Ladies Loafers

Historically the first loafers evolved from Norway where styles for both men and women were created. These were described as ‘slip-ons,’ since they were very casual and had no laces to tie up. The fashion which was born in the 1930s caught the fancy of visitors from America. The Spaulding Family invented the American version of the Norwegian slip-on and called the shoe a loafer. Comfort and style for casual attire grew even more when another version of the loafer, the G.H. Bass, ‘Weejun,‘ was designed which included the little strip of leather with a slot across the wide upper front of the shoe. The style thrived in America and eventually in the 1950s the famous Penny Loafer was born when college students began to speak out by wearing their “cool” shoes and clothes and inserting pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in the slot.

Formal attire for women was once rather uncomfortable before the evolution of the loafer into business fashion. The tiny stiletto that was seemingly mandatory began to be replaced by the loafers with fine leather uppers and the slot to insert a penny, which of course most likely was left unfilled or the metal accent replica of a bit used to ride a horse, typically a snaffle bit with a D or a loose ring on each end. Tassels were also a very popular accent that graced the top of each upper on the business styled woman’s loafer with a larger wide supportive comfortable heel.

The most famous person to where loafers was Michael Jackson where he can be seen doing the Moon Walk in Penny Loafers with glittering bright socks and of course the ultra famous single glittered glove. One of the most famous designers of ladies loafers is Gucci with the ‘Bluefly,’ of black patent leather, rubber lug soles and metal ‘Gucci’ name styled on the upper portion of the loafer, which retails for $535.00 a pair. Other loafers, both designer and bargain brands have the popular snaffle bit metal piece across the upper which was very common in back to school shoes from times dating back to the 60s. Loafers with snaffle bits, tassels and pennies could be found on most of the little girls up to the big girls in colleges across the country back in the day. The loafer on a little girl's or ladies foot surpassed that saddle shoe as the fifties passed and the sixties marched in.

It is now very time consuming but delightful to shop for a loafer that will make any lady both stylish and comfortable either in the work place or while on vacation on an exotic faraway island. Business style loafers with burgundy uppers, block or stiletto heels and the classic slot for no penny or a fine metal bit can be purchased from under $50 dollars to ten times that much. Then the colorful and fuzzy slipper look of the Acorn polar loafers with Chocolate dots and Indigo Aspen pattern with lavender hues can be a perfect style for school or play. Daughter will love to sport her Skecher Whirl Pool Honor Roll with its banana and cocoa stripes to express that youthful exuberance that she is entitled to. The loafer remains a fashion statement of both comfort and business casual acumen making life for the working and playing lady positively fruitful and successful.