The Shoe Trend Amal Clooney and Jennifer Lawrence Keep Wearing Doesn’t Get Enough Credit
When you think of sexy shoes, you don’t think of loafers. Instead you probably think of studded velvet Miu Miu platforms or sleek, red-bottom Manolos. Those shoes have texture, height, and undeniable sex appeal. Part of that has to do with how aspirational shoes like that are. You have to have a certain kind of bank account and aesthetic to pull them off. Meanwhile you can find loafers everywhere, from Wall Street to Ivy League campuses to your local WeWork. They tend to feel professional and collegiate but not special at all. That is, unless they’re Gucci.
A couple years ago, loafers started to become cool, sexy even. Phoebe Philo was creating a menswear revival in womenswear with the loafer’s distant cousin, the laced up Oxford. Soon. Marc Jacobs had a rhinestone-buckled loafer and Chloé released one with a toe dipped in gold. A.P.C.’s take on loafers became a best-selling cult favorite. But it wasn’t really until 2015, when Alessandro Michele released a fluffy Gucci loafer that almost immediately became the ‘It’ shoe of the season. Soon every celebrity from Jennifer Aniston to Dakota Johnson had been spotted in a pair, either fluffy or classic.
Since then, the loafer’s popularity has only become more widespread. Angelina Jolie is frequently spotted in a pair by Everlane (which are currently on sale for under $100) at the airport. Jennifer Lawrence offered a fresh take on the animal-print trend with a pair of red croc-effect loafers by Loewe. But perhaps more inspirational than anything is Amal Clooney wearing loafers and oxfords in general. Her seal of approval means that not only are loafers chic, but they’re something we can all wear everyday since, you know, she has a very real, very fancy job.
So while loafers aren’t the sexist of trends, like thigh high snakeskin boots you can trade your pants in for, they’re still sexy. Especially if you invest in a pair of platform Gucci loafers which are poised to be the next fuzzy Gucci loafer. But if you’re not willing to drop hundreds on your next impulse shoe buy, Nordstrom’s 60 percent off shoe sale has hundreds of options, almost all of which are under $100. And that just may be the sexiest thing of all.
Dr. Scholl’s Guess What Oxfords
Shop now: $50 (Originally $100); nordstrom.com
Sam Edelman Lior Genuine Calf Hair Loafer
Shop now: $98 (Originally $140); nordstrom.com
J. Renee Brooklyne Loafer
Shop now: $80 (Originally $120); nordstrom.com
CC Corso Como Endya Slingback Loafer
Shop now: $65 (Originally $129); nordstrom.com
Naturalizer Adiline Loafer
Shop now: $55 (Originally $115); nordstrom.com
Via Spiga Aylee Loafer
Shop now: $135 (Originally $225); nordstrom.com
Marc Fisher Chang Penny Loafer
Shop now: $56 (Originally $140); nordstrom.com
Calvin Klein Maciel Loafer
Shop now: $72 (Originally $120); nordstrom.com
Marc Fisher Hanne Loafer Pump
Shop now: $68 (Originally $170); nordstrom.com
Calvin Klein Luisa Platform Derby
Shop now: $85 (Originally $169); nordstrom.com
Sarto by Franco Sarto Topaz Genuine Calf Hair Pointy Toe Loafer
Shop now: $83 (Originally $139); nordstrom.com
Vagabond Shoemakers Amina Loafers
Shop now: $52 (Originally $130); nordstrom.com
