The best loafers for women are timeless investments—so of course they belong in every closet. Depending on how you style them, these can be preppy and professional (a great option for work) or playful and edgy ( ). Trendwise, loafers are getting chunkier this season: Gucci sent supertall platform loafers down its fall-winter runway, and lug soles seem poised for a big comeback, so chunky picks from and are perfect.
As a style editor with my head deep in , I’m also noticing a big increase in Gucci-esque horsebit loafers in the offices. (You can get the same look from Sam Edelman, by the way.) Slim, classic loafers—my personal favorite silhouette—are still very much in the conversation, and Steve Madden’s pennies and Maguire’s versatile shoes are completely trend-proof.
My fellow staffers have so many thoughts on exactly which pairs you should buy. These are our favorites, from budget-friendly gems to designer finds, according to opinionated editors who have spent countless hours walking in them. Nordstrom Free People When I polled my colleagues on the absolute best women’s loafers, one pair came up more than any other: G.
H. Bass Whitney Weejuns, which I also own and love. This time-honored preppy shoe looks just as cool with as with or , and I can’t resist styling them with white crew socks for extra geeky-cute points.
They’re not the most comfortable or slip-resistant shoes I own, but that’s not the point; instead, they’re effortlessly cool and work well.