THE BEST LOAFERS FOR
LIFELONG ELEGANCE

Maison Margiela’s signature split-toe Tabi design has long been used by the label as a tool for subversion. Here, the split toe brings an irreverent twist to a traditional black penny loafer. Brushed calfskin uppers lock in a luxurious finish.

Isabel Marant’s Frezza loafers blend classic and novel. A black leather upper with subtle hardware detailing on the vamp offers the kind of quiet refinement that designer loafers are known and loved for, while the chunky commando sole unit updates the overall silhouette.

In the arena of affordable men’s loafers, few put forward a better case than Dr. Martens. Renowned for its lifelong quality, the British label’s footwear is a proven winning investment. Designs like the Adrian tassel loafers exhibit the bulky, eye-catching proportions that are now a Dr. Martens signature.

Loafers lean towards the formal side of footwear, but rag & bone proves that there’s a lot of room to have fun with them, too. Silver leather uppers, a raised heel, and a studded vamp mean that the Maxwell loafers bring energy without losing sight of the loafer’s staple shape.

“To me, success is doing something that’s really well done and that is so authentically yours. That’s what success is. And that’s why I could make you anything, but I don’t,” says Thom Browne, talking to SSENSE. It’s a statement that rings true with these loafers. A classic penny loafer design, executed in luxurious pebble-grained calfskin and finished with Thom Browne’s signature striped heel tab. Simple, effective, and authentically Thom Browne.

As one of the biggest names in designer loafers, Gucci loafers naturally come in all different shapes and sizes. From classic shapes like the Jordaan loafers through to modern takes, like these blown-up horsebit loafers for women.

Christophe Lemaire’s ability to take something classic and make it wholly his own is unrivaled. Using an elegant piped structure, this pair of designer loafers for men feels classic and original at once. Set in an SSENSE-exclusive gray hue, they’re versatile and striking.

TOTEME leans into the rich history of minimal design in Sweden, removing unnecessary details so that each product feels essential, luxurious, and practical. This streamlined take on the penny loafer is made using subtle, burgundy-tinted leather, which draws the eye without dominating an outfit.

Body shape can play a role in picking the right loafers. For shorter guys, chunky loafers like this pair of tassel loafers from Our Legacy can add height and complement stockier legs. Fitted with a treaded Vibram sole unit, this pair ranks highly in the comfort test—a test that loafers often struggle with.

Versace takes a retro tack for the Medusa ’95 loafers. A ruffled moc toe nods to the heritage Italian loafers of the ’50s and ’60s while Medusa-embellished hardware at the vamp acts as a punctuation mark.