Women's Loafers

This is the whole women's rack in one place: flats, heels, platforms and wedges, in faux leather, leather, suede and glossy finishes. Three hundred pairs is a lot to scroll through, so start with the shape you actually need, then pick the material.

See also: Black Loafers, White Loafers, Beige Loafers, Women's Tassel Loafers, Women's Mary Jane & Ballet Flats, Women's Leopard Loafers

Start with the shape, not the color

Every loafer here slips on the same way. What changes is how much height it gives you and how dressed up it reads.

1. Flat and classic
   The penny shape with the strap across the front. Lowest, quietest, and the one that goes with the most things you already own.
   See also: Women's Leather Penny Loafers

2. With a heel
   A block or square heel gives you a couple of inches without the balance of a pump. Our recommendation for anyone who stands all day but still wants the height.
   See also: Women's Heel Loafers, Women's Square-heeled Loafers

3. On a platform
   A thick sole under the whole foot. It adds height evenly, so it feels flat to walk in. This is the shape that has driven the last few seasons.
   See also: Women's Platform Loafers, Thick-soled Chunky Loafers

4. On a wedge
   Height that runs from heel to toe in one piece. Steadier than a heel on grass, gravel or a long day.
   See also: Women's Wedge Loafers

5. Soft and unstructured
   Bendable uppers and a thin sole, close to a moccasin. The pair you put on when the day is going to be long.
   See also: Women's Soft Loafers

Then the material

Close to half of this rack is faux leather. It holds its shape, wipes clean, and asks nothing of you. About one pair in six is real leather, which softens to your foot and answers to cream. Roughly one in eight is suede, matte and much less formal. The rest is split between glossy finishes and fabric.

If you are buying one pair and only one, faux leather in black or beige carries the most outfits for the least upkeep. If you are adding to a shelf that already has the basics, that is where suede and color earn their place.

4 mistakes to avoid when buying women's loafers

1. Ordering your sneaker size
   Loafers have no laces to take up the slack. Sizes here run 5 to 11, and if you are between two, the roomier one plus a thin insole beats a pair that grips.

2. Buying a heel you will not walk in
   A square or block heel you can stand on for six hours will be worn ten times more than a slim one you cannot. Be honest about the day you are buying for.
   See also: Women's Square-heeled Loafers

3. Suede as a first pair
   Suede is the nicest material we carry and the least forgiving. Water marks it. Own the easy pair first, then add the suede one.
   See also: Women's Suede Loafers

4. Matching the shoe to the bag
   The shoe wants to talk to the pants, not the bag. Pick the color against the trousers and jeans you wear most, and the rest falls into place.
   See also: Black Loafers, Brown Loafers