The 15 Best Loafers for Women in 2023

The closet staple is trending this season.

Aline Kaplan is seen wearing Chloe Faye brown leather bag, Palones beige trenchcoat, The Frankie Shop Black top, & other stories black mini skirt, Ganni black loafers and Carolina Lemke shades on March 18, 2022 in Berlin, Germany
(Image credit: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)

Let it be known that I am a winter shoe aficionado. I’m not really a sandals person, so the onset of colder weather means that I can finally stow away my open-toed shoes and replace them with a pair of loafers—or several. Because there are so many pairs and different loafer options on the market right now, I spoke to Jamie Lee (opens in new tab), a Shoe Buyer at luxury retailer Moda Operandi (opens in new tab) to find the very best loafers on the market for fall and winter 2023.  

The once-preppy style has become a mainstay on the feet of models both on and off the runway, as well as on the feet of every single A-list celebrity. Both Kendall Jenner and Katie Holmes have both been spotted in pairs from Vagabond Shoemakers (opens in new tab), for instance, which is also a favorite brand among the Marie Claire editorial team. 

Loafers were a prominent choice on the Fall/Winter 2022 runways as well—brands like Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton styled them as a part of their collections. At the former, iconic black-and-white penny loafers were styled with tailored menswear-inspired pieces. At the latter, the patent-leather loafer offerings had an oh-so-subtle peep toe and were worn with oversized trousers and blazers. As for street style, top model Gigi Hadid recently wore a pair of two-tone penny loafers with a fall-toned suit set, while her sister, Bella, wore them with a micro mini skirt and white ankle socks.

Gigi Hadid is seen on October 14, 2022 in New York City. (

(Image credit: Gotham/GC Images)

Bella Hadid is seen in the West Village on June 19, 2022 in New York City

(Image credit: Gotham/GC Images))

Ahead, Lee breaks down exactly what you should look for in a pair of loafers for fall and winter 2023, including which colors and styles are trending and her favorite pairs you can snag for under $300. Plus, the Marie Claire editors share their favorite loafer picks.

What to Look For When Buying Loafers

“I would definitely recommend black for your first pair,” says Lee, noting that shoppers should also decide if they want to buy a pair of chunky or sleek loafers. “Both are equally timeless and easy to wear with just about any outfit,” Lee says. 

The Loafers Trending This Season

“Prada has been a leader in this category for Moda Operandi for several years, but there's certainly a bigger offering from other designers this season,” says Lee about the most popular loafer brands right now. While Prada's chunky loafers (opens in new tab) are an investment-worthy staple at this point, Lee says that other brands are “giving their loafers special design detail to differentiate them from other pieces on the market,” citing Chloe’s stitching, Bottega Veneta's chain-style loafers, and Miu Mui’s “classic penny loafer detail.” 

Affordable Loafer Brands

“At the $300 and under price point, we offer some great options from Aeyde (opens in new tab), Ganni (opens in new tab), and St. Agni (opens in new tab),” says Lee. “The Aeyde style has actually been so popular that it has sold out multiple times, and we are leaning into additional color options in the pair for the Spring/Summer 2023 season.” 

The Best Loafers for Women

Meet the Experts

Jamie Lee
Jamie Lee

Jamie Lee is a footwear buyer at Moda Operandi. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, she spent half of her life in Korea and the other half in the United States. She began her buying career at Dover Street Market New York. She now lives and works in NYC.

Julia Marzovilla
E-Commerce Editor

Julia Marzovilla is the E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she covers everything from the latest beauty and fashion launches and sales to celebrity outfits and news. She also creates shopping guides that span every vertical on the site. Prior to joining the Marie Claire team, she contributed similar shopping stories to sites such as Bustle, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Who What Wear, and STYLECASTER. In her spare time, Julia can be found creating shopping guides for all of her friends, spending too much money on yet another pair of black boots, and cooking in her far-too-small kitchen.