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#1 2016-04-26 03:03:00

SanchoPanza
Member
Posts: 1096

About loafers

Which is the way to go? I have a pair of Sebago (can't remember the name of the model) which I suppose do the job, but I want a new pair and was thinking about trying something new, which one should I consider buying? Bass Weejuns? Dexters? Or are there more alternatives out there?

 

#2 2016-04-26 03:15:24

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: About loafers

NOS or barely worn would be my recommendation - the great names of the past are a shadow of their former selves nowadays. Leer and McDerm have both come up with some top NOS loafer finds recently (see elsewhere on the forum) so they are out there. Unless you have the funds for the higher grade loafers: Rancourts, Alden or Crockett and Jones. I don't own any of those, but I'm tempted as I always feel like I'm wearing cheap quality shoes whenever I wear my vintage Weejuns or Florsheims. (The only loafers I own.)


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#3 2016-04-26 03:18:39

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8543

Re: About loafers

Btw I was in your part of the world recently Sancho (unfortunately I didn't have any free time to see if you were available to hang out). I was in Stockholm and didn't see any of the rest of the country, but (climate aside) I really liked the place.

Hope you've been getting some good fika recently.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#4 2016-04-26 03:32:56

Acton_Baby
Member
From: West London
Posts: 3848

Re: About loafers

E'bay or Etsy for vintage NOS ( or even lightly worn) is probably your best bet to get some 'Made in USA' loafers,
Dexter, Bass, Sebago, Johnston and Murphy, JL Coombs are worth searching out.

If you want new at the lower end of the price scale try the big US department stores websites,
plenty of regular offers/discounts and can give you more options (in style and size/width) and often  work out cheaper than buying in europe ( my last pair FLorsheim Berkleys were under £85 including import charges from Macy's in their Xmas sale)


"I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably."
Hugh Hefner

 

#5 2016-04-26 06:45:23

Patrick
Member
Posts: 2646

Re: About loafers

Depends on your attitude.

I know one guy who considers the modern Weejun one step above boat shoes. He plunks down his $89 or whatever, wears them out, and tosses them. Why resole when a new pair costs so little?

I know slightly someone else who painstakingly pursues new old stock loafers from low- and medium-tier companies — Johnston and Murphy, Sebago, Dexter etc.
When he finds them he tends to treat them like sacred artifacts, which is great if you are a shrine designer, but rather useless when it comes to walking from Point A to Point B.

I am an advocate of the modern Sebago. The Crest Cayman is in the $150 range, is solidly built, and I expect will be worth resoling.

But then again I have about 30 pairs of loafers because I have absorbed the attitudes of the Loafer Men described above.

Don't be like me.


Otter : Take it easy, I'm pre-law.
Boon : I thought you were pre-med.
Otter : What's the difference?

 

#6 2016-04-26 07:25:54

Tomiskinky
Member
Posts: 3229

Re: About loafers

Agree with the above views, NOS US made is the way to go - but also think about UK makers if you have a little extra to spend.

C&J

http://www.crockettandjones.com/product/boston-darkbrown-grain

http://www.crockettandjones.com/product/boston-black-cav

http://www.crockettandjones.com/product/harvard-darkbrown-cord

Sanders:

http://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/product/madrid-9486td

 

#7 2016-04-26 07:33:15

SanchoPanza
Member
Posts: 1096

Re: About loafers

Thanks for all the tips! Searched around Ebay and Etsy and didn't came across any nice ones, so if anyone finds something - contact me!

I do like my modern Sebagos, more of a "wear them out"-kinda shoes, atleast for me, but I need some nicer ones for those "special" moments. The Sanders looked nice, a bit pricey though.

 

#8 2016-04-26 07:40:44

Tomiskinky
Member
Posts: 3229

Re: About loafers

Yeah, they are not a cheap option, what size are you? Will keep an eye out.

 

#9 2016-04-26 07:46:45

SanchoPanza
Member
Posts: 1096

Re: About loafers

 

#10 2016-04-26 07:52:31

Armchaired
Ivy I.V.
From: Old England
Posts: 7580

Re: About loafers

Sancho  E is a wide fit the same as a UK G. In the US a D is a medium or the equivalent to a UK F.


�Careful with that axe Eugene.�

 

#11 2016-04-26 08:05:03

Acton_Baby
Member
From: West London
Posts: 3848

Re: About loafers


"I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably."
Hugh Hefner

 

#12 2016-04-26 08:05:24

Worried Man
Member
From: Davebrubeckistan
Posts: 15988

Re: About loafers


"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955

 

#13 2016-04-26 08:06:53

Worried Man
Member
From: Davebrubeckistan
Posts: 15988

Re: About loafers


"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955

 

#14 2016-04-26 08:08:09

Acton_Baby
Member
From: West London
Posts: 3848

Re: About loafers

^ when you gotta dance , you gotta dance !!!


"I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably."
Hugh Hefner

 

#15 2016-04-26 08:16:16

Worried Man
Member
From: Davebrubeckistan
Posts: 15988

Re: About loafers


"We close our sto' at a reasonable hour because we figure anybody who would want one of our suits has got time to stroll over here in the daytime." - VP of George Muse Clothing, Atlanta, 1955

 

#16 2016-04-26 08:37:46

Tomiskinky
Member
Posts: 3229

Re: About loafers

 

#17 2016-04-26 09:23:05

Oliver
Member
From: San Francisco
Posts: 6321

Re: About loafers

Old stock Wilton-made Weejuns are really the only way to go in my book, unless you luck into a pair of Yumas. I've yet to come across another loafer that really did it for me. It's all about the classic shape and lightweight streamlined silhouette. Most other loafers are too clunky and clumsy looking to me.

 

#18 2016-04-26 09:26:03

Oliver
Member
From: San Francisco
Posts: 6321

Re: About loafers

Last I checked btw, there were two pairs of made-in-US Weejuns on eBay in your size; which coincidentally happens to be my size too. They looked to be 80s and early 90s (still made in Maine) era from what I could discern; color 8 and black, respectively. I think one pair may have already sold. I'm after a pair of pre-80's original brown Weejuns for myself.

 

#19 2016-04-26 14:42:13

Chief Brody
Member
Posts: 1822

Re: About loafers

To hijack this thread...

I am about to buy another pair of Lorens. I am torn between oxblood or black beef roll pennys.

I don't own black loafers, yet. Think black works better on the pinch penny rather than beef roll, but I would like a pair...

( I quite like the Loake Eton, they look great, smart enough, to wear with a suit. I don't want to want the beef rolls with a suit.)

I have some oxblood tasseled weejuns. Big fan.

Want to wear them this summer with stone/wheat/off-White jeans and my lighter coloured chinos. And my Slack jackets.

What you think?

Last edited by Chief Brody (2016-04-26 14:48:24)

 

#20 2016-04-26 14:46:31

Chief Brody
Member
Posts: 1822

Re: About loafers

Oxblood:

http://www.barnetsshoes.co.uk/images/_lib/lorens-501-3-mens-gents-leather-burgundy-loafer-3014154-0-1398705081000.jpg

 

#21 2016-04-26 15:23:27

woofboxer
Devil's Ivy Advocate
From: The Lost County of Middlesex
Posts: 7959

Re: About loafers

I'm more for Dexter in the vintage stakes, not only do I like the shape better but as they are more under the radar than Weejuns they seem to come up NOS more often. Dexter's come in beef roll and the strap loafers which are excellent. Avoid the Dexter Comfort Loafers though as the quality is not so good.


'I'm not that keen on the Average Look .......ever'. 
John Simons

Achievements: banned from the Ivy Style FB Group

 

#22 2016-04-26 16:23:57

SanchoPanza
Member
Posts: 1096

Re: About loafers

 

#23 2016-04-26 16:50:00

Tomiskinky
Member
Posts: 3229

Re: About loafers

I think as US 9 is an EU 42, might be wise to double check. I take a US 8.5 but I go down half a size to a UK 7.5 as I have a slightly smaller right foot.

Happy hunting.

 

#24 2016-04-27 04:46:42

Leer R.
Member
From: Vienna
Posts: 3450

Re: About loafers

Sancho, the width depends not only on the look you are after but also on the width of your feet... Sebagos are generally a bit clunkier, even in B width (narrow) - the widths in US sizes are:

A - VERY narrow (even a little bit too narow for me and I have pretty narrow feet)
B - narrow (my own width)
C - normal width, works on most feet (still can work on my feet)
D - normal slightly wider, works better with thicker socks on normal feet
E - wide
EE - wider
EEE - extra wide

So if the Sebago in D work for you sitting well on your foot, look out for D... wheras a C can work, too. Loafers can be tricky: they widen themselves very often due to a tight fit (loafers should be tighter, because of the lack of lacing), and then they get too wide which happens mostly on my own feet. But don't take anything else than D or C. If they sight very tight you can go up to E etc...

It really depends on your price range, too. Out of the suggested shoes the Crockett and Jones are probably the highest quality using the best leathers and they are also Goodyear welted, but such loafers are so expensive you should look out for them locally and only get them after trying them on and knowing they are the best fit...

 

#25 2016-04-27 05:05:52

Leer R.
Member
From: Vienna
Posts: 3450

Re: About loafers

Last edited by Leer R. (2016-04-27 05:07:59)

 

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