Every year the leaves start falling and I break out my loafers. Who am I kidding? I wear loafers year round! They are the perfect combination of practicality and style. The comfort and practicality of flats but with all the preppiness you can handle.
I own many pairs and thought I’d share my favorites with you today. A few things I look for in my loafers: comfort, break-in time, the longevity of the style (trendy versus timeless), and the cost. Below are seven different styles that hit different points on that list. Four I own and others I’ve only heard good things about. I hope this helps you narrow down your list of loafers to love!
7 Pairs of Loafers for Fall
The first four are ones that I personally own and love
Madewell Frances Loafers
These are my most worn shoes in the fall. I love them and find them to be really comfortable. I wear size 7.5 and find that they fit TTS. No break-in time required. They go with just about everything in my closet so I find myself reaching for them over and over and over…
You can read my in-depth review here
Sperry Seaport Loafers
These Sperry loafers are the best if you want a classic penny loafer. They are so incredibly comfortable too because the footbed in injected with memory foam so you feel like you’re walking on clouds. I own a pair in light pink and can attest to that. I’ve walked up and down New York in these loafers without a single blister.
You can read my in-depth review here.
Sam Edelman Loraine
I actually don’t love these as much as most people do. I find that they are a little too narrow for my taste and comfort. However, they are considered to be a cheaper alternative to the Gucci Brixton loafers. The key to these loafers is that they come in just about every color/pattern under the sun. My pair are pink floral print to give you an idea of just what is available (the answer: anything)
J.Crew Leopard Smoking Slipper
These are another favorite pair of mine that I have owned and loved for years. I love that I can get a little pop of leopard print without feeling over the top. I’d wear these with simple jeans-and-a-tee type outfits but still feel like I tried and was more dressed up than if I were wearing flats or sneakers.
Gucci Brixton Loafers
These are the holy grail of loafers. Super soft leather. A timeless look. The works. However these Gucci loafers come with a designer pricetag of several hundred dollars. There are several more affordable alternatives to the Gucci loafers. I’ve already mentioned that the Sam Edelman loafers are a great lookalike but Coach actually makes a similar pair too.
Rothy Loafers
Another pair that I’ve heard raves reviews about but haven’t actually tried myself. Rothy releases new color options for their loafers seasonally. But their claim to fame is twofold. First that their shoes are made out of recycled materials and second that you can machine wash the entire shoe.
Birdies Loafers
I’ve heard only good things about these Birdie loafers as well. They are said to have the look of a classic smoking slipper but with the comfort of actual slippers.
5 Ways to Wear Loafers Year-Round
Old Navy Overalls (I really think that overalls are the most comfortable way to wear jeans. You never have to pull them up. No worries about gaps. And they are so great for #momlife. I have a whole post on my overall thoughts here) // newer eyelet top (I also am loving this eyelet top which is only $20) // Sam Edelman loafers (these run pretty narrow. They aren’t my favorite loafers but they are really Gucci look-a-likes. You can find them in pretty much any color)
Old Navy Overalls (mine are old but they came out with a new version for this year. It’s very similar to my old pair. I’ve also heard great things about this Madewell pair) // J.Crew Tissue Turtleneck (a favorite of mine year after year. The warmth of a turtleneck but with the comfort of a tee shirt. Read my entire review here) // Madewell Loafers (these have become my go-to everyday shoes. They dress up jeans but are also totally appropriate in an office environment. Read the full review here) // Old Navy Tote Bag (another oldie. This is the newer version of my bag that is out now. I also love this reversible option which is higher quality) // J.Crew Quilted Coat (mine is old and thrifted. This one is a nicer newer version but there aren’t many sized left in the red.)
Sweater Blazer (if you don’t already know, I love these sweater blazers, wear them at least twice a week, and have it in three colors. They run very large. I’m wearing size XS.)// Leopard Button Down (I bought this blouse while I was pregnant because I was having leopard print FOMO. It’s a great staple and runs TTS but it’s a classic fit so it’s not tight to the body) // Abercrombie high-waist skinny jeans (these jeans were such a wonderful surprise! They hold everything in really well and only cost me $40 on sale. They come in three inseams so tall and petite girls can wear them without awkward hems. I’m wearing a 27 short because I like ankle length jeans.)// Madewell loafers (love these loafers! They are quickly becoming my everyday shoe since I wear them more often than not. I found them to be TTS although they are little narrow. I’m wearing a 7.5)
SWEATSHIRT: J.Crew (I had this sweater on my wishlist for a while and I’m so happy I finally snagged it. J.Crew has a bunch of these cute graphic sweatshirts that are nice for casual days) // SHIRT: old Target (I’ve had this shirt for years and love it but it looks similar to this one.) // JEANS: J.Jill c/o (These are actually denim leggings but you could never tell by looking at them. They look like skinny jeans and feel like skinny jeans only I’d recommend sizing down. You can read the entire review I wrote on them here.) // SHOES: Madewell (These loafers are insanely comfortable and only took about a day to break in. I’m normally a 7 or 7.5 in shoes and the 7.5 in these loafers fit perfectly)// BAG: Old Navy (This bag has held up surprisingly well for the price. If you’re looking for another affordable option that is a little higher quality, I’d try this reversible option) // SUNGLASSES: Amazon (These are some of the only sunglasses I own because for $10 they can’t be beat. Especially by someone notorious for sitting on and breaking sunglasses.
