It’s safe to say driving shoes haven’t always been at the top of the fashion agenda. However, with the ongoing obsession with the #OldMoneyAesthetic and ‘Quiet Luxury’, now is the time to update your footwear collection with the loafer’s comfier cousin. Originating in Italy in the 60s, they were invented for the rich signori who often ruined the soles of their formal shoes while driving their Ferraris and Lamborghinis – quelle horreur ! As a solution, Italian designer Gianni Mostile created a deconstructed loafer set on tiny rubber studs which delivered comfort, grip and flexibility when operating pedals, instead – and hence, the driving shoe was born.
Since then, they’ve gone up and down in the esteem of the fashion crowd. Popularised in the 70s by Italian house Tod’s – with the help of menswear icons John F Kennedy and Gunther Sachs – they became a relaxed footwear staple for the rich jet set. Over the years, though, they felt increasingly like gentlemanly cosplay for those of us who aren’t sojourning in the Italian Riviera every summer.
But now, they’re back on the up. If you dial down the Hooray Henry vibe (step away from the chinos) and amp up your outfit with pared-back separates like straight-leg cut-off jeans and a linen shirt or wide-leg trousers and a white t-shirt , they become a cool addition to your look. It’s best to treat them as a warm-weather alternative to loafers.
Our top tip? Always stick to neutrals or black – and tonal ribbe.
