A few weeks back, Nick English of Stridewise, came to my shop in NYC for an interview to discuss loafers and how they should ultimately fit. This is a very important topic and one that I feel many men struggle with. Especially many of us in the US, who sadly more often than not, wear our loafers too big. “For men, it’s often our first foray into laceless shoes,” says Nick English, the editor of Stridewise. “The shoes have different builds, different lasts, different shapes to make that possible. And guys are often just totally scrambling to figure out how we’re supposed to size loafers.”
In the Stridewise interview, we discuss these main points below:
Table of contents
Loafers vs sneakers
Here we discuss how translating from your sneaker can be a big mistake, especially if one wears a white athletic sock and then goes to a dress sock and/or no socks at all.
Loafers and the Brannock size
Here we discuss how the Brannock size will more often than not, not translate to the size you need for your loafer fit. Most Brannock sizes will turn into a loafer with heel slip.
How tight should loafers fit
This is the ultimate question where we try to ascertain the fine line between good snug and too tight. At the end of the day, this will be subjective, but most men need to get more comfortable with going ‘snug’ and not assimilating that with ‘tight’.
Do loafers stretch with wear?
Here we discuss how leather shoes will inevitably stretch out and that is part of the problem with getting loafers that are too comfortable brand new, then stretch and become sloppy. It is not a good look nor is it good for your feet.
How to tell loafers are too tight
Ultimately this is for the person wearing them to decide but again we stress the importance of becoming more comfortable with loafers starting snug.
Should your heels slip out of loafers
Not slip out. A tiny bit of play is normal. But slipping out when you walk is a sign that they are too big and/or do not fit you well. Guys focus so much on their forefoot fit that they forget that massive heel slip happens and think none-the-wiser. That is an error.
Can you stretch a loafer that’s too small?
You can stretch any shoe but it is not always advisable. Length will never stretch but you can definitely stretch the width with certain tricks-of-the-trade.
Home remedies to stretch shoes
Here we discuss a few home remedies to stretch your shoes if you do not feel like buying shoe-stretches.
Can you make loafers smaller?
Finally, we briefly talk about extreme measures in ‘shrinking’ your shoes. It is not something I would advise anyone to try but can be attempted if all else fails!
This Stridewise Interview came at the right time as we start Summer and look to go buy our next pair of loafers. Nick mainly discusses boots, but do give his YouTube a follow as he strolls the world seeking out all things shoes! Learn more in Stridewise’s guide to how loafers should fit.
And stay tuned as I break down each of these points in more depth in future posts!
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
Shop · Marketplace · J.FitzPatrick · Patreon
