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Iconic Styles: The Loafer

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Iconic Styles: The Loafer

July 12, 2013
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Loafers have been a preppy favourite for a long time.

Although considered an American classic, the design actually orginated in Norway. In the early 1930s a shoemaker named Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger created the Aurland shoe, based on moccasins worn by the Iroquois in North America where he studied for a while. There is a story that they are based on Norweigen fishermens slippers, but I haven’t been able to find any evidence to back that up, and it seems it is a myth.

Around 1934 the Spaulding Leather Company in New Hampshire also began to produce a slip on shoe in this style, and in 1936 the Bass shoe company added a strip of leather across the front, and the classic Bass Weejun loafers were created. Over on the other side of the pond Matthew Wildsmith & Co of Duke Street created a bespoke penny loafer to be worn as an indoor shoe by George VI, which now survive in a similar style as “The Harrow”.

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The term penny loafers came from the practice of American prep school students in the 1950s inserting a penny into the diamond shaped cut out on the front of the shoe.

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The loafer was designed as a casual shoe, though it is now considered smart enough to wear with suits. As with many of the iconic styles I’ve covered, loafers were an item that Women pilfered from Mens wardrobes. Often seen worn with ankle socks in the 40s and 50s by preppy US girls, they are a classic style that is still popular today.

girls-on-bikes-retouched1-e1326043630116

Suzy-Parker-50s-vintage-fashion-model-loafers

In the pre historic days when I worked as a nurse I swore by Kicker loafers as my work shoes. These days I own one pair of cheap loafers, but they rubbed my heels so badly that I’ve been wary of wearing them again. I am tempted to try them with the preppy socks, but fear my short legs will look even shorter.

shoe2 copy

I do love the look though, so I have trawled the internetz for modern loafers that may or may not be comfortable to wear, though leather is always a better bet than PVC!

Bargain Hunter

Black Leather Look Loafer New Look £19.99

282563301

 

Middle of the Road

Womens Black Hush Puppies Ciel Penny £55

hush puppies

 

Top Drawer

Church’s Sally Leather Penny Loafers £250

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42 Comments

  1. straighttalkingmama says:
    July 12, 2013 at 8:28 am

    I love loafers, Bass Loafers are the best I’ve found in modern styles but too expensive for my taste as you can really only get them in the US, so once you add on postage etc :o( Years and years ago you used to get classic ones in Next, sadly no more

  2. StepfordMan says:
    July 12, 2013 at 8:46 am

    RT @Retrochick_uk: Iconic Styles: The Loafer //t.co/z0hi6D4UXg

  3. Steven Croucher says:
    July 12, 2013 at 8:49 am

    I do like my Church’s penny loafers but they make my small feet look even smaller.

  4. deo160 says:
    July 12, 2013 at 8:54 am

    RT @Retrochick_uk: Iconic Styles: The Loafer //t.co/z0hi6D4UXg

  5. Kim says:
    July 12, 2013 at 9:21 am

    I’ve been wanting a pair of loafers for a while, there looked like there are some nice ones on ASOS. I’d like to wear them with ankle socks though but I can’t find any good ones. I want kinda like bobby sock I guess with folded over tops but I haven’t seen any anywhere (well, for school children anyway!). On a sock tangent, we all wore slouch socks when I was younger, thought I looked well cool!

  6. Pearl Westwood says:
    July 12, 2013 at 9:26 am

    Pearl Westwood liked this on Facebook.

  7. Anthea says:
    July 12, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    I really love loafers combined with ankle socks!

  8. Danielle Bentley says:
    July 12, 2013 at 4:37 pm

    I love loafers! They can be smart AND casual, what’s better than that? I love mine loads although they are PVC (exactly the same as those red ones) I would like to get some faux leather ones x

  9. AugustaAuction says:
    July 12, 2013 at 7:35 pm

    RT @Retrochick_uk: Today on the blog. A look at the history behind the classic loafer //t.co/z0hi6D4UXg

  10. Helen Jennifer Davies says:
    July 12, 2013 at 10:40 pm

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  11. Wake Up Little Susie says:
    July 13, 2013 at 12:40 am

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  12. Teresa says:
    July 13, 2013 at 1:15 am

    LOVE loafers and I didn’t know they originated in Norway. Thanks for sharing!

  13. Tori Ann says:
    July 13, 2013 at 1:38 am

    I used to wear the souls off my loafers.

  14. i like your dress says:
    July 13, 2013 at 3:52 am

    I love loafers!

  15. Tori Ann says:
    July 13, 2013 at 4:41 am

    Tori Ann liked this on Facebook.

  16. Patricia Moore says:
    July 13, 2013 at 4:41 am

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  17. Retro Chick says:
    July 13, 2013 at 12:41 pm

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  18. Abby Evely says:
    July 13, 2013 at 12:41 pm

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  19. Susie Moran says:
    July 13, 2013 at 12:41 pm

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  20. Jennifer Janek says:
    July 13, 2013 at 12:41 pm

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  21. Jody Teipen-Holbrook says:
    July 13, 2013 at 12:41 pm

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  22. Capi Zabala says:
    July 13, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    Picked up a pair this winter for myself. Trying to get them “worn” and “loved” looking.

  23. Raina Bell Saunders says:
    July 13, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    I have pictures of my mom and aunt wearing theirs in the 1950s. I’d love to find a new pair myself.

  24. Ayda El Karaki says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  25. Cali Diane says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  26. Sarah Grace Willwater says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  27. Vanessa Hughes says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  28. Raina Bell Saunders says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  29. Frank Le Baffering says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  30. Capi Zabala says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  31. Pauline Rogers says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  32. Dawn Elouise Astin says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  33. Dawn Ashcroft says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  34. Mairi Louise Houldsworth says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  35. Katy Baggott says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  36. Marie Martin says:
    July 14, 2013 at 12:56 am

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  37. Katy Jane says:
    July 14, 2013 at 6:07 pm

    I have a pair of tan leather loathers from Marks & Spencer, they are so comfy and match so many things – a must have staple!

  38. Floyd Gary Clyne says:
    July 16, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    Find loafers on ebay. They are timeless and comfortable, worn by an older generation who took care of their leather shoes (things in general), so there are tonnes. Love the pic of Suzie Parker in loafers.

  39. Sally Sutton says:
    July 20, 2013 at 7:12 pm

    Sally Sutton liked this on Facebook.

  40. Joanne Moore says:
    July 20, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    I had a pair of those in burgundy moc croc for school back in the urrrh 70s!

  41. Benoîte Micard says:
    July 20, 2013 at 10:26 pm

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  42. ioana says:
    August 7, 2013 at 11:00 am

    Thx for post!

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Gemma
Incurable cancer, cocktails & fitness. Size Inclusive Personal Trainer, red lipstick wearer, cocktail drinker. Multiple Myeloma June 2021. Norwich, UK
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