Men’s loafers

What decides it

Fit at the heel: loafers have no laces, so heel slip is the main problem; size down if your heel lifts. Sole: driving shoes with rubber pebbles wear quickly on pavement; choose a rubber or leather sole for walking. Lining: full leather lining shapes to your foot; unlined loafers are softer but stretch more.

The pieces we would buy

Start with the J.M. Weston 180 Moccasin: goodyear-welted penny loafer. The John Lobb Lopez is the better buy if you want the finest loafer. Usual prices run from $170 to $8,000. See the full buy-or-skip list or the head-to-head Gucci Horsebit Loafer vs J.M. Weston 180 Moccasin.

Buying in the US and Europe

Loafers stretch with wear, so a snug first fit is right. Unlined suede loafers are summer shoes; buy a lined leather pair for year-round wear. Buying in Europe: Italian and French sizes are used on most designer shoes, and they differ from US sizes by brand. Check the house’s own size chart, and remember that many Italian brands run about half a size small.

Quick answers

Horsebit or penny loafer? A horsebit loafer is dressier and more fashion-forward; a penny loafer is more classic and works with almost anything. Are driving shoes good for walking? Not for long walks. The pebble soles wear down fast on pavement; buy a loafer with a full sole for city use.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.

How we make the call: we read the house’s own product details and care guides, compare materials and construction, follow owners’ long-term experience and track the usual retail and resale prices. A piece gets “Buy” only if we would tell a friend to spend that money on it. No fashion house can pay for a verdict.