Knowing how to wear loafers comes down to three things: the type of loafer, the length of your trousers and your socks. Wear trousers that end at the ankle with little or no break, so the shoe stays visible. Choose penny loafers for everyday versatility, bit loafers for dressier days, and suede or driving loafers for summer and weekends.
"There are endless varieties of the essential slip-on shoes to choose from"
Key takeaways
- Penny loafers are among the most versatile. Bit loafers are the dressiest. Driving and espadrille loafers are the most casual.
- Show the shoe: trousers should just touch the top of the loafer or end at the ankle.
- Wear thin dress socks with suits and wool trousers. With chinos and linen, socks or a bare ankle is a matter of taste.
- Smooth leather reads dressier. Suede and nubuck read relaxed.
- Loafers have no laces, so the fit has to be right from the start.
What are the main types of loafers?
These are the loafer styles you'll see most often. Each one sits at a different point between casual and formal, which decides what you can wear it with.
Penny loafers
A penny loafer has a leather strap across the top with a small slot cut into it. It is the classic everyday loafer and works with chinos, wool trousers and jeans. The Rapallo Penny Loafer is a traditional take. The Renzo Penny Loafer puts the same penny strap on a cushioned sneaker sole.
Tassel loafers
Tassel loafers add small leather tassels on top. They feel a little more relaxed and playful than penny loafers. The Dante Tassel Loafers use a soft microsuede upper with a contrast sole. The Matteo Tassel Loafer pairs nubuck leather with moc-toe stitching and a white sole.
Bit loafers
A bit loafer has a metal bar or horsebit across the front. The hardware makes it the dressiest loafer, a good choice with a suit or wool trousers. GQ's horsebit loafer guide says bit loafers "have the most class." Look at the Bellagio Croc Bit Loafer, with a croc-embossed leather upper, the Enzo Bit Loafer and the Verona Bit Loafer.
Driving loafers
Driving loafers are soft and flexible, with a light sole made for comfort rather than structure. They suit summer, travel and weekends. The Ravello Suede Loafers have a braided tassel and a flexible driving sole.
Buckle loafers
Some slip-ons swap the penny strap for a buckle, borrowing the look of a monk-strap shoe. They look polished and a little unexpected. The Palermo Suede Loafer adds a round buckle and a perforated finish that lets air through on warm days.
Espadrille loafers
An espadrille loafer combines a loafer upper with a jute rope sole. It is the most casual option and belongs with linen, shorts and holidays. The Lido Suede Espadrille Loafer has a soft suede upper on a hand-stitched jute sole.
Which loafer goes with which outfit?
Use this table as a quick, rule-of-thumb reference. Formality runs from 1 (most casual) to 5 (most formal).
| Loafer type | Formality | Best trousers | Socks or bare ankle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bit loafer | 5 | Suit, wool trousers, chinos | Thin dress socks with suits; your choice with chinos |
| Penny loafer | 4 | Wool trousers, chinos, jeans | Either, depending on the trousers |
| Buckle loafer | 4 | Wool trousers, chinos | No-show or thin dress socks |
| Tassel loafer | 3 | Chinos, jeans, wool trousers | Either |
| Driving loafer | 2 | Chinos, jeans, linen | Bare ankle or thin socks |
| Espadrille loafer | 1 | Linen, shorts | Bare ankle or thin socks |
How to wear loafers with a suit
Loafers work with a suit when the loafer is sleek and the suit is not the most formal in your closet. Think navy, gray or tan suits for weddings, dinners and smart offices, not black tie.
- Choose a bit or penny loafer in smooth leather. Suede and chunky soles look too casual here.
- Keep the trousers slim and short. A small break at the front, or none, keeps the line clean.
- Wear thin dress socks that match your trousers. Bare ankles with a suit is a summer look and suits relaxed events better than the office.
How to wear loafers with chinos
Chinos and loafers are the classic pairing, and the easiest to get right. It is the look of long Mediterranean lunches: linen shirt, stone-colored chinos, bare ankles and a soft pair of loafers. Almost every loafer type works here.
Crop or cuff the chinos so they end at the ankle. Add an oxford shirt or a knit polo and you have a relaxed, put-together look that works from the office to dinner. In summer, many people go for a bare ankle. In colder months, swap to a darker chino and a thin sock in a matching tone.
How to wear loafers with jeans
Loafers look sharp with jeans when the denim is dark and fairly slim. Light, baggy or distressed jeans clash with the shoe's polish.
- Pick dark, straight or slim jeans and roll a small cuff if they're long.
- Choose textured loafers. Suede, nubuck and tassel loafers suit denim better than shiny leather. As GQ's suede loafer guide puts it, "Suede keeps the same silhouette, but softens everything around it."
- Keep the top simple. A knit, an overshirt or a plain tee lets the shoes do the work.
Should you wear socks with loafers?
It depends on the outfit, and opinions differ. With suits and wool trousers, wear thin dress socks that match the trousers. With chinos, linen and shorts, a bare ankle is the classic summer look, and GQ's socks-with-loafers debate shows plenty of style editors happily wear thin socks instead.
If you go sockless, give your loafers a rest between wears so they can air out. A shoe-repair expert interviewed by GQ is direct about it:
"If you're gonna wear loafers barefoot, I would not wear the same pair every day."
Avoid thick athletic socks with loafers in any outfit. They bunch at the opening and change the shape of the shoe.
Ready for your next pair? Browse penny, tassel, bit and driving loafers in one place.
Leather or suede loafers?
Smooth leather loafers are dressier and easier to clean. Suede and nubuck are softer, more relaxed and better suited to warm weather and casual outfits.
If you only own one pair, smooth leather in dark brown covers the most ground. Add suede as your second pair for summer and weekends.
Color follows the same logic. Dark brown and black are the dressiest. Cognac, tan and beige feel lighter and suit summer outfits. Bolder colors like green or red work best as a third or fourth pair, once the basics are covered.
Check the material on the product page before you buy. Some loafers use microsuede or leather-look uppers, which are lighter and easier to care for but age differently from genuine leather.
How to wear loafers in fall and winter
Loafers aren't only a summer shoe. In colder months, they just need heavier fabrics around them.
- Switch to darker leather. Dark brown, black and burgundy loafers look right with fall colors.
- Add thin wool socks in navy, charcoal or brown. Matching the sock to the trouser makes the leg look longer.
- Pair with heavier trousers: flannel, corduroy and dark denim all work with penny and bit loafers.
- Keep suede for dry days. Leather Naturally's care guide advises that "it is best to avoid using or wearing them in the wet." Switch to boots when the weather turns wet.
Common loafer mistakes
- Trousers that are too long. Extra fabric bunching over the loafer hides the shoe and looks untidy.
- Visible athletic socks. White sports socks break the clean line of the shoe.
- Casual loafers with formal suits. Espadrilles and driving loafers belong with linen, not a dark business suit.
- Buying a loose pair and hoping it shrinks. A loafer that slips at the heel on day one will keep slipping.
- Wearing the same pair every day. Rotating pairs lets leather dry out between wears and keeps its shape longer.
How should loafers fit?
Loafers should feel snug across the top of the foot without pinching, with your heel held in place as you walk. As Gentleman's Gazette notes in its shoe fit guide, "The absence of laces also means that you are dependent on a close fit to keep them from falling off."
VIA NOVA loafers fit true to size. If you're between sizes or want more room across the foot, take the next size up. Try new pairs indoors first: unworn shoes can be exchanged within 30 days of delivery under the return and exchange policy.
How to care for loafers
- Wipe them after wearing with a soft, dry cloth.
- Condition smooth leather every few months with a colorless leather balm.
- Brush suede with a soft suede brush and keep it away from rain.
- Store them away from direct heat, which dries out leather.
Loafer questions
Can you wear loafers with a suit?
Yes. Choose a sleek bit or penny loafer in smooth leather, wear thin dress socks, and keep the trousers slim with little or no break.
Do you wear socks with loafers?
Wear thin dress socks with suits and wool trousers. With chinos, linen and shorts, socks or a bare ankle is personal taste. Skip thick athletic socks.
What color loafers are most versatile?
Dark brown is an easy first choice. It works with navy, gray, beige, olive and denim, so it fits most outfits.
Are loafers business casual?
Yes. Penny and bit loafers are two of the most useful business casual shoes for the office.
Start with one pair you'll wear every week
The best loafers are the ones you stop thinking about: you slip them on for the office, keep them on for dinner and wear them again on Saturday. If you're building a loafer collection, start with a dark brown penny or bit loafer in smooth leather. It covers suits, chinos and jeans. Add a suede driving or tassel loafer for summer, and you'll have a loafer for almost any day.