Slip-ons vs espadrilles: what is the difference and what to wear with them? What are loafers, and how do they differ from other types of shoes? How are slip-ons different from moccasins?

Slippers and loafers are two comfortable types of shoes that are equally relevant for men's and women's accessory wardrobes. They are somewhat similar, but each has its own interesting story. Let's see how sleepers differ from loafers.

Definitions

Sleepers- This is a model of semi-closed shoes with a flat sole with a protruding tongue in the instep area. They do not have fasteners and may have a small heel.

Sleepers

Loafers- another type of semi-closed shoes with quiet running and without fasteners. They also have a small tongue. Traditional loafers are decorated with tassels made of the same material as the shoes themselves.

Comparison

All the differences between sleepers and loafers are related to the original functions of each of these two types of shoes.

Sleepers were historically created as a home accessory for aristocratic men, which resulted in increased comfort and soft soles. Nowadays, women wear them with pleasure. The appearance of the products has hardly changed over several centuries. Sleepers are still made from textile, velvet, soft leather or suede. They can be without a heel or have a very small one. And the most popular type of decor for women's sleepers are all kinds of embroidery.

Loafers were originally created as a component of a man's everyday accessory wardrobe. They were quite comfortable and did not look as strict and formal as shoes with laces. Nevertheless, loafers were made from leather, suede, but never from textiles. And this is one of their serious differences from sleepers. Loafers were not intended for comfortable walking on home parquet; they were intended as street shoes, so the sole has always been and remains quite rigid to this day. In addition, all loafers have a small heel.

Slippers are the most comfortable shoes for an informal outing. Nowadays, women even wear loafers to work as part of trouser and skirt looks. But the strictest dress code still recommends that men wear “loafer” shoes, as their name translates, only outside the office environment.

Table

The table will help you see more clearly what the difference is between sleepers and loafers.

The huge assortment of women's shoes pleases and puzzles at the same time. Oxfords, brogues, loafers, sleepers, derbies - these are the names of women's shoes, which in a record short time have gained popularity among fashionistas all over the world. What are their features and differences? This is worth looking into.

Oxfords - British practicality

Oxford shoes appeared more than 200 years ago and were considered traditionally men's shoes. Only at the beginning of the 20th century women tried them on, appreciating their convenience and practicality. These shoes were suitable for a sporty style, but over time the model has undergone some changes. What oxfords are there now? Oxford shoes belong to the classics, made of soft and smooth leather.

Fashion changes, and therefore, this model can be combined with various things, not necessarily classic and formal.

The “casual” style will be an excellent option for girls who prefer this model of shoes. Experimentation and imagination allowed designers to make Oxford shoes accessible to everyone. To make shoes, natural and artificial leather, textiles are used, various decorative elements are used, in the form of rivets and rhinestones.

Brogues - comfort comes first

A distinctive feature of these shoes are the holes that allow the skin of the feet to “breathe”. Perforations may be located in the toe box, along the seams, or throughout the entire upper of the shoe. A huge variety of models of such shoes allows you to choose the most suitable one for any fashionista. Women's brogues can be with heels, platforms, flats, with or without lacing. They are easy to combine with different styles. For this type of shoe, genuine leather or waxed suede is used. There are economy class models that feature brogues made from artificial materials. Shoe manufacturers offer not only classic colors, but also brogues in brighter colors.

You can combine brogues with jeans, trousers, and long sweaters.

The model looks great with a laconic dress or short skirt; this option will be appreciated by self-confident girls.

Loafers are a stylish addition to your look

Loafers with heels are classic style shoes. The decoration of the shoes is considered to be a tassel or bridge located on the front. Available in various colors. They are made from genuine patent leather and suede. Loafers are varied with heels that come in low, mid and stiletto heels.

Shoes with heels are stylish, modern and suitable for everyone without exception, while only thin people. These are casual shoes that go with almost any outfit.

Popular sleepers

First appeared in England, rich people could afford it. At that time, slippers were considered house shoes. Today this is a popular type of shoe that women wear with great pleasure. The model is semi-closed, without heels, with a tongue at the instep. Sleepers are decorated with various rivets and other elements, which adds originality to the look. These shoes look neat on your feet and are as comfortable as possible.

The versatility of the model allows you to wear sleepers with almost any clothing. They can be combined with light sundresses and dresses, with cropped jeans and shorts, with leggings and a midi skirt. The only thing it’s better not to combine sleepers with is tracksuit.

Derby - naturalness + quality

They are the personification of the English style. The shoes feature a comfortable flat-soled design with a slightly tapered round toe and lace-up closure. The designers worked hard to make the derbies more feminine and added horseshoe heels. The model is made only from genuine leather. Color solutions are not limited to classic options. Designers are experimenting with coloring derby shoes; shoes surprise with rich shades and contrasting colors.

Good afternoon, dear readers! Today we’ll talk about how easily men’s clothes migrate into women’s wardrobes. Designers add a little feminine character to them, and as time passes, no one remembers that the trend was purely masculine. The article will talk about loafers, what kind of model they are, how to distinguish them from others, and what to wear them with.

It turned out that men's loafers look quite stylish on women. You may not understand what kind of shoes we are talking about. Most likely, the name that you are not used to using was confusing. Although this does not mean that such shoes are not in your wardrobe. Let's find out more about these shoes.

Loafers' Shoes

The name loafers comes from the English word loafer - loafer. Probably because putting on these shoes is not difficult: there are no laces or fasteners. They say that sailors wore it when they were ashore without work, that is, idle. Whatever the version of the appearance of the item and its name, we can say with confidence that these were purely men's shoes with characteristic elements:

• hard sole;
• low massive heels (unlike moccasins);
• protruding semicircular seam in the front part: on the vamp and toes;
• without laces (unlike boat shoes).

This is what classic loafers look like (photo).

At a certain point, a model with a characteristic slot appeared, which was a success among students. They inserted a coin into the slot for good luck, which is how the shoes got the name penny loafers.

Perhaps the story would have continued as a purely male one, if women had not become interested in such solid, fairly massive shoes.

Fashionable metamorphoses

If the look of classic loafers remained unchanged, fashionistas would quickly get bored with the shoes. The designers did everything to prevent this from happening. Thanks to their brilliant ideas, women enjoy wearing loafers with fringes or tassels, buckles or bows.

The shoe material is varied: leather (matte, patent leather, crocodile), suede, nubuck, velvet. Moreover, fashionable women's loafers can boast of new, not typical for men, characteristics:

• Color. Along with the classic black, brown, cognac loafers today there are blue, green, red, yellow, pastel and metallic shades.

• Heel. In the men's, he was exceptionally short and solid. Fashionable women's shoes come with medium and high heels.

• Silhouette. Women's loafers without heels appeared, as well as with modified soles. Options: wedge, platform, tractor sole.

Because of such striking metamorphoses, loafers are at the peak of popularity.

Male with female

A reasonable question is what kind of women's clothing will be combined with shoes, which, although they change, retain powerful, strict, masculine lines. We choose successful sets.

With trousers and pantsuit

A win-win! The most successful pairs are with classic trousers with creases, jeans, chinos, skinny cropped models. The latter are a particularly advantageous option, since they expose a woman’s ankle, and it looks fragile and graceful against the backdrop of solid shoes. Loafers are indispensable for a business lady and will be successfully paired with a trouser suit.

With a skirt

The model will suit skirts of any length. Mini will play on the contrast of romantic femininity with harsh masculinity.

Among the medium-length options, you can choose skirts: pencil, A-line, sun, pleated.

Maxi skirts look great with loafers, as long as the length is correct and the stylish shoes are not hidden under the hem.

With a dress

Loafers enhance the femininity of this wardrobe item. Plain A-line dresses, sheaths, and shirt tailoring are suitable pairs for such shoes.

With shorts

An excellent option for summer walks. With loafers, you can wear shorts of different colors and fabrics, including denim, cropped or longer models, and breeches. White loafers go well with shorts.

Complementing the top

The sets listed above will perfectly complement blouses, shirts, knitted sweaters, cardigans, jackets, and coats. A plain top can be combined with large jewelry.

Who to wear

First of all, for fans of business style and casual style. However, you can fit loafers into other looks, for example, retro. In warm weather, shoes are worn on bare feet; in cool weather, they are worn with tights. Socks are not excluded either.

For women of short stature and short legs, it is better to abandon low heels in favor of medium and high ones. The shoes look heavy on thin aristocratic legs, so this is not a suitable option for fragile creatures. Loafers are not friendly with large feet either, as they can visually enlarge them even more.

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Now you can explain to anyone: what kind of shoes are loafers? If you don't have it in your wardrobe, you might want to consider purchasing one. After all, objects with a masculine character are suitable for feminine use.

We will talk about other interesting metamorphoses of fashion more than once on the pages of my blog, so subscribe and read amazing stories about women's wardrobe.

Ekaterina Malyarova

The modern shoe market is represented by a mass of different models and varieties. Whether it was once: shoes, sneakers, boots and flip-flops. Now you can’t even remember the names, not to mention the differences between one type of shoe and another. Today we’ll talk about loafers and slip-ons, their advantages, disadvantages, differences and wearing rules.

What are slip-ons?

This popular shoe option, designed specifically for surfers, but over time has conquered all the fashionistas and fashionistas of the world. Slip-ons are lightweight sports shoes. Most reminiscent of sneakers. However, they do not have lacing and are lightweight and flexible. They do not limit the mobility of the legs at all.

Main characteristics of slip-ons:

1. The upper is made of thick textile, although fashionable new items can be made of leather;
2. The dense, solid rubber sole guarantees high-quality shock absorption and a high level of comfort;
3. They guarantee breathability, making them comfortable in hot weather;
4. Elastic side inserts make it easy to put on and take off shoes;
5. Easy to care for, easy to clean and even washable in a washing machine;
6. Low cost;
7. Wide range of colors.

The shoes are convenient, comfortable and have almost no drawbacks, except that they do not fit into business and evening ensembles, but this is typical for all sports shoes.

At the same time, slip-ons are appropriate in both women's and men's wardrobes, and the models themselves are not very different from each other. Is it possible that the men's versions have a more restrained decor and a slightly more elongated toe to balance the shape. Women's models look neater, more rounded and may have a higher platform.

What to wear with slip-ons?

This is a universal shoe option, most appropriate for sports and walking looks. This type of shoe goes well with almost all wardrobe items, except perhaps evening dresses and business suits.

Slip-ons with jeans

They look most impressive and appropriate in looks with jeans, both with skinny models and with boyfriends. You can complement this look with a light sweater or T-shirt, a T-shirt, a blouse in a neutral shade or to match your shoes. Light, pastel-colored coats, capes and jackets are suitable as outerwear.

Slip-ons with tapered trousers

No less successful looks are achieved with tapered trousers, leggings and joggers. You need to complete the look with a loose top. For more stylish casual looks, an interesting combination of a trouser suit with slip-ons, for example, a fashionable leopard print, is suitable. But for such an aggressive print, you need to select ensembles in subdued colors. Black and white contrast also looks great.

Slip-ons with skirts

The latest fashion trend is to combine dresses and skirts with sports shoes. And for light, feminine looks, slip-ons are ideal. They look lighter and neater than sneakers and perfectly emphasize the femininity of their owner. Pastel-colored shoes are perfect for mini and maxi. Also, dresses and skirts look good with classic black, white and monochrome slip-ons.

What is the difference between loafers and slip-ons

Loafers and slip-ons have only one thing in common - they are shoes without heels! However, if slip-ons are sports shoes with a textile upper, then loafers are shoes made of leather or leatherette with tassels. They can be considered a type of shoe.

The main difference between loafers and slip-ons is style; they are suitable for business looks and do not belong to the category of sports shoes! By the way, instead of a tassel, various bows, brooches, ribbons, etc. can also be used as decoration for loafers.

Slip-ons and loafers differ in a number of other characteristics: loafers have a small heel, while slip-ons are made on a solid sole. The difference between loafers and slip-ons is also the absence of elastic.

The difference between slip-ons and other shoes

We've sorted out the differences between slip-ons and loafers, but this type of shoe has its own characteristics compared to other types of shoes:

• They differ from sleepers in their sporty style, as they come from sneakers and are made of textiles, while sleepers are made from suede, nubuck or leather and originated from English house slippers;
• They differ from sneakers and sneakers in the absence of any type of fasteners and lacing;
• They differ from espadrilles primarily in the rubber sole (in espadrilles it is made of rope), as well as in the production material (it is denser), and the presence of lining material. Also, espadrilles can have lacing and fastenings, an open toe or heel, which is not found in slip-ons;
• They differ from Snickers by the absence of a platform, which in Snickers can reach 7 - 10 cm, in Slip-ons the platform is a maximum of 3 - 4 cm and is the same along the entire length;
• This type of shoe differs from moccasins in the absence of decorative elements and the presence of elastic bands, which are not found in moccasins, as well as the classic shape with a closed toe and heel, while moccasins can also be made in the form of slippers without a backdrop or with an open toe.

What to wear with loafers

In terms of combinations, loafers are universal, they give so much to the imagination that it’s simply impossible to stop! Suitable for everyday and business looks, they look good even with evening dresses.

Loafers look especially impressive in combination with skinny trousers or mini pants. This allows you to emphasize the slenderness of your legs and add sophistication to the ensemble. Considering that loafers are spectacular shoes, decorated with tassels and other decorative elements, the top should be chosen as simple as possible, in a restrained color scheme.

Loafers look great with skirts, adding a special twist to a light, romantic look. They balance the look well with full skirts or bell skirts.

The ideal pair for loafers is cropped or dress pants in a business style. Thanks to this style, the look will be very stylish, comfortable and simply incredibly attractive.

How to distinguish longwing from splittoe, wingtip from flattoe and deserts from chukka. Comprehensive descriptions of types of shoes with photos and a brief history.

In one of our last letters, we talked about the men's dandy style, which includes Oxfords, Derbys and. We have received many letters from you with questions and thanks for an interesting topic. Today we will tell you even more about the intricacies of the origin and structure of this or that type of shoe, to make it easier for you to navigate dozens of names. We hope you find this dictionary useful. You might even find new types of shoes to add to your collection. If you have questions about the models described, or would like to know about any other type of shoes, leave your comments on social networks, and we will definitely tell you more!

Oxfords

Oxford shoes- shoes with closed lacing, in which the side parts of the boot (tops) are sewn to the main part (vamp) with a single seam. Even with the laces untied, the Oxfords retain their shape, expanding at the tongue area by only a couple of centimeters.

The ancestors of the Oxfords were called "Balmorals" after Balmoral Castle in Scotland. They were ankle-length boots with a side button closure. In the 19th century, they became popular among students at Oxford University, which is how they got their modern name. Balmorals became slightly lower, buttons were replaced with laces, and eventually became modern oxfords. There are several subtypes of Oxfords, which differ in construction and design.

Adelaide (adelaide oxfords)- Oxfords, decorated with a U-shaped seam that runs from the vamp along the eyelets (holes for laces).

Balmoral Oxfords- oxfords, decorated with a horizontal seam dividing the ankle boots and side parts of the back into two parts. Often these parts are made from different types of leather. A similar seam was found on the Balmoral, the ancestor of the Oxford, and gave this subspecies its name.

Spectator (spectatoroxfords)- Oxfords, in which the toe, heel and ankle boots are made of leather of one color, and the vamp and tongue are made of another.

Saddle (saddleoxfords)- oxfords, which have a trim in the form of a leather stripe that runs from the outer boot through the lacing to the inner boot. The strip is most often made of a material of a different color or texture.

Holkat (whole cut oxfords)- Oxfords, in which the upper part of the shoe is made of a single piece of leather, without parts or seams.

Derby

Derby shoes- shoes with open lacing, in which the side parts (tops) are sewn to the main part (vamp) with a short side seam. The model is easy to put on: when the laces are untied, the side parts move freely to the sides.

Open-laced shoes owe their appearance to the Earl of Derby. The representative of an ancient British family could not stand classic shoes, which were difficult to put on due to the rigid closed lacing (like those used in Oxfords). Wanting to get rid of the pain, the Earl of Derby modernized the classic shape by sewing the side parts (tank boots) over the main one (vamp) with a short side seam. Thus, the model became free and comfortable.

Derby is sometimes called Bluchers (bluchers) in honor of Marshal Blucher. According to legend, the soldiers of his army wore boots with open lacing, which made their movement easier. The difference in the structure of modern Derbies and Bluchers is small, but it exists. In Derby boots, the boots and vamp are separate parts sewn together. In Bluchers, the vamp and boots are a single whole, made of a single piece of leather. Already on top of the one-piece ankle boots, facial boots are sewn on, and others have done it.

There are several subtypes of derby, which differ in construction and design.

Moktoe (moctoe derby)- derbies, in which a protruding seam, similar to a side, is laid along the vamp between the ankle boots. Moktoes were originally working-class shoes, and an extra piece of leather was stitched to the top of the shoe to protect the toe from abrasion. Today, functionality has been lost, and the seam serves as a decorative element. Externally, the shoes vaguely resemble moccasins.

Buck (buck derby)- derbies made of suede or nubuck, which are characterized by a rubber or crepe sole, often in red or brick colors.

Longwing bluchers- Bluchers, which have “wings” - a separate layer of leather, stitched from toe to heel. The detail wraps the shoe on all sides.

Split toe derby- derbies, in which a seam is laid between the boots through the vamp and toe, and the toe is divided by a vertical seam. There are two subspecies of splittoe: Algonquin and Norwegian.

Algonquin (algonquinsplittoe derby)- Split with a flat inner seam. Norwegian (Norwegiansplittoe derby)- split with a protruding external seam.

Saddle derby- derbies, which have a piece of a different color sewn onto their boots.

V-front- derbies, in which the laced boots form the letters V.

♦♦♦ OXFORDS - BOOTS WITH CLOSED LACING TYPE. ​DERBY - BOOTS WITH OPEN LACING TYPE ♦♦♦

Brogues

Brogues- shoes with decorative perforations in the form of small holes. They originated from the shoes of Irish farmers who worked in marshy areas and suffered from constantly wet boots. According to legend, farmers began to make holes in their shoes so that water would flow out faster and the shoes would dry faster. Over time, perforation lost functionality and became decorative. Brogues can be contrasted plaintoe(plain toe - “smooth toe”), that is, shoes that do not have brogues. Depending on the number of perforations and their location, brogues are divided into quarter brogues, semi-brogues and full brogues.

Quarter brogues have a number of small holes only along the seams.

Semi brogue decorated with perforations along the seams, as well as a medallion pattern on the toe, cut with a straight line.

Full brogues have holes located along the seams, on the toe, as well as on the figured cutting line of the toe in the form of the letter “W”. Full brogues are also called wingtype (wingtip).

♦♦♦ OXFORDS AND DERBIES - TYPES OF FOOTWEAR. BROGS AND NON-BROGS (PLAINTOE) - TYPES OF FOOTWEAR DECORATION.

BOTH OXFORDS AND DERBIES CAN BE BROGES. BOTH OXFORDS AND DERBIES CAN BE PLAINTOE ♦♦♦

Captoe

Cap toe- a model with an additional layer of leather on the toe and with a separate seam separating the toe from the vamp. There are two subspecies of captoe: punchcap and stickcap.

punch cap- a type of captoe, in which a separate seam separating the toe from the vamp has brogue stitching, but the model itself is made entirely of smooth leather.

Stitch cap- a type of captoe in which the seam on the toe has double stitching and the model is made of smooth leather.

♦♦♦ KAPTOE - A TYPE OF DECORATION OF FOOTWEAR BY STITCHING THE TOE. BOTH OXFORDS AND DERBIES CAN BE CAPTOES ♦♦♦

Monkey

Monks (monks, monkstraps)- low shoes without lacing, in which the side buckles play the role of a fastener. They owe their appearance to the monks who wore comfortable shoes with buckles instead of laces. Literally translated from English, “monkstraps” means “monk buckles.”

There are varieties with one buckle (monk strap) And two (double monk strap). Due to the rigid shape of the shoes, the buckles play more of a decorative role, since the shoes stay on the foot even when unfastened.

Loafers

Loafers- shoes that combine a slip-on upper with a shoe sole. The history of loafers begins in the 1930s in Norway, when shoemaker Nils Gregorijusson Tveranger created comfortable shoes for farmers based on moccasins and called them “Aurland moccasins” (Aurland is a locality in Norway). The original model soon became in demand in America, and the Spalding shoe dynasty from New Hampshire (USA) began making their own versions of the Aurland moccasins, giving them the name “loafer” - “loafer”. Loafers are a model invented for lazy people and an idle lifestyle: there is no need to bother tying laces, and also experience inconvenience due to the rigid shape of the shoe.

Depending on the decorative elements and shape of the top, they are divided into penny loafers, loafers with a buckle, with tassels, with fringes, Venetian loafers, Belgian loafers and slippers.

In 1934, American shoemaker George Henry Bass added a leather strip with a slit to his popular loafers. When the model came into use among students, they found a use for striped decor: they inserted a penny coin into the hole, which is where the “penny loafers” came from. Perhaps they did this for purely decorative purposes, to emphasize the uniqueness and originality of their couple, or perhaps the penny coin served as a talisman for good luck.

Buckle loafers appeared in the 1930s, when the Italian designer Gucci supplemented the usual model with a snaffle-shaped buckle - parts of a horse harness. Loafers with a buckle buckle loafers (buckle - “buckle”) have the second name Gucci loafers after the name of their creator.

owe their appearance to the American actor Paul Lucas, who, on one of his trips abroad, was captivated by the tassel ties on his loafers. He ordered several similar pairs for himself. The worldwide spread of tassel loafers was facilitated by Ivy League students, for whom tassel loafers became an unspoken uniform.

Kiltie loafers- a model decorated with wide leather fringe. Loafers are named kilts by analogy with the Scottish national skirt, which vaguely resembles leather strips. The fringe of kilts can be supplemented with a buckle, a tassel, or be an independent detail.

A model that is distinguished by a complete lack of decoration. Loafers with a smooth top were called “Venetian” for their resemblance to the laconic form of Venetian gondoliers.

Belgian loafers- model decorated with a small bow. This detail was added by designer Henry Bendel, and he borrowed the shape from the Belgian shoemakers from whom he learned the craft.

Slippers- the “laziest” version of loafers, reminiscent of house shoes. Slippers are shoes with a classic loafer sole and a soft, unadorned upper, often made of velvet or tweed. The protruding tongue with rounded edges can be decorated with embossing or embroidered monograms.

Deserts

Ankle-high boots made of suede (most often), nubuck or leather with a rubber sole. The name is owed to the British soldiers who fought in them in Egypt during World War II, as well as to Nathan Clark, who established production in peaceful conditions under the Clarks brand, after whom this species is often simply called clarks. A distinctive feature is two holes for lacing on each side. If there are more of them, then the desert boots turn into chakka.