Loafers, The Darling Of Shoe Lovers
“People Love Loafers”- and there will be little doubt about it.
It is also not a coincidence that Loafers are riding highest on trends, but were carefully brought into the fashion streets and shopping destinations by trend behemoths and style gurus.
Unarguably, Loafers have tremendous potential of ruling the style categories unilaterally.
It started slowly in India and then to the subcontinent, before catching on to the tremendous momentum set by the younger generation in particular and now spread across all age groups en masse.
We can imagine the versatility of this style and its enormous ability, by going back to its history that began merely as fisherman and Farmer’s footwear which became a beloved category for the stylists, designers, and every common person.
Which begun merely as a style has become a category now. And yet we have explored only a part of it.
Table Of Contents :
Why It Is Called A Loafer –
The word Loafer itself speaks up the actual purpose and occasion of its wearing, which is Leisurewear. Usually, this is not worn on a formal occasion, as it is a casual shoe.
But the modern generation has redefined its purposes and discovered various ways to wear it, and hence it is now paired even with bomber shorts.
Why it is important to discuss the origin and history of various fashion articles, is that is how we can reinvent, experiment, and explore more on it according to our fashion goals.
A much-discussed issue about whether to wear socks with a loafer or go sockless was abuzz but with various beautifully designed socks in the market which are worn with their appropriate styles, this issue appears to be settled amidst fashion lovers.
Although some ardent fashion Fans still advise going sockless with some loafer styles
Brief History on Loafers –
The Loafer shoe that used to be worn by Norwegian Fishermen and Farmers, which was suitable for their wearing according to the activities in their jobs, became popular among European travelers. Because of its comfortable way of putting off and on and an appeal of a high-class slip-on, the style was picked up by European businessmen to encash its popularity commercially.
The first of these companies to begin production was G.H.Bass, which was founded in 1876 by George H. Bass.
Europeans and Americans then kept developing their own modifications and inspired Loafers with their own Brand names.
Some of them are Wildsmith Loafers by Raymond Lewis Wildsmith, Horsebit Loafers by Gucci, Aurland Loafers by a Norwegian shoemaker named Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger, and so on.
And now because- People Love Loafers. its popularity is not going to go down any time soon…
Types Of Loafers –
Materials And Accessories –
Materials are chosen according to – the style and design, the occasion they will be worn in, and the age group of the customers.
If the design is made for a formal occasion, various cow leathers with solid finishes can be planned. If it’s for a leisure occasion or an evening shoe, some ornamental surface designs like embosses, shaded finishes, trims, and buckles can be added.
Chains like those used on Horsebit Loafers are very popular but the style lines can be experimented with and metal or ornamental accessories can be included. Swede is one material that blends very well with the characteristics of a Loafer but because of its high maintenance requirements, it’s popular in high-end lines or countries like Europe and America.
Usually, Metal trims, trendy materials, loud finishes are not worn on serious occasions, like Board Meetings, Mourning occasions, Graduation ceremonies, serious Meetings, etc. Loafer Mules are also very much in trend for leisure occasions.
How to decide the trims or metals On Loafers:
Accessories and Metals are used on both Trendy and Classics. Metals can be used heavily if the style demands. Something is often seen on a Designer Shoe. But it is not advisable to wear Metals on serious occasions.
Horsebit Chain is a part of the design of a Horsebit/Gucci Loafer.
When not to define them but just make fusions to make a statement:
It is said that “when it is about making a statement, make it with style” and since People Love Loafers in a big way, a pair of Loafer has a lot of potentials to make your own statement with.
The look, the form, finishes, ornaments, style lines, outsoles, its saddles… there is a lot to make experiment with. This is why a Loafer is a Designer’s favorite Fashion element to play with.
Any amount of innovation and display of imagination brings out a new “Loafer”.
Why classics are being reinvented now:
The Current trend in aesthetics is on Re-inventing the Classics.
Seventies Fashion is influencing designers in every field in some way or the other, be it Automobiles, Architecture, Clothing, Thread, Graphics, Accessories, or Transportations.
Colors have their Hues and Shades in Pastel, Originals, Solid, or Vibrant but the inspirations lie somewhere around the seventies.
A Summary From The Market Leaders:
So…In Brief, “People Love Loafers” –
Loafers have been an accessory everyone loves.
It has features a stylist dream about, is very easy to wear, even for long hours, colors go in every possible way with it.
This is perhaps one of those styles that go with every attire, be it a Bomber short or even with an Indian Saree.
When we talk about its features and versatilities, we should not forget that this originates from 1800 BC or probably before that. So it is here to stay and it is not seasonal.
Ardent Loafer fans even try to find their variations in Autumn and Winter.
After the socks for Loafers came to the market, this category has not only gained momentum but also enlarged its popularity base among other segments in the market.
This is now one of the hot-selling assets in the Footwear segment.