Women's Heel Loafers

A heeled loafer is the compromise most people are actually looking for: the height of a pump, the walking of a flat. You will find them here in faux leather, leather and glossy finishes, on block and square heels.

See also: Women's Loafers, Black Loafers, Women's Patent Glossy Loafers, Women's Leather Penny Loafers, Women's Suede Loafers

Two heels, two different days

Almost every pair here sits on a block or a square heel rather than a thin one. That is deliberate. A wide base is what lets you keep a loafer on for a full day.

1. The square heel
   Flat-fronted, usually two inches or under, the most stable of the two. Our recommendation if this is your first heeled pair.
   See also: Women's Square-heeled Loafers

2. The block heel
   Rounder and often a touch taller. It dresses an outfit up faster, and it still lets you cross a parking lot without watching your feet.

3. The wedge, if you want more
   When the heel alone is not enough height, a wedge spreads it along the whole sole. Steadier again, and easier on grass.
   See also: Women's Wedge Loafers, Wedge Loafers

What they are made of

Roughly half of this rack is faux leather, a third is real leather, and close to a third carries a glossy finish. Those numbers overlap because a single pair often mixes a glossy toe with a matte body. A handful are suede.

For the office, leather or a matte faux leather reads calmest. For an evening, the glossy pairs do the work on their own and let the rest of the outfit stay plain.

3 mistakes to avoid when buying heeled loafers

1. Sizing up because of the heel
   A heel pushes your foot forward, so a pair that is already loose will slide. Stay true to size and let the strap or the topline hold the foot.

2. Too much height for the ground you walk on
   Cobbles, grates and gravel punish a narrow heel. If that is your commute, a platform or a wedge gets you the same inches with none of the wobble.
   See also: Women's Platform Loafers

3. Forgetting the hem
   A heel changes where your pants break. Trousers cut for flats will suddenly look short. Buy the shoe for the pants you own, or plan on a hem.