15 Best Loafers that Pair with Just About Everything

What is the difference between Blake stitching and Goodyear welting?

Aside from hand sewing, Blake stitching and Goodyear welting are the two most common loafer constructions. Blake stitching means the shoe’s upper is stitched directly onto the sole, with the insole and outsole attached via a single-stitch method. Goodyear welting refers to stitching the shoe’s upper to the welt, filling the sole with cork, and then stitching the welt to the outsole. In this method, the upper is not directly stitched to the sole.

Overall, Blake stitching provides more flexibility for the wearer. However, if you’re going for longevity, a Goodyear welt allows you to replace an old sole with a new one. Some buyers prefer the comfort of a Goodyear welt, too.

Are loafers a good investment?

If you buy a pair of loafers, you’ll frequently notice why they’re worth the money. As you can see from the list above, there are plenty of great, affordable options, but don’t be too quick to shy away from the more expensive ones. A loafer is an excellent, versatile dress shoe, so if you have a go-to pair built to last, you can feasibly wear them just about anywhere, forever.

What’s the best way to style a lug-sole loafer?

Funnily enough, styling a contemporary, lug-sole loafer might be harder than styling a slimmer, classic loafer. With the latter, you know what to do; it’s hard to go wrong with any suit or elevated outfit. But with a modern, chunky sole, as seen on some Prada loafers, for example, you have more freedom.

If you want to go the casual route, wear chunky loafers like you would sneakers. Wear ’em with white socks and jeans or a tee and pleated pants. If you want to wear them with something more formal, like a suit, go for dress socks to elevate them a little bit more.