Loafers have always had a bad reputation as being shoes for the older generation but why wouldn’t you want your everyday shoes to feel like a pair of slippers? Over recent years, high end designers and high street stores have all produced a version of the loafer, making them more trendy than ever. Some keep it plain and simple, some add embellishment, pattern and colour to their designs. As a country clothing store, we prefer to keep our styles classic and timeless but with a pop of colour or pattern if that’s your cup of tea. People old and young have been styling their loafers with various outfits but by far, the easiest item to pair loafers with is a pair of jeans.
As respectable country ladies, a pair of jeans (usually a dark wash) should be a staple in your current wardrobe. They’re probably the most versatile item you own and the most worn too. If they go so well with everything else, why not try them with a pair of loafers as well? Sometimes we think that jeans are too casual to dress up but it’s so easy to dress them up if you know how to! If you’re not a fan of heels, a dressy pair of loafers make a great alternative. In fact, they’re much comfier and more practical than heels, you can wear them all night long and never need to switch your shoes over!
They might not be as versatile as a pair of jeans but loafers can be worn for so many occasions. In this guide, we’ll show you country ladies where you can wear a pair as well as that all-important styling advice of the items to wear with them. At Rydale, you know we’re all about making the most out of your wardrobe do don’t be surprised if you already have most, if not all, of these suggested pieces in your current wardrobe!
When can you wear a pair of loafers?
When it comes to choice, you have plenty from our range of loafers. Leather, suede and patent are our three main styles along with a leopard print pair and our new range of driving loafers, which are even more comfortable! When it comes to where to wear them, it’s not too different to any other everyday footwear. Loafers can be worn on casual and smart-casual occasions but not with formalwear. They’re easy enough to dress up or down, depending on what you’re doing. We’ve rounded up a few occasions and created an outfit that you could wear for it!
Running errands - Whether it’s doing the food shop or picking the children up from school, you need a simple but chic outfit that is also comfortable. Slipping on a pair of driving loafers before you run out the door (and nearly forget to change out of your slippers) will take you less than a minute! They’re so comfortable that they even feel like slippers! We love a classic tan or navy pair but lately, we’ve been loving our dark grey version. Grey seems like an odd choice for footwear but it’s just as wearable as black, possibly even more so! It feels less corporate and formal than black yet still looks dressy enough. Our grey driving loafers make a perfect outfit with our sorbet pink Ella biker jeans as well as the usual dark wash denim. Pink and grey shades really complement each other but keep the rest of your outfit neutral or within the same colour scheme. A simple grey rugby shirt keeps the look casual but chic.
Lunch out - Whether it’s your mum, your best friend or a friend, it’s a great chance to wear something nice but appropriate for the daytime. A classic pair of tan leather loafers are the perfect pair of shoes for being out and about. Whilst they look dressy, when paired with a dressed down outfit, they look more casual. Dark wash skinny jeans keep the look classic but with a patterned, animal print blouse, you can add some fun and personality to your look! We guarantee you’ll get tonnes of compliments on a funky countryside blouse!
Days out - Comfort and layers are the two key things to consider on days out. You might be off for a trip to the zoo, the park or shopping out of town. As long as it’s a dry day, loafers will finish off any outfit. Our everyday suede snaffle loafers come in five different colours (navy, brown, tan, dark tan and grey), all neutrals to go with any look. Brown loafers go well with other earthy tones, such as olive and beige, whereas our navy shade looks great with other blues and purple.
Layers will be vital if outdoors or in and out of shops. We love to add a fleece layer on top of T-shirts and shirts and underneath any jackets or coats. Whether it’s a full-zip or gilet, there’s plenty of colours to choose from!
At the office - Office wear can be a tricky style to get as most offices aren’t as formal as they used to be but jeans and a T-shirt are only acceptable in the most casual offices (or on dress-down Fridays). A pair of patent loafers in black, navy or burgundy work well with smart trousers and jeans. A simple checked country shirt paired with smart high-waisted trousers looks so chic in an office setting but equally as smart with a pair of dark wash skinny jeans. We also love to add a little more countryside with some tweed! Stick on a tweed blazer on top of most outfits and it instantly makes it look smart! If your shirt has a colourful pattern, stick to a ‘quieter’, simple tweed and vice versa. You want the two to complement each other, not overpower each other.
Casual nights out - This might be a meal out at a restaurant or a night at the pub. You want to be comfortable but with a dressy edge. This is where we love to have some funky footwear to show off. A pair of leopard print loafers fit the bill to a tee. You want these shoes to be the centrepiece of any outfit so keep the rest of the look neutral and simple. You can still add colour but avoid other ‘loud’ prints or patterns or they will clash with the leopard print.
If you prefer colour to pattern, how about our red suede driving loafers instead? Keep any other colours neutral or in the red or pink colour family to avoid clashing. If you want to add more colour, why not add a blue gingham shirt and make like Dorothy? Click those heels together and you’ll be good to go!
Jeans and loafers are such easy pieces to wear so why not pair them together? Avoid colour clashes by sticking to neutral coloured jeans, such as khaki and navy, or wear bright coloured jeans with neutral loafers in tan, brown or navy. Once you try a pair of loafers, you won’t want to wear anything else because they feel like slippers that you can wear outdoors!