Stridently sensible, the black loafer has always been the librarian of the shoe world – the kind of footwear that it’s hard to image causing any mischief in. But right now, in another example of the pandemic turning everything on its head, the humble loafer is having a moment.
“They’re the perfect everyday shoe, and a more casual option for heading back into the office,” says stylist Lucy Wood, who styled this week’s shoot. “I actually bought the Sandro loafer after the shoot – I loved the gold hardware, which works with the chunky gold jewellery that’s everywhere right now, and they’re an easy shoe to wear into the night.”
As one of the brands that pioneered the loafer in the 1950s and early 1960s, when everyone from Teddy boys to Fred Astaire was wearing them, Gucci still has an amazing range, says Lucy. But the Ganni tan loafer and Tory Burch’s raffia-trimmed heeled version add a new, louder twist.
“If you opt for a bold loafer, then let them do the talking for your outfit,” she adds. “But every style looks great with a straight-leg jean, a T-shirt and an over-sized, boxy blazer.” If your jeans end slightly above the ankle, even better.
Maybe it was the shoes, but Lucy confesses she and photographer George had “a lot of fun” shooting this story around Sydney. “We had a lot of laughs hanging in the frozen food section of the supermarket,” she says. “There were a lot of strange looks coming our way which made it even funnier.
“We loved thinking up little narratives for each shoe.”
Styling: Lucy Wood
Photography: Georgina Egan
BY Felicity Robinson
Felicity is the co-founder of PRIMER and (whisper) has never owned a pair of loafers. She is planning to rectify this very soon
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