Men's Patent Loafers

This is the high-shine rack. Four pairs in five carry a patent finish, and it sits on faux leather about as often as on leather. That matters less than you would think, because the shine is what people see.

See also: Patent Loafers, Men's Loafers, Men's Wedding Loafers, Black Loafers, Golden Loafers, Women's Patent Glossy Loafers

When a glossy loafer is the right call

It is a narrow shoe in terms of occasions, and inside that range nothing else does the job.

1. Black tie and weddings
   A glossy black loafer is the one slip-on that holds up next to a tuxedo. Comfortable in a way an oxford never is, and it looks intentional rather than lazy.
   See also: Men's Wedding Loafers

2. Evenings out
   With plain dark pants, the shoes carry the whole outfit and nothing else has to try.
   See also: Black Loafers

3. Not for the office, usually
   In daylight a high shine reads as formal wear. A matte leather or a suede pair is the better weekday answer.
   See also: Men's Leather Loafers, Men's Suede Loafers

Looking after a glossy pair

A damp cloth and a dry one, in that order. No cream, no brush, and no polish, which dulls the surface rather than feeding it.

The one thing a glossy finish does not survive is a crease. Where the shoe bends hard, the shine breaks and that line is permanent. Buy the pair that fits and use shoe trees between wears.