I Changed My Mind About Belgian Loafers
As many of my readers already know, I’m a big fan of penny loafers, and they are my favorite style of footwear. I also like tassel loafers, but other versions of the loafer are not really my cup of tea. But we evolve through life, and our taste can change, so maybe in a couple of years you might see me wearing Venetian loafers, we never know. I also thought I would never wear Belgian loafers, but here I am, writing about why I changed my mind.
To be honest, I think the shape of most Belgian loafers reminds me of house slippers because of their slim profile and very narrow shape, especially the part where the vamp lowers down in the front and the toebox is narrow and pointy. These details are also the reason why I think they have a very feminine aesthetic. But they also have the appeal of a house slipper because they were originally designed to be worn at home. Their lightweight, unstructured, and flexible design made them ideal as a comfortable indoor shoe, and the small bow gave them a touch of refinement, differentiating them from plain slippers.
And because of that slim, sleek shape, they seem too casual for a suit and too delicate to wear with denim, so it feels like they can only work with more casual tailoring, or if you really want to wear them as house slippers. But for this, I think velvet Albert slippers are a more comfortable and reasonable choice. So they seemed like a very niche product, still, from time to time I saw some interesting outfits where they added a cool touch. But even then I couldn’t really get over the slim, unstructured toebox on most of them, so I never really bothered to research all the options on the market.
Myrqvist Ängby (top) vs Baudoin & Lange Sagan (bottom)
My opinion changed when I saw a pair from Myrqvist, which has a more structured toebox that is a bit wider, rounder, and with a toe tip that is higher than on most other Belgian loafers I’ve seen so far. The shape of the toebox is more like a regular loafer (see side by side photos of Myrqvist vs. Baudoin & Lange). This detail makes all the difference to me. They still have the gentle appeal of Belgian loafers but are built up just enough that they don’t have that feminine vibe, and for me, that was enough to finally decide to give them a chance.
After wearing them a couple of times, I can now confirm I’ve switched sides. Even though this pair has more masculine appeal, I still think they are a niche product. I would still not wear them with denim for the same reason as with all other Belgian loafers: the toebox is too narrow, which makes them too elegant for such casual outfits. But I have worn and would wear them with a suit or more casual tailoring.
Wearing them a few times also changed my opinion about how versatile Belgian loafers can be. I think they can work with a suit and are a great way to make a suit feel a bit more casual - remember this when you don’t want to look too serious. But I also have to say that Belgian loafers only work for me in suede; leather versions are a no-go, as this shape in shiny material just doesn’t work.
Wearing them a few times also changed my opinion about how versatile Belgian loafers can be. I think they can work with a suit and are a great way to make a suit feel a bit more casual - remember this when you don’t want to look too serious. But I also have to say that Belgian loafers only work for me in suede; leather versions are a no-go, as this shape in shiny material just doesn’t work.
Also, tassels, straps, or bows don’t work for me on this model, so I would only ever wear a plain pair. Another important detail: for a Belgian loafer to work for me, it has to have a normal stacked heel, which can be paired with either a leather or rubber sole. For example, Baudoin & Lange use a stacked heel on the leather and rubber-soled Sagan loafer, but their Stride loafers have a flat rubber sole that reminds me of sneakers. Even though the flat sole is more comfortable, it’s a no for me because it creates a hybrid loafer-sneaker aesthetic that I’ve never liked. The same goes for the walker version of the Myrqvist Ängby model.
Let me know what you think about Belgian loafers. And if you’re interested in trying them, I’ve put together a list of the best options available.
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