A slip-on staple admired by a gentleman around the world, the men’s loafer is a timeless classic that has evolved gracefully since its introduction in the 1900s. The loafer is a lace less shoe that can be traced back to 1926 when Raymond Lewis Wildsmith of London-based bespoke shoe company Wildsmith Shoes designed a slip-on shoe for King George VI as a casual house shoe. This bespoke shoe was initially called the 582, then the Model 98 until finally becoming known as ‘The Wildsmith Loafer’.
Secondly, the loafer has Scandinavian origins where an Aurland-based shoemaker called Nils Gregoriusson Tveranger designed a loafer in 1908 that was originally worn by Norwegian farmers. In 1930, Tveranger developed his design having been inspired by Native American footwear and the moccasin-like shoe traditionally worn by the workers of his fjord-side home. Named the Aurland Moccasin, the loafer became known throughout Europe. In 1934, Maine-based shoemaker G.H Bass released its version of Tveranger’s shoe and named it Weejun due to its Norwegian inspiration.
From an English King and Norwegian farmers, the loafer style has gained many followers over its far-reaching history, in particular, the Penny Loafer which has been worn by the Ivy League and American presidents alike. It was the G.H Bass Weejun that ultimately gained international recognition when it became the shoe of choice for young men and students. Furthermore, the Weejun loafer for men became fashionable when inserting a dime in the half-moon cut out a slot of the leather saddle. It was this fashion trend that colloquial title of the Penny Loafer.
Several types of leather shoes for men feature in the Barker collection, made in the Earls Barton factory in Northamptonshire. The first choice of Barker slip-on shoes is the Penny Loafer and the first Barker style that has to be noted is the Caruso, one of the oldest Barker styles still available, Caruso is made on the number 10 last from high-grade polished leather. Other Penny Loafers for men include the Jevington, Gates and Portsmouth styles from the Handcrafted, BarkerTech and Professional collections.
The tassel loafer is an elegant slip-on shoe style that can be worn formal or casual depending on the occasion. The best tassel loafers for men from the Barker range include the Clive, Studland and Newborough styles which are made from a variety of calf, polished and grain leathers on a choice of soles.
A style made famous by the Italian luxury fashion house Gucci is the horse bit loafer, also known as a bit loafer as it features a decorative metal element to the loafer saddle. The Barker Frank from the Creative collection is the Barker interpretation of the horse bit loafer and is a men's dress shoe made on the 69 last from premium calf leather with a full leather sole.
For women, several Barker slip-on styles include the Amber, Imogen and Sienna tassel loafers.
Visit the Barker website to explore the entire range of men and women's loafers.
