Why You Need Gold Loafers for Date NightJesse GarciaOctober 23, 2017 EDITORIAL
A gold loafer is earned evening rotation for one reason: it does everything a heel does without sacrifice. The right pair flaunts itself in low light, boasts a leather or metallic upper that folds instead of creasing flat and comes with either a low stacked heel or thick sole to anchor the whole shoe so that it looks put together rather than thrown on. Weight and finish are what will set the pairs you’ll fall in love with apart from the ones you’ll regret buying.
Cheap metallic leather will begin to crease badly across the vamp after a few wears and will dull around the toe after a season. High quality pairs that are built to last will maintain their shine because the metallic is integrated onto a layered leather base, rather than sprayed on like an afterthought.
Fit is even more important with this style than with nearly any other. A date night loafer should fit snug around your heel with zero slippage – you’ll be taking it off every other minute otherwise and undo all the work you put into shining it. Look for a close fitting instep and detailing that’s slim (think: horsebit or simple apron tab) rather than bulky or overly embellished. Outsoles should have grip so you can walk with confidence from street to bar stool to dance floor.
Heels should still be low enough to walk in comfortably though, because that’s what makes the shoe great in the first place. It allows you to look put together without the sacrifices of wearing a stiletto.
As is the case with nearly everything gold, pairing it with an outfit is about contrast rather than mirroring. Tailored trousers with a small break that graze your ankle allow the metallic to pop. Bare ankle and midi skirts are just as effective, while slipping a fine knit into a pair of wide leg denim will give you something more casual. Treat the gold loafer as foot jewellery and let the rest of the outfit play it cool. Silk shirt, nice blazer, keep jewellery on other areas of your outfit minimal. Dress everything else too boldly and the shoe gets lost rather than acting as a beautiful punctuation mark on your outfit.
Ideal for early starts and late finishes, private views and anything in-between that requires polish without the intimidation factor of wearing a traditional heel. It’s perfect if you want to be able to walk to the restaurant instead of arriving leaning on your dates arm. They’ll also make for great photoshoots without trying too hard. Buy a pair, wear it until it’s broken in becomes that shoe you reach for whenever the night calls for something dressier than your average flat.
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