The 21 Best Slip-On Loafers That Define Effortless Style

I don’t mean to alarm you, but if you haven’t yet realised, slip-on loafers are on the rise after being relegated to “outdated” status after the late 2010s. Indeed, not since the heyday of Alessandro Michele at Gucci have I seen such a fervour for the style.

If you weren’t paying attention during the Italian designer’s time at the brand, you might be unaware of how dominant Gucci’s backless leather Princetown loafers were. For those who remember, the news that this silhouette is on the rise again might be enough to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who (literally) wore their pair into the ground. (See Gigi Hadid and her collection of the cult shoe.)

But fear not. The 2020s has brought about its own iteration of the slip-on flats, and it’s proving to be a surefire way to balance effortless dressing with an elevated edge. Considering that this is the decade that introduced the “wrong shoe theory“, this unexpected return feels fitting amidst the reign of eccentric footwear hybrids like Mary Jane trainers or new twists on modern classics, such as the “glove” ballet-flat trend.

This time around, the best slip-on loafers are the ones that are objectively timeless, riffing on archetypal codes by simply cutting out the back of the shoe, which, as it turns out, wasn’t all that necessary in the first place. In London, the style set is trotting around in two-toned, pointed-toe slingbacks to top off understated and sophisticated outfits, like a navy satin shirt paired with a matching miniskirt, as demonstrated by Marilyn below.

To put my own spin on the look, I took Marks and Spencer’s expensive-looking high-street loafers for a spin. The fire-engine-red hue paired surprisingly well with several items in my wardrobe, from equally vibrant maxi dresses to black tailored trousers and white wide-leg pairs. Whilst I typically prefer combining loafers with a white, calf-grazing ribbed sock (specific, I know), I quite enjoy the ease of sliding into them and whipping out the door.

As we’re now in spring, fuss-free wear is a cardinal rule I adhere to, and I adore how uncomplicated it is to throw on these slip-on loafers. For the Pilates run, I’ll be wearing them with stirrup leggings and a slouchy knit before heading to brunch with my girlfriends., whilst for more formal situations like visiting the office, I’ll pair them with light-wash, straight-leg jeans and a crisp blue button-down shirt.