Loafer Outfits Are Getting a Vibe Shift—See How It Girls Are Now Styling the Shoe

It's breaking free from its buttoned-up prep codes.

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a collage of seven women at fashion week wearing loafer outfits
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Loafers have undergone a fascinating trajectory in fashion over recent seasons. Designers are stretching the shoe beyond its buttoned-up preppy codes to become a vibe shift. On the Fall 2025 runways, loafer outfits from Dior and Calvin Klein saw sheer and sequined gowns styled with lace-up Derbies instead of the expected sharp stilettos. Even Gucci leveled up its iconic horsebit loafer, stacking it on 6-inch platforms and teaming the sky-high shoes with flirty hot pants—a look that would blend better on a dance floor than on an Ivy League quad.

Even when the shoe returns to its prepster roots in 2026, there's a level of playfulness that pushes against its prim and proper connotations. Take, for instance, the boat shoe trend revival that has been scattered across fashion's top runways and city streets: At Copenhagen Fashion Week, for instance, It girls combine weathered moccasins with sheer knee-high socks, plaid button-down shirts, and a dash of irreverence that mimics an exiled member of a country club.

women at copenhagen fashion week wearing brown loafers, red shorts, and a sweater

(Image credit: Future)

Loafers don't fit neatly into a preppy box. A Brogue becomes edgier when worn with a leather bomber jacket and distressed denim. Lug-soled chunky loafers have an inherent edge, but adding a frothy bubble skirt softens the hefty shoe. It's all about how you style loafers this season. And if you need outfit ideas featuring the timeless shoe, you'll find several below, straight from Fashion Month street style.

Go Big on Color

A woman wearing loafers in street style

(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

For those who love riding the high of dopamine dressing, reach for a reliable pair of colorful loafers. Dress them up with complementary vibrant hues, bright prints, or unmissable textures to make an even stronger statement.

Walk on the Wild Side

woman at fashion week wearing a loafer outfit

(Image credit: Future)

A leopard-spotted or cowhide-patterned pair of loafers will make a strong impression. Allow your animal print shoes to take center stage, opting for a basic white T-shirt and a classic corduroy mini skirt as complements.

A Splash of Sparkle

woman at fashion week wearing a loafer outfit

(Image credit: Future)

A foolproof way to elevate a simple pair of black penny loafers? Sequins, of course. Consider a midi skirt covered in cherry red sparkles paired with a no-fuss button-down shirt.

All Black

woman at fashion week wearing a loafer outfit

(Image credit: Future)

Alternatively, you can let the color black work its magic as a naturally sophisticated dark neutral. Start from the bottom, with a chunky block-heeled loafer, a column skirt, and a tailored vest.

A '90s-Era Formula

woman at fashion week wearing a loafer outfit

(Image credit: Future)

For minimalists whose hearts stayed in the '90s, reach for the era's iconic sleek slip skirt. Paired with chunky hardware-front loafers, the silky piece delivers a clean, elegant look.

A Grown-Up School Girl

woman at fashion week wearing a loafer outfit

(Image credit: Future)

Just because there are other aesthetic possibilities, it doesn't mean you have to forget about the loafer's academic associations. Consider a quintessentially preppy outfit of a pleated mini skirt, a blue button-down, and, you guessed it, dark leather loafers.

The Black Top, White Skirt Formula

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing loafers,

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Summer's white skirt outfit idea is worth integrating into winter, too. You'll just want to add in a few cold-weather essentials, like a work-proof blazer and a sleek pair of loafers.

Top-to-Toe Tonal Pieces

A model wears black sunglasses, dark red oversized jacket, dark brown buttoned up shirt, dark brown loose pants, shiny dark red loafer moccasin leather shoes, outside Chloe, during the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025 on September 26, 2024 in Paris, France

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Consider test-driving the chili flake red color trend and style an outfit out of similar warm tones—like burgundy, for reference, which works well with muted mocha browns and more saturated crimson.

With a Suede Jacket

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing loafers,

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The mix of a neutral pair of loafers with a must-touch suede jacket is a classic fall formula. Add a soft, white turtleneck sweater and a coordinating pair of wide-leg jeans to complete the look.

Hero Outerwear

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing loafers,

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A leather jacket outfit doesn't have to look ready to ride. A luxe leather trench paired with a white T-shirt, black trousers, and elegant driving loafers leans more towards sophisticated Manhattanite than motorcycle rider heading out on the highway.

With Sheer Knee-High Socks

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing loafers,

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

The knee-high sock trend, seen on the Fashion Circuit from New York to Paris, might seem intimidating at first. You might wonder, "How can I make knee-length nylons look modern and stylish?" Start simple: Wear a white pair with solid, chunky loafers and a wool mini-skirt in chocolate brown. That's a straightforward way to style socks with loafers.

Call on a Classic Trench

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing loafers,

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

We have a saying at Marie Claire: sometimes the coat is the outfit. When a trench coat is as crisp and classic as the one above, it offers enough to stand alone—though a chunky platform loafer is a welcome touch of added drama.

A Nautical Twist

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing loafers,

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

For the sea-faring fashion girls or those who want to dress like a savvy sailor, consider a boat shoe. Take a cue from this Fashion Week show-goer with classic Sperry Topsiders teamed with paper-bag pants and a sprinkle of trendy plaid. It's an outfit that has a nautical nod but also feels fit for the city.

Pop of Red

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing loafers,

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

If recent years have taught us anything, it's that nearly every outfit can benefit from a splash of red. The look above would work just as well without the cherry-colored crewneck sweater and matching cashmere socks. However, those pieces are thoughtful touches that show this NYFW guest dressed with intention.

Fashion's Favorite Coat Trend

Woman at Fashion Week walking in the street wearing brown loafers, a brown mini skirt, tan socks, a tan barn jacket, and a Louis Vuitton duffel bag.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

What we love most about the barn jacket trend is the juxtaposition it creates when styled with pieces that aren't proofed for real-world labor. A khaki chore jacket teamed with a pleated mini skirt and silver hardware-studded loafers, for instance, is not an outfit you'd wear for hay baling or feeding the chickens—but that's why the unexpected combination works.

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Emma Childs
Emma Childs
Fashion Features Editor

Emma Childs is the fashion features editor at Marie Claire, where she explores the intersection of style, culture, and human interest storytelling. She covers zeitgeist-y style moments—like TikTok's "Olsen Tuck" and Substack's "Shirt Sandwiches"—and has written hundreds of runway-researched trend reports. Above all, Emma enjoys connecting with real people about style, from designers, athlete stylists, politicians, and C-suite executives.

Emma previously wrote for The Zoe Report, Editorialist, Elite Daily, and Bustle, and she studied Fashion Studies and New Media at Fordham University Lincoln Center. When Emma isn't writing about niche fashion discourse on the internet, you'll find her shopping designer vintage, doing hot yoga, and befriending bodega cats.

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