Chic Dressers Are Wearing This Wealth-Whispering Flat Shoe to Elevate Their Jeans, Trousers and Dresses This Season
Bored with trainers and ballet flats? Enter loafers. With origins in the workplace and subtly luxurious notes, this is one polished shoe that will make any outfit look more expensive.
If the last few years have been good for anything, it's the prolific rise of the flat shoe, and there is no style in this category that's making more of an impact than the best loafers. Indeed, although we have plenty of excuses to enjoy impractical shoes, kitten heels just don't seem to have the same hold on our wardrobes as they once did.
From Mary Janes to ballet flats, sneakerinas and trainers, it seems like a new flat shoe rises to the top of the trend charts. But there's one timeless style that constantly sits at the top of all our editors' wish lists, and that's loafers.
With their classic charm and minimalist versatility, loafers, from the original Gucci Horsebit Loafer to the more modern, sleek suede Le Loafer style from Saint Laurent, chunky-sole versions from Prada, are still an undeniably appealing addition to our wardrobe.
If you choose wisely and invest in a luxury pair, you can be sure the cost-per-wear will tick down steadily over the many years you own them. But there are also some excellent and more affordable loafers on the high street now, too. Just be sure to opt for real leather, and they'll age gracefully alongside you.
Keep scrolling, and you'll not only find a thorough (trust us, we've scrolled through them all) list of the 23 best loafers out there for 2026, but also some chic loafer outfits to inspire you for the season as well. You're welcome!
Shop the 23 Best Loafers of 2026
- The Best Designer Loafers: Gucci Jordan Leather Loafer, £810
- The Best High-Street Loafers: COS Classic Leather Loafers, £95
- The Best Penny Loafers: Zara Soft Gathered Leather Loafers, £36
- The Best Leather Loafers: YSL Le Loafer Supple, £880
- The Best Patent Loafers: Aeyde Terry Patent-Leather Loafers, £420
- The Best Suede Loafers: H&M Suede Loafers, £74.99
The 23 Best Loafers for Women in 2026 and How to Style Them
Style Notes: These loafers are peak quiet luxury. The slim-fit, horsebit-detailed loafers are recognisable worldwide as a cult shoe.
Material: Leather
Sizes: IT 34 - 42.
Colour/s: Black leather, dark brown leather, dark green leather, beige suede leather, Rosso Ancora leather.
Style Notes: Both preppy and relaxed, these COS loafers are a lesson in easy elegance.
Material: Leather
Sizes: EU 36 - 42
Colour/s: Black.
Style Notes: The ruching is everything.
Material: 100% polyester
Sizes: UK 2 - 9
Colour/s: Black
Style Notes: Supple gathering and the softest suede make this Saint Laurent style a superlative choice.
Material: Calfskin leather.
Sizes: EU 34 - 42.
Colour/s: Bitter chocolate suede, tan suede, beige suede, leopard suede, black shiny leather, black matte leather, burgundy leather, brown leather, cream croc leather
Style Notes: Just look at this colour!
Material: Leather.
Sizes: EU 36 - 42
Colour/s: Burgundy
Style Notes: This square shape is made all the more enviable thanks to the dark beige hue, ruching and suede finish.
Material: Suede
Sizes: EU 36 - 42.
Colour/s: Beige suede, black leather, cream leather
Style Notes: Prada loafers are notoriously difficult to get hold of, so shop them while you can.
Material: Brushed leather
Sizes: EU 34 - 42
Colour/s: Black
Style Notes: As the brand says, "Grandma shoes but make them hot". We couldn't help but agree, making them the perfect lived-in accent that finishes dark-blue jeans and a white t-shirt.
Material: Soft cracked nappa leather
Sizes: UK 3 - 8
Colour/s: Black leather, red croc, espresso leather and ruby suede.
Style Notes: A high street hero, crafted with 100% leather.
Material: Bovine leather
Sizes: UK 2 - 9
Colour/s: Black leather, burgundy leather, chocolate leather.
Style Notes: With a driving shoe-inspired shape, these The Row loafers are apt for both city trotting and country escapes.
Material: Vegetable-tanned calfskin leather
Sizes: EU 35 - 42
Colour/s: White, black
Style Notes: A style so chic it can't be reserved for corporate settings or preppy contexts.
Material: Leather
Sizes: EU 36 - 42
Colour/s: Black leather, burgundy leather, tan leather
Style Notes: Wear with jeans, skirts, dresses—everything.
Material: 100% leather
Sizes: UK 36 - 42
Colour/s: Bitter chocolate suede, tan burnished leather, black leather, leopard
Style Notes: Just add baggy blue or white jeans.
Material: Leather
Sizes: UK 3 - 9
Colour/s: Black, chalk.
Style Notes: Slippers aren't just for the home. Just ask beloved Me + Em and this Venetian-inspired pair.
Material: Italian suede
Sizes: EU 36 - 42.
Colour/s: Chocolate suede, tan suede, light tan suede
Style Notes: This chunkier iteration still remains polished and elegant thanks to the classic penny trim.
Material: Cowskin leather
Sizes: UK 2 - 9
Colour/s: Black.
Style Notes: The square-toe is a design element that so many cult styles feature.
Material: Leather
Sizes: UK 3.5 - 7.5
Colour/s: Black, velvet maroon
Style Notes: Suede and shearling—two trends in one delicate hybrid.
Material: Shearling and calfskin suede
Sizes: IT 34 - 42
Colour/s: Cocoa brown, Desert beige
Style Notes: Fringe is all the rage, and the most effective way to try the trend is through this tassel-esque detail. Crafted from good-quality leather, these will last seasons beyond.
Material: Cow leather.
Sizes: EU 36 - 42.
Colour/s: Black faux-croc, burgundy.
Style Notes: A beacon of style for half a century. With a more tapered toe and structured shape, this silhouette is a more polished and modern iteration of Gucci's beloved loafers.
Material: Leather
Sizes: IT 35 - 42.
Colour/s: Black and white.
Style Notes: These could easily be mistaken for designer.
Material: Polyester.
Sizes: UK 2 - 9
Colour/s: Tan, leopard print
Style Notes: Once again, COS always nails the brief.
Material: Leather
Sizes: EU 36 - 42
Colour/s: Black
Style Notes: Not a typical loafer silhouette—Reformation's oval-shaped loafers emulate the French girl-adored slip-on mule, making it the perfect starting point for your next Parisian outfit.
Material: Soft leather with a faux eel embossed effect
Sizes: UK 3 - 8
Colour/s: Black crinkle patent, espresso crinkle patent, almond watersnake, cavalier suede
Style Notes: With a lug sole and a split toe effect, this pair of Tabis is both the most avant-garde and ageless style you can invest in.
Material: Black glossed calf leather
Sizes: IT 35 - 41
Colour/s: Black
Are Loafers in Fashion?
Of course, given the velocity in which the trend cycle moves, one of the questions I'm regularly faced with as a fashion editor is whether or not loafers are in style. To those ambivalent about the timeless nature of this flat shoe, I always answer with a resounding yes. Indeed, loafers are currently in style, and they show no signs of falling out, either. You really only need to look at how the trend has evolved over the years and the prolific nature of styles like the suede or penny loafer for proof.
How to Style Loafers?
So, now that you've brought your dream pair of loafers, I'm sure you're after inspiration for how to wear them in a way that doesn't fall into the schoolgirl or businesswoman connotations of yore. Without further ado, keep scrolling below for chic outfit ideas to style your best loafers.
Style Notes: Opt for a minimal pair to soften up a more tailored outfit.
Style Notes: Every fashion girl owns a pair of loafers. They're especially handy when used to polish up a pair of jeans.
Style Notes: This is a masterclass in using loafers for a modern tailored look.
Style Notes: While you'd typically see loafers styled with trousers, I find there's something particularly unfussy and cool about pairing them with maxi dresses.
What to Look Out for When Buying the Best Loafers?
The primary element you should factor in when buying loafers isn't cost. While there are tonnes of luxurious options at eye-watering price points, it's true that many a high-street style can provide that same opulent sensation at a more affordable level. That being said, the main concern will always be fabric. Look for loafers made with 100% leather, as these pieces will be the most durable and well-crafted. In turn, the most durable and long-lasting.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.
We regularly try on pieces ourselves—everything from best-selling jeans to designer shoes—and speak to external experts and fashion insiders, staying closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise, and each and every buy we feature has to meet our exceptional taste standards—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.
