Like the ideal pair of flats, the best loafers for women are uncommon due to their extreme usefulness and versatility. Whether you’re accessorising a workday ensemble or dressing down with wide-leg jeans on the weekends, they’re a staple in any discussion about fall fashion.
In addition to their fashionable appeal, loafers are supposed to be a practical footwear choice, so we put leather penny loafers with strong arch support to the test by walking kilometres on concrete in them. Lightweight travel loafers that conveniently fold up and fit into a carry-on are another one of our favourites.
Best overall: Everlane The Modern Loafer
If you and your wardrobe are as obsessed with Everlane as we are, you may recall the brand’s first loafers, which helped establish the company’s reputation. Years later, they relaunched our favourite women’s loafers, which now has an improved fit and style that’s unquestionably superior to the previous model.
The leather is a little more flexible, and the toe is a little more rounded to give your toes more space to wriggle. I’m glad to report that unlike the previous pair, they haven’t caused me any blisters. Their rubberised sole keeps them from skidding on slippery flooring, and their stacked wood heel gives them a laid-back look.
The new loafers have a round toe, are flexible and elastic, but not so bendy that they resemble smoking slippers or flats. They provide excellent arch support, and compared to the previous model, the rubber soles offer far better traction.
Whole and half sizes are available, and the sizing runs true to size. If you often wear in between sizes, I would suggest going a half size higher, but otherwise, I wouldn’t suggest them if your feet are really broad.
Best for walking: Vionic Uptown Loafer
If comfort is your top priority, you should be aware of the Vionic Uptown Loafer, which is a style that falls somewhere between a sneaker and a loafer. Heeluxe’s thorough evaluation, which checks for fit, stability, cushioning, and flexibility, supports their performance.
The deep heel cups’ durability around my ankles amazed me when I first put these on. After five or six wears, the leather began to soften from its initial extreme stiffness. Because the cushioning extends all the way up the inside wall of the shoe, these are also ideal for people with high arches like me.
The Uptown Loafers are designed to be worn as walking trainers because of their flexible, lightweight soles that can be folded in half and provide adequate traction on uneven or slick surfaces. Because they have a small profile and fold up easily, they are also ideal for travel.
Best lug sole: Madewell Bradley Lugsole Loafer
Shoes with lug soles are an excellent way to get some height without having to wear painful heels. Because of its nearly 2-inch platform, this pair is an excellent option to combine with slightly oversized trousers. Additionally, they have Madewell’s renowned CloudLift cushioning, which offers a plush insole that prevents you from walking in them.
Best classic penny: G.H. Bass Whitney Weejuns
Nothing beats the traditional style of these best loafers for women, even though there are several variations of G.H. Bass’ Whitney Weejuns (a extremely thick lug-sole pair, a ’90s-inspired platform pair, a croc-effect pair, the list goes on). You’ll be pleased to discover how comfortable and supportive the insole is, even though it takes some time for them to break in, particularly near the heel. Furthermore, the classic penny loafer style is always in.
These are available in full and half sizes; I suggest ordering the size closest to your typical one. You should size larger if you’re in the middle, especially if you intend to wear them with socks.
Best packable: Rothy’s The Loafer
When you can’t stand any longer in heels and can dip into your purse for some loafers, you’ll never value a pair of shoes more. The flexible knit material used in Rothy’s loafers is derived from recycled water bottles, and it holds its shape even when folded in half.
I broke these in quickly, and while they’re too airy and thin for wearing in the winter, the Ecru colourway goes well with everything in my wardrobe. They resemble Friulian slippers in their slim shape, and even though their toe box is narrow and might not fit very wide feet, they stretch well. If you’re in between sizes, I suggest going up a size.
Best for avoiding blisters: Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafers
More than 20 colours are available for the Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafers, ranging from traditional neutrals to striking options including jade green, pink croc effect, and brilliant lemony yellow. There will be fresh hues and textures added with every season.
The women’s leather loafers are not overly rigid, so they won’t blister you right out of the box, but they are just constructed enough to keep their shape. For the first time, I was able to wear mine comfortably for the whole day, including the commute from the suburbs to Manhattan and back. They offer just enough padding, though, that I would bring them along for any vacation that involves a lot of walking.
They are available in both full and half sizes, with a few colours having a broad breadth. I usually wear a 7.5 or 8, so this time I went with the 8, but I could have easily fit in the 7.5. I would suggest ordering a half size down if you are already in between sizes because the leather will stretch and mould to your feet as you use them. If not, I would choose your typical size.
Best luxury: Gucci Brixton Horsebit Convertible Loafer
Get the Gucci Brixton Horsebit Convertible Loafers if you’ve given it a lot of thought and you’re certain that designer loafers for women are what you’ve always wanted. Although these wonderful women’s loafers are costly, they will last you a lifetime. After five years of ownership, Maria Del Russo, our former senior style and beauty editor, claims that her Brixtons are the most versatile shoes she owns. The fold-down heel, which allows you to wear them like mules and basically get two shoes for the price of one, is credited by her for this. The longer you wear them, the more obvious the craftsmanship is. Though Maria has had the soles of these shoes redone twice, the hardware and leather are still in good condition.
The fold-down heels of the Brixtons have faded significantly more than the rest of the heel after many years of use, which is its only downside. That can be fixed, though, by using a leather conditioner or taking them to a cobbler.
These are available in whole and half sizes, but measure carefully because the sizing chart is typically listed in Italian sizing, which differs from European measurements. If you’re in between sizes, we advise sizing up.
Best platform: Camper Milah Loafer
These incredibly glossy leather loafers feature lightweight EVA soles that are more hefty and less cumbersome, with a 2-inch platform heel. The blisters around my heels were a result of breaking these in, which is to be expected with fresh leather. I wear mine with no-show socks to correct this.
With every wear, the Milah loafers are getting supple around the vamp. And because of the Ortholite insoles, I feel grounded when walking in these shoes, even if they are tall. They have some minor arch and heel cushioning thanks to them.
Their style can be described as a little more rough take on the traditional penny loafer. I can wear these with additional lift because to the platform’s little elevation.
Best driving loafer : M.Gemi the Felize
Some of the most functional and well-made shoes that former Insider Reviews senior reporter Mara Leighton has are the M.Gemi Felize loafers. She claims they have held up well after a year of trying them several times a week for our M.Gemi review (no wrinkles at the top, minimal wear around the underside of the toes and heel). She does point out that the sizing isn’t ideal.
“They are now looser and more custom-fit, much like moccasins do, even though I ordered my true size. I couldn’t layer anything thicker than a light sock with my pair, though, because the top is still too tight.” According to her, you should order at least a half size larger if you’re in between sizes or have ever had to size up in shoes.
Best suede: Margaux Penny Loafer
Margaux’s flats are my favourite, and their women’s range of loafers is even cosier. Long days out are made pleasant by the suede’s softness and ease of break-in, as well as the insole’s slight padding. Points to Margaux for quality; the construction is also superior than most other suede loafers I’ve tested.
Although I wouldn’t suggest wearing these for an extremely long walk, they are comfortable for work, weekends, running errands, and other such activities. The majority of suede shoes will crease across the foot quite fast, so you should expect that. It’s more apparent in the colourful pairs, but on my black pair, it’s hardly perceptible.
I’ve found that it can be challenging to get the sizing of Margaux shoes quite correct, so take this advice: Unless you have really tiny feet, choosing a wider size but a half size down would probably suit you the best. My typical width is between a 7.5 and an 8, but I ordered the 7.5 Wide pair, and they fit well. The standard 7.5 was too tight, and the 8 was too large.
The fit of this loafer is narrow, medium, and wide, and it is available in whole and half sizes. This pair is available in sizes 3-14, which is another reason Margaux is renowned for its wide size range.
Best heeled: Frye Jean Loafers
When worn with high-waisted flared pants, the distressed leather of Frye’s heeled loafers creates a stylish, vintage-inspired ensemble. Although these are somewhat tall, they are comfortable to walk in thanks to the 2.6-inch wedge heels’ broad base. Genuine calfskin leather is used in the construction of the Jean loafers, which also include intricate stitching on the toe, saddle, and back. Because leather stretches with increased wear, as several reviewers noted, you should size down for this style.
Best budget: Naturalizer Cabaret Loafers
Among the greatest loafers for ladies, Naturalizer’s Cabaret model is a terrific choice for a formal shoe on a budget. The leather is flexible and not too stiff, so they’re comfy for long days. Additionally, you can nearly always buy this pair on sale in a variety of colours (although sizes tend to sell out quickly once they are discounted).
We tested a classic black leather version of a comparable pair and discovered that the size chart was a little incorrect. This loafer comes in narrow, medium, and wide widths in half sizes, but we advise going down a half size because they run a touch large. All things considered, though, Naturalizer produces cosy loafers with decent traction that you’ll receive a
Best clogs: Crocs Stomp Loafer
Combining the comfort of Crocs with a classy mule silhouette creates the Stomp Loafer. Their hefty platform makes them stand out whether they’re popping out from enormous trousers or paired with frilly socks (if you really want to make a statement, the penny keepers are ideal for placing Jibbitz). They fit similarly to the inside curved sidewalls of Crocs clogs, so once you slip them on, they remain on.
Best dupe for Gucci: Steve Madden Lando Loafer
Even though designer labels like Gucci aren’t extremely accessible, they usually lead the conversation when it comes to the best loafers for women. This style’s generational persistence has the virtue of making their dupes more skilled over time. The version made by Steve Madden is significantly more reasonably priced and has an eerie resemblance to the massive Gucci lug sole horse bits.
These polished loafers go well with tights or calf socks because of the inch platform’s more edgy look. A pair of stylish loafers with a nod to the East London punk culture await those who are patient enough to give the leather upper some wear and tear.
Best velvet: Birdies The Starling Flat
For women, Birdies offers indoor-outdoor loafers that are just as comfortable as a standard pair of slippers. A few people on our staff are huge Birdies fans: Hannah, a former travel editor, and Connie, a former senior home and kitchen reporter, each own several pairs. “The back of the shoe pressed against my heel for about a week during the initial break-in phase for each pair, but after that, it moulded nicely to my feet. Even though the cushioned insoles are rather comfy, Connie stated that she prefers to wear them on cooler days because they tend to create perspiration on warmer days.
For the best fit, Hannah and Connie advise ordering a half size larger, especially if you typically wear between sizes.
The best socks to wear with loafers
Not all loafers require you to wear socks; in fact, barefoot is the ideal option when wearing slipper-like shoes like Birdie’s Starling loafers. Investing in the appropriate socks to wear with your loafers can make all the difference, especially if you’re prone to sweaty feet or want to wear an extra layer in chilly weather.
We recommend some seamless no-show socks if you want to add padding to prevent blisters but don’t necessarily want the contrast of a sock. Wearing loafers with socks that stand alone as accessories is another fashionable trend. Sheer socks are a terrific way to give your shoes a more feminine touch. Check out these adorable socks from Bombas or these ruffle socks.
