The 10 Very Best Loafers for Women

Whatwe’relookingfor

Sizes:5–11 with half-sizes |Style:Penny |Material:Leather (sole included) |Embellishments:Beefroll stitching

G.H. Bass introduced the Weejun, based on shoes that were making a splash on the Palm Beach social scene,back in 1936. Weejuns have been a preppy staple ever since — Gwyneth Paltrow even kept hers from her turn as Margot inThe Royal Tenenbaums. TheWhitneystyle of Weejuns, which features the brand’s famed beefroll stitching, is a timeless loafer and I believe everyone should own at least one pair of them (it also happens to be the style that was most recommended by the people I interviewed for this guide). I’ve been wearing a pair weekly since September and they are especially smart and sharp-looking. The shoes slip right on — the leather itself isn’t too stiff, though the heels famously take a few wears to loosen up. The toe box has enough space that you can comfortably have asockon too.

Though the Whitneys aren’t cheap at nearly $200, their all-leather construction is made to last. They also look more expensive than they are: A formerNew Yorkphoto editor once confused Strategist senior editorHilary Reid’s pair for Celine. They are unquestionably the shoes to buy for a preppy look — Strategist writer Erin Schwartz oncedescribedthem as “peak Ivy League, ‘Walcott’ by Vampire Weekend, tennis-lessons-on-the-weekends loafers.” Note that leather-soled Weejuns, like the Whitneys, can be slippery oncarpetsuntil they have a few scuffs on the bottom, but if you want something with more traction from the start, there’s alsoa rubber-soled version(a favorite ofLauren Valenti, beauty director atInStyle). And there’s aSuper-Lugversion with a lugged sole. Style bloggerHailey Rizzorecommends wearing no-show socks to stop them from rubbing against your ankles for the first few wears.

Sizes:5–13 with half-sizes and narrow, medium, and wide fits |Style:Slipper |Material:Leather (rubber sole) |Embellishments:Vamp stitching, block heel

Franco Sarto’s Bocca loafers are more affordable than the Whitney Weejuns, at $110 instead of $175. They have a rubber sole rather than a leather one and only the subtlest of stitching on the vamp, so they are much plainer shoes. Unassuming, yes, though not unattractive — I’d go so far as to call them handsome, more in the style ofmen’s loafersthan others I’ve tried. The leather on the Boccas is supple and really molded well to my feet when I tested a pair, but I also found that it shows scratches more easily. Still, you’re getting a good loafer, especially if you find the Boccas on sale. IllustratorAlexandra Citrin-Safadi, who also recommends the pair, likens them to “The Rowon a budget, baby,” as they have an austere quality that’s characteristic of theOlsen twins–foundedlabel.

Sizes:5–11 with half-sizes |Style:Horsebit |Material:Leather (EVA sole) |Embellishments:Buckle, lug sole, beefroll stitching

I fell for the combination of the traditional with the nontraditional with Lianna Weejuns. There’s something almostFrankensteinianabout them, and even though they look a bit clompy, they have a surprising amount of springiness. The sole is made fromeco-friendly EVA— a kind of foam used in sandals likeTevas— making them bouncier than meets the eye. Like the Whitneys, the Liannas start off stiffer around the back edge, though not enough to be pinching. After I wore them a handful of times, they were pretty well broken-in. And more than a year since I bought them, they still look nearly new.

[Editor’s note: While this style is no longer available, G.H. Bass still produces other Super Lug sole iterations, available onits site.We’re also testing for replacement picks.]

Sizes:36–42 (equivalent to 6-11) |Style:Kiltie |Material:Leather (rubber sole) |Embellishments:Fringe

Some of the bestbootsI own come from Swedish shoemaker Vagabond, so I was eager to try its loafers for myself. The Alex loafers have all the hallmarks of the brand, being well made and modern-looking. They also feature a raised top seam that’s similar to the traditional beefroll, but with more minimal stitching for a smoother look than what you see on the Weejuns. The shoes’ mirrorlike shine — which is still more muted than patent leather — hasn’t scratched since I got them in July, and the kiltie fringe hasn’t curled up on the ends. That said, these loafers start out slightly stiff. I used my trustyshoe stretchersas a shortcut, and the loafers quickly became easier to slide on without rubbing against my heels. If you’d rather not have the kiltie, Vagabond also makes anon-kiltie version— though I prefer the former for a little flair.

[Editor’s note: While this style is no longer available, Vagabond still produces other Alex W iterations, available onits site.]

Sizes:3–9 (UK sizes equivalent to US 5–11)|Style:Horsebit |Material:Leather (rubber-overlaid leather sole) |Embellishments:Buckle

Gucci introduced thehorse-bit loaferin 1953, after the Italian house’s founder, Aldo Gucci, was apparently influenced byWeejunsto produce loafers in the first place. Most loafer-makers have their own take on the style now — like Russell & Bromley’s Brewster Snaffle Loafer (the “snaffle” in the name refers to the horse bit). Russell & Bromley has been in the shoe business for around 150 years, and Strategist senior editorAilbhe Malonehas been an R&B loyalist for almost a decade. It all started when Malone was in the throes of anindie-sleazephase in her 20s, during which she bought her loafers from Topshop and a kilo store in Berlin, but always coveted the Brewsters from R&B. “My 25th birthday came and went, but on my 26th I went to the shop on Regent’s Street and paid what felt like an astonishing amount,” she says. Her Brewsters have seen much since. “I once walked from Greenpoint to the Met in them,” Malone told me. “They’re that comfortable.” (She might’ve even gotten engaged in them, if her memory serves right.) The loafers run small and are on the narrower side, but the break-in period isn’t so bad — and once theyarea bit worn and broken in, that only adds to their charm. “They could probably do with a clean, but I like theSecret Historyvibe of slightly scuffed loafers,” Malone says. Because of how long these have lasted her, I think they’re deserving of a best-in-class blue ribbon here.

[Editor’s note: Russell & Bromley lists its prices in pounds, so the price shown here is an approximation to U.S. dollars.]

Sizes:34–42 with half sizes (equivalent to 4–12) |Style:Horsebit |Material:Leather (sole included) |Embellishments:Buckle

Gucci’s horse-bit loafers have the dubious distinction of being the priciest loafers on this list, at almost $1,000. But nothing beats the original — at least, according to those who have them themselves. PhotographerDenisse Myrickconsiders hers one of the best investments she has made. It took five years’ worth of regular wear before she even had to think about resoling them.The Stripefounder Grace Atwood says they are the “fancy-lady version of Birkenstocks.” By the time they’re fully broken in, they’re “possibly even more comfortable thansneakers,” she says. With these, you’re paying a premium for quality (and, of course, for the designer name.)

Sizes:35–43 (equivalent to 5–12)|Style:Driver |Material:Suede (rubber sole) |Embellishments:Beefroll stitching

Driving loafers were originally created for men who wanted more grip when driving, hence their name and knobbed sole. But now they’ve become a beloved shoe for those who want shoes that feel likeslippersbut look nice enough to wear outside the house. M. Gemi’s Felize loafers feature a traditional moccasin construction — meaning they’re sewn from a single piece of suede — that’ll helps the shoes literally mold to your feet over time. Deanna Eng, vice-president of strategy atBeam, thinks they’re supremely comfortable without looking frumpy. They’re so versatile she’s worn them everywhere from morning yoga to a business meeting to happy hour.

Sizes:35–44 with half sizes (equivalent to 5 to 13) |Style:Smoking |Material:Leather (sole and heel included) |Embellishments:Shearling trimming

As our friends over at the Cut say, “You know the ‘I Want Candy’montageinMarie Antoinette? Suzanne Rae Pelaez’sshoeswouldn’t be out of place surrounded by those macaron-colored boxes.” Suzanne Rae shoes are effervescent and irreverent. I should know, as I have seven pairs (including itsopera pumps). Four of them are loafers: the plaidÉcossais, beribbonedBoulevardier, checkeredVichy, and the shearling-trimmedMegève. (The last of these was sent to me by the brand to try.) Across the board, the loafers, which are all heeled, are comfortable, from the roomy toe box to the easy heel. I haven’t ever dealt with so much as a blister while walking blocks in each, even straight out of the box. I’m not one for a heel usually, but these loafers will always be an exception to the rule. I’ll note that Suzanne Rae’s stock is limited, with pairs only occasionally restocked. But that’s what makes the shoes more one-of-a-kind, especially for the price.

(Labucq’sKitty Loafersare another great heel, with stylistRyan Galesaying they have the perfect height for morning commutes, errands, and meetings throughout the day.)

Sizes:36–41 (equivalent to 6–10) |Style:Penny |Material:Leather (PU sole) |Embellishments:Curved heel

Strategist junior writerBrenley Goertzendiscovered the Thelmas during a trip to the Camper store in Soho. She was immediately drawn to the slightly square-yet-still-rounded toe and sculptural, curved heel. Though the almost-three-inch heel height stands out in the world of loafers, the bottom platform helps to even them out, Goertzen says, adding that even when sprinting to catch a train, these “stick firmly to my feet without feeling like stilts.” It can take a while to break them in, though. She first wore them with thicker socks to keep them from rubbing and was eventually able to go sockless.

Sizes:35–42 with half sizes (equivalent to 5–11) |Style:Penny |Material:Leather (sole and heel included) |Embellishments:Penny-style strap with medallion

If you want something more colorful than a monotone loafer, go for a two-toned pair. Nomasei makes great ones called the Nonos, with a “tricolore” version, which features leathers in white, red, and brown together. I screenshot the shoes when I caught them on an Instagram scroll and patiently waited for a sale. They’re now one of my most-complimented loafers. They have an obvious level of craftsmanship, down to the tiny knuckles on the hand on the medallion. They’re well cushioned, so my feet aren’t begging to be freed after a long day. The heels on the Nonos are lower, at a bit over an inch — about half the height of Suzanne Rae’s — for a shoe that’s a little higher than a flat.

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