For many men, wearing loafers with suits is a no-no. I never understood their sentiments as I witnessed many Italians pulling it off flawlessly when I lived in Florence, Italy. They made it look natural and good-looking like they belonged together. In this post and video, Nick English (of Stridewise) and I discuss this very idea and the do’s and don’ts that go along with it. While Nick and I go into many more points on the topic, I will lay out my 5 most important tips for wearing loafers with suits.
Table of contents
Avoid Going Sockless When Wearing A Suit
None of the rules are 100% to follow/avoid as each point will have exceptions. Wearing socks with a suit is the one that is among the most important though. “To a lot of people, it’s already controversial to wear loafers with a suit at all,” says Nick English, the editor of Stridewise. “So to suggest going sockless while you do it is a whole extra layer of controversy you should probably avoid.”
A suit is formal. Bare ankles are not. This is especially true in large cities. Exceptions could be Miami and your linen suits, but the exceptions are rare while the rule is more true. So, it is simply best to avoid attempting it and stick with wearing fine socks. In the Summer, look for linen socks if your feet need to breathe.
Match Your Socks To Your Trousers
This is one of those easily broken rules but if you are new to wearing loafers with your suit, this is the easiest one to follow until you feel more confident in your styling. Also, matching your socks to your trousers elongates your legs and makes you appear taller. So, it’s kind of a win-win and is a classic, non-offensive look. As you graduate to style master, you can try contrasting and see where you get!
Your Shoe’s Shape Must Be Sleek
Anything extreme in a loafer, whether it is a blunt toe or a super over-elongated and pointy one, just looks bad with a suit. The shape of the loafer must be elegant if it is to be paired with a suit. Its style must match that of the suit. The suit’s style is formal, therefore the loafer’s shape must be sleek. That is, you want to look good when wearing loafers with suits. Avoid any loafer shape that is extreme.
Play It Safe With Calfskin
Much to the idea above, a loafer should match the essence of the suit. When it comes to the realm of shoe materials, calfskin is generally regarded as the most classic and elegant for business settings. When attempting to wear loafers with suits, it is best to play it safe by going for a full calfskin model. It can be black, dark brown or oxblood. Those are your safe choices. Avoid tan leather, please.
Embrace Brown Suede When Feeling More Confident
Once you have mastered the above four points, I invite you to enter the realm of suede. That is what many Italians wear with their suits and a lot of them look great. Dark brown suede is the best place to start. It is versatile, non-offensive, and simply looks good with nearly everything. Trust me, you will thank me later.
For a more in-depth discussion, make sure to watch the video above or read the post at Stridewise: ‘How to Wear Loafers With a Suit: 10 Tips for Looking Your Best‘
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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