subject: Shoes For Comfort And Business [print this page] While everyone appears to be dressing in a more relaxed style, there are very few garments of men's clothing, not to mention shoes, that have traversed the business and pleasure divide as successfully as the loafer, our good old slip-on shoe. This statement probably needs further clarification, particularly in terms of what constitutes business wear these days. In some industries it is not too unusual to discuss big business deals with someone in beach shorts, and as long as his company will deliver the goods, few people have any issues. But visit any city centre coffee house around midday and you will see that there definitely still is such a thing as men's office wear, the suit and smart leather shoes are still the fashion of choice for most city gents.
Next time you see these business types, take a look at his shoes and you'll notice most of them will be sporting loafers. That may not seem unusual to most though. Firstly, they are the ultimate in fast dressing for the man on the way to his next big deal. Why spend time with fiddly laces when you can slip and go?
Comfort comes a close second. Their comfort is really an essential part of their being when you think about it. With no fasteners to keep them in place, nothing stops the loafer from remaining stationary when you stand up and stride off is the fact that it fits your foot snugly from front to back (perhaps with a little elastic help, but not much). Well made slip-ons seem to feel tight and snug but easy to wear without any discomfort. But when the time comes for them to be removed, there is no great effort required; in fact you can do it standing up.
So how did a shoe that finds such favour in the business world get a name synonymous with idly going about one's day, namely loafing around? Well another description of loafing is herding and milking cattle, and Norwegian cattle loafers used to put on proper shoes to do their daily tasks. In the 1930s pictures were printed in Esquire Magazine of these hard workers doing their job, and suddenly everyone wanted some, leading to American cobblers starting production of what was a very modern and innovative look.
From penthouse suites to college campuses, the humble loafer has made the transition from muddy Scandinavian fields to every layer of modern society. They are one of those items of clothing that is so ubiquitous that it is difficult to understand that they were not always there and in fact that they are relatively modern outside their native land. But that is actually one of the indications of a very successful fashion item: it needs to cross age and time boundaries but adaptable enough to always remain comfortable and ready to wear. And, of course, they bring a welcome new degree of comfort to feet that are on-the-go all day even if they often remain out of site under a desk or counter.
