclub, so you should not wear them to anywhere more formal than those places. Do you have a black tie event? Forget your loafers.

A classic leather suit the kind you would wear to work or to cocktail parties will also be incompatible with loafers. More casual colors like sand or beige, the kind you would wear to the beach or a summer garden party, could work with dark brown loafers, but only if the shoes have classic styling and dressier, more formal leather sole. In the latter case, practice your color-matching skills, as they will help you pull off the look.

Loafer Care
Your loafers are leather shoes too, so you should give them all the care and treatment that you afford your black leather wingtips. That means protective treatments before your first use, and regular polishing and conditioning for the leather. Keeping your loafers away from wet or damp situations will also help in prolonging the lifespan of your shoes.

Shoetrees are more important for loafers than for most other shoes. Whereas the shape of the shoe merely affects the shoes appearance in other styles, the shape of the leather will also affect the fit of a pair of loafers. Putting shoetrees into your shoes at the end of every day will keep your shoes looking and fitting well for that next walk about town.