How to Style Loafers: Outfit Ideas + My Favorite Loafers

One of my favorite things about loafers is how they completely change the feel of an outfit. They have the comfort of sneakers but instantly make even jeans and a T-shirt look more polished. At the same time, they’re less feminine than ballet flats, which is why I love wearing them with dresses and lace tops. They balance those softer pieces without feeling too dressy.

They’re also one of my favorite shoes during those in-between seasons when it’s too warm for boots but too chilly for sandals. I wear loafers with everything from jeans and joggers to dresses and tailored pants.

Below I’m sharing my favorite loafer outfits, how I decide between brown and black loafers, and the styles I reach for most often.

How to Style Loafers

• Choose a loafer with an elongated toe with wide-leg jeans to balance your look.
• Cropped or ankle length pants show loafers best.
• Brown loafers give a softer contrast than black.
• Match your bag for a more coordinated look.

My most-worn loafers:

Loafer Outfit Ideas

When I don’t know what to wear, there’s a good chance I’m reaching for jeans and loafers. I love how they give off a casual feeling while still being elevated. Nice quality loafers are extremely comfortable and often softer than ballet flats. If you love wearing flat shoes, I highly recommend adding loafers to your outfit rotation.

Straight-leg jeans

Mason Straight leg, the shirt black jetset, black tory burch loafers, dash bag, sunglasses? or felize

Straight leg jeans that hit at the ankle show off the shoes just enough, so that the whole outfit feels balanced. It’s one of the easiest outfit combinations in my closet, and one I come back to over and over again.

I share even more outfit ideas in my guide to shoes to wear with straight-leg jeans.

Wide-leg jeans

When I wear wide-leg jeans, I prefer to wear loafer with an elongated toe, rather than a short rounded toe to lengthen the look. These tan loafers are the ones I reach for when wearing wide-leg jeans. They come in several colors, and are incredibly comfortable. The fact that there’s no hardware on them, makes them so easy to style.

I share more outfit ideas in my post on shoes to wear with wide-leg pants.

White and Ivory jeans

Since ivory and white are bright, I love to wear neutral colored loafers or do a nice contrast like these dark brown loafers. I find that I wear my brown loafers more than any another pair I own. They look great with white, ivory, tan, dark brown, and all shades of denim.

Loafers with Pants

When wearing loafers with pants, I follow the same rules as jeans. I love a cropped or ankle length to show off more of the loafers, but full length pants work too, just be sure the hem doesn’t drag on the floor.

When deciding on what color loafers to wear, I’ll usually go with a neutral, or try to match to the color of the pants. So ivory loafers with ivory pants, tan or dark brown loafers with tan chinos, or black loafers with black pants. When wearing navy pants, you can actually get away with any of those same colors. I have a whole guide full of outfit inspiration for styling navy pants.

Joggers

Tan loafers work here with the ivory joggers because the whole outfit is monotone. Darker shoes would give too much of a contrast and completely change the look.

Loafers with Dresses

Loafers are my favorite way to make dresses feel more casual. I think that ballet flats would make each of the outfits above, slightly dressier compared to wearing them with loafers. It’s an easy way to feel pulled together but still comfortable and casual. I especially love loafers with shirt dresses because they give the outfit an effortless, everyday feel.

Skirts

Heeled loafers can keep an outfit with a skirt from looking too dressy. Pumps would completely change the feel of this outfit. Choosing loafers with skirts keeps the outfit from looking too formal, and creates an easier vibe.

Loafers with Shorts

Loafers aren’t just for fall. I also like wearing them with shorts when I want a slightly more polished alternative to sandals. I find they work best with tailored shorts or longer Bermuda styles, especially paired with a short-sleeved button-up shirt or lightweight sweater.

Brown or Black Loafers: Which Should you Buy?

If you’re deciding between brown and black loafers, I don’t think there’s a wrong choice. It really comes down to the colors you wear most. I naturally gravitate toward brown because my wardrobe is full of denim, white, ivory, camel, and navy. Brown feels a little softer and warmer than black, so I find myself reaching for it more often.

Shades of brown like chocolate, cognac, and tan each have a place in my wardrobe. Cognac warms up any outfit and is one of my most reached for accessory colors. The dark brown loafers have a richness that works beautifully with denim, ivory, and darker fall and winter tones.

Tan loafers are a great all-year-round color. I also love ivory for more casual outfits. Think of an outfit you would wear sneakers with but don’t want to actually wear sneakers. This is where ivory loafers are the best.

I usually save my black loafers for darker outfits. I wear them most with black pants or jeans because the continuation of the color creates a streamlined look, which I especially appreciate as someone who’s 5’2″. I also like them with gray, camel, black, and ivory when I want a little more contrast.

If you’re only buying one pair and your wardrobe is similar to mine, I’d recommend dark brown loafers first. I simply get more wear out of them because they work so well with the colors I wear most. If your closet is built around black, charcoal, and cooler tones, black loafers may be the better first choice.

The Best Loafers I’ve Worn

I have several different loafers but reach for the same few styles almost every time. When you find a pair of shoes that are comfortable and look great, they become the ones you reach for all the time. Here are the loafers I’m wearing over and over again:

M.Gemi Felize

Best for: Everyday casual outfits

I wear these with more casual outfits. They have a rounded toe which looks really nice with straight-leg jeans and pants. They also come in several beautiful neutral shades in both suede and leather. I share more details in my full M.Gemi review. If you’re in-between sizes, take the larger size. I’m usually 7 or 7.5, and I took a 7.5 in these and the fit is perfect.

Tory Burch Ballet Loafers

Best for: Dressier outfits or when you just want to look more polished.

I got my first pair about four years ago, and have collected four colors since then. They are truly more beautiful in person than they are online. These are the pair that I get asked about almost every time I wear them. They are the perfect bridge between a classic loafer and a ballet flat. I wear these when I want a casual but polished look. I wear 7.5 in these.

Una Loafers

Best for: Wearing with wide-leg pants and jeans.

These are my minimal loafers. The ones I reach for with wide-leg jeans, or when I want my shoes to quietly blend into my outfit. There’a no hardware on these, just leather, so no competing with your accessories. The elegant elongated toe gives you the illusion of being taller, so these are a great option if you’re petite. Even those these have a longer toe than the Felize, I still take a size 7.5.

These are the three styles I wear most, however I do own other loafers that I wear occasion. My embroidered loafers give personality to simper outfits, and I love navy loafers to wear with jeans. If you’re just building your shoe collection., I’d start with the neutral you wear most. For me that’s tan or brown loafers.

Looking for another option? These are a few more loafers I’d recommend:

FAQ

What type of pants look best with loafers?

Wide-leg pants look best with a slightly pointed or elongated toe like my Una loafers or these suede loafers. The longer toe balances the wider silhouette. Straight-leg pants can also be worn with loafers. I tend to wear either an elongated style, classic penny loafer, or moccasin style depending on the look I’m going for.

Can you wear loafers with dresses?

Yes, you can wear loafers with dresses. I love wearing loafers with t-shirt dresses, shirt dresses, and even some midi dress styles. They make dresses feel a little more casual, which is one of the reasons I reach for them so often for everyday outfits.

How do you style heeled loafers

I style heeled loafers much like I would classic pumps. But I’ll choose the loafers when I want my outfit more casual. Heeled loafers look beautiful with long skirts, dresses, and wide leg pants or jeans. The extra height works really well with longer, more fluid silhouettes, and gives outfits a polished look without feeling too dressy.

My Favorite Loafer Outfit Formula

If I’m heading out for lunch, running errands, or meeting friends, there’s a good chance I’m wearing jeans, loafers, a pretty top, and a bag. It’s one of those combinations I never have to think twice about because it always works.

If you’re building a timeless shoe wardrobe, you may also enjoy my guide to the best fall shoes for women.