Loafin'

A love letter to G.H. Bass.

I wear loafers all the time. I’ve worn them out of their natural habitat a number of times too; Up the side of a mountain in Austria was an interesting walk.

When I first put on a pair of loafers, I felt like I was putting on clown shoes—they weren’t like anything I’d worn before. I think they were probably a cheap pair I bought from somewhere like Zara: overly chunky, with a sole that was too thick, and tassels that felt like they were in imminent danger of falling off. Nevertheless, my love for loafers started here.

They’ve never caused me any problems in terms of pain. Whether that’s because I’m so used to wearing them or because I’m wearing a good quality pair, I’d say it’s a combination of the two.

I have a rubber sole pair, a leather sole pair, and a brand new treaded pair—both by G.H. Bass. Even though the leather sole loafers are crafted to a much higher standard, the rubber soles are certainly essential in Manchester. It’s not called the rainy city for nothing!

I love the iconography of loafers. They are shoes so rooted in heritage that they really do tell a story. From Ivy League students to jazz musicians, rock and rollers, artists, and presidents—everyone and anyone can wear a pair of loafers.

I’ve mentioned this quite a number of times on the internet and even once in a magazine: pair loafers with white socks and chinos, and it’s one of my favourite looks. If they are sports socks, i.e., vintage-inspired college socks, you’ve mastered the look. You’re a force to be reckoned with. Congratulations.

Joking aside, I’ve got quite a few pairs of college socks, and aside from the design, you can get some brilliant quality ones too.

The photographs in Take Ivy capture the look I love so much perfectly. The beauty of styling them like the picture below is how interchangeable the look is, even when there aren’t a lot of different components to it.

A simple letterman sweatshirt, layered over an Oxford shirt and a pair of jeans. You can wear this look most of the week and just change around the sweatshirt or shirt when you need to. It’s very low maintenance but really smart at the same time.

The Heritage Larson loafers, aptly named due to their historic design, have to be one of, if not the most, versatile colourways you can buy. Brown is a really versatile colour, like a pair of boots; they can be worn with jeans or trousers. And that’s exactly how I wear them.

The craftsmanship of these shoes is also brilliant. Because the construction of regular penny loafers is so good, they can easily be resoled.

I’ve recently had mine resoled after a year or so of being broken in, and I’m honestly so happy with how they’ve turned out. The above picture shows what they looked like originally with their leather sole. This time around, I’ve gone for a premium rubber sole. It’s very firm and solid, giving the feel of the leather sole when worn, but it now means they’re protected against the inevitable wet weather.

The main shell of the shoe still looks great. They look moulded to my feet, but that’s what you want from a good quality pair of loafers. They should mould to you over time, making them extremely comfortable and a go-to for anything and everything.

I understand that loafers aren’t for everyone, not because they don’t like them, but because the shape of their foot isn’t quite right for the shoe. Lots of people complain about slipping off the heel or general discomfort. I’d advise buying in person where possible or at least trying them on.

There are also brilliant contemporary options that combine both the heritage design along with forward-thinking concepts.

G.H. Bass were recently very kind to send me the treaded sole version of their classic penny loafer, the Weejuns 90s Larson Penny Loafers in Black Leather.

This is a great option if, like me, you live somewhere where it tends to rain more than most places! These are a great piece of style evolution. The classic leather sole definitely still has its place, but the treaded sole version is extremely practical and perfect for longer walks around the city.

Despite the heavy-looking sole, these loafers are surprisingly lightweight. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You’ve got the best of both worlds.

A lightweight pair of shoes you can walk for miles in with a construction that allows you to do it seamlessly.

Breaking them in wasn’t a chore; they moulded to me pretty quickly, which is great for a pair of loafers. I have quite narrow feet, and I know many people struggle with the width of loafers, so if you can, it’s worth trying them on first.

These are forward-thinking shoes. True, they’re not the originals, but it’s keeping the style alive.

It’s important what G.H. Bass are doing—they’re creating loafers for everyone and anyone. This is a perfect pairing of style and practicality. We’re in an age where practicality doesn’t normally mean style. Very rarely are the two put together.

These are easy to style and go with just about anything. Wear them to work, to the pub, walking the dog, you name it. Classic, timeless, and practical. I’m sold.

I love loafers. I wear them most days because of everything I’ve mentioned above—the characters who wore them, the construction, they’re works of art!

Thanks for reading,

Tom