'Limited rare'.  Good luck, old boy.

I have blue mocs, blue chukka boots and wallabee ankle boots that work very well as summer casual wear. Blue loafers were nice but inside a case that disappeared in Philly Airport baggage handling. No other blue shoes though, especially not formal shoes.  I have ordered some nice Sanders dark brown split toe apron shoes from their outlet. Been there ages at a fraction of normal price.

Chinos work well for me, in navy, dark grey or olive with blue shoes for summer casual wear. Then some further blue in a polo or jacket to connect it together. Blue Mocs work well for work wear, Chukkas and loafers for evening and weekends. Blue shoes seem to work well in sunny weather.  They are never quite as dark as indigo blue, so work well still with even navy chinos. Jeans would feel a bit too close in colour, blue shoes need a touch of contrast Ithink. Bedford cords might work well with them.  I do like blue wide candy stripe BDs shirtsr too and have about five from various companies- that beach look is perfect for blue casual shoes.

The wallabees I have are from the NoS Clarks USA stock that hit ebay years back - very good and going strong after a decade or so.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2022-03-03 15:29:40)

Better than grey loafers - but only just.

Occasionally vintage weejuns in navy come up online (leather sole and heal 60s ones) which I think would be the only ones I could think worthy of wear, simply because they are from that boom era.

I love my Sperry cloud navy CVO, now faded and sun bleached to perfection. And yesterday I picked up a pair of lo-top Pro Keds in navy canvas from TK for £24.

I also picked up a pair of navy leather Sanders Playboy in the round tie Sno last (Japan market) for £40 which make for a wonderful alternative to a black shoe with trousers.

So even though I think the navy loafer has limited appeal, I have found there is plenty of scope for navy footwear with my ivy wardrobe

Back on track, Tom refers to Boom items.  I was once very, very preoccupied with Boom clothing, but came to see that some of it was inferior to later offerings.  Did anyone see that 'museum piece' Brooks shirt for sale on Ebay recently?  And then there was 'Wren'.  I wouldn't have given either shirt wardrobe space.

AUS

'Back to loafers.... I do like an Oxblood / wine ,/ burgundy colour shoe so loafers in that colour are good for me.'

Me too although I do have a black pair for more formal wear. At school we had to wear black shoes and for 3 years I always wore Weejuns.

I have a pair of dark blue boat shoes with red detailing. Quite good on summer hols

Exactly how many shades of brown are there?  Do we include 'sand'?  Can we go from 'sand' to 'snuff' and 'cola'? 
I'm beginning to have my doubts even about the black shoe, whether formal or informal.

Blue loafers remind me of the mod scene. Definitely not US style loafers, and to be worn with a mohair suit. Not my cuppa.

Last edited by Yuca (2022-03-04 08:02:20)

As will surprise no one, that Austin Powers/swinging 60s/regency crap does nothing for me.

Blue loafers are more mohair suit, backcombed hair and R&B type mod style (mid to late 80s probably). But I've never been heavily involved in the scene so I may be mistaken.

Last edited by Yuca (2022-03-04 10:40:53)

Those I mentioned actually look close to black in photos, but maybe shot like that to try shift.

I tried the mod scene, couldn’t stand the club nights, clichés at best - moronic mostly. Much preferred live music, have been lapping up some wonderful jazz at the Church of Sound.

80s Mod scene was solid loafers BTW, not a basket weave or Small Faces copy shoe to be seen outside Carnaby St for those I was with. The loafers generally were no name, but was far less Austin Powers than the 90s Mousetrap era.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2022-03-04 12:17:49)