Image: Instagram @pernilleteisbaek

Perhaps it’s no surprise that 2020’s favourite shoe was a chunky, lug-soled loafer. Comfortable and sensible, they perfectly embody a year where frills and accoutrements fell to the wayside in favour of practicality and pragmatism. Why would anybody be buying six-inch heels when we were only leaving the house to go to the grocery store? What use were on-trend animal print boots when co-workers could only see you from the waist up? And so, 2020 became the year of the loafer.

Granted, this all sounds a little pessimistic—but it shouldn’t. What this new crop of loafers are lacking in sex appeal, they are more than making up for in the style chops. Chanel offered quilted black loafers with their statement interlocking ‘Cs’ (pictured above on the heavenly Scandi influencer Pernille Teisbaek). Bella Hadid proved the enduring appeal of chunky men’s style shoes when she rocked Louis Vuitton’s burgundy logo loafers in New York City earlier this month.

Only yesterday, the super-chic model Camille Rowe was touting the quiet elegance of Celine’s snakeskin loafers (she owns two pairs). And even don’t get us started on Prada. Their statement patent leather loafers have continually sold out worldwide in the last three months. Celebrity personal shopper Gabriel Waller dubbed them her most-requested item of the season, despite their exxy $1,200 price-tag.

All of which is to say, it’s probably time to invest in a pair for yourself. The marvellous thing about loafers is that they’re a safe bet. Yes, they’re trending right now—but they were also cool in 2019, and they’ll continue to be cool in 2021. They’re a perennial classic, beloved by Charlotte Rampling in the 70s and Kate Moss in the 90s. You can never go wrong with a good, chunky loafer. Below, we’ve rounded up six of our favourites.

 

GANNI LOAFERS, $375, SHOP NOW
COMME DES GARÇONS x DR. MARTENS LOAFERS, $410, SHOP NOW
STELLA MCCARTNEY LOAFERS, $895, SHOP NOW
ATP ATELIER LOAFERS, $642, SHOP NOW
GUCCI LOAFERS, $950, SHOP NOW
ROGER VIVIER LOAFERS, $1,050, SHOP NOW