21 best loafers for women to buy now and wear forever
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I'm about to let you in on a fashion editor secret: a pair of the best loafers for women will work harder than any other shoe in your wardrobe. It's true – when we want to look put-together but need to be comfortable, loafers are always the answer.
Fashion trainers have their casual uses, of course, and kitten heels are a chic desk-to-dinner choice, but, despite what Carrie Bradshaw would lead you to believe, they're not that easy to get around in. Have anyone else's heels fallen victim to tube station escalators, or is it just me?
No, loafers are just about the only footwear you can rely on to look smart in while schlepping from press day to collection preview. Or point A to point B, for those of you who don't work in fashion.
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So are loafers trending for 2026? Truth be told, while they're very much present on the runways this season (see Celine and Victoria Beckham above for proof), they never really went anywhere.
Gucci’s loafers were a staple accessory during their 1970s heyday, and are still synonymous with the House to this day. Worn sans socks or tights, they can be louche or preppy, and their gender-free mood makes them a hit with men and women.
When it comes to silhouettes for this year, though, we've recently seen slip-on versions, backless silhouettes and stack-heel iterations on everyone from Dakota Johnson to Hailey Bieber. Not forgetting chunky loafers, which were first made cool in the mid-'90s, and with fashion's current retro obsession, they're all the rage now too. Designers like Prada have been leading the pack. And as for how to wear loafers? Our editor's have the intel…
How we tested the best loafers for women 2026
Team Glamour are pros at picking the best new season buys, and not just for aesthetic reasons. When it comes to the best loafers for women, we wanted to put the styles to the test that tick all the boxes – from sleek penny loafers to suede iterations.
To do this, we wore them for an entire week at work to check how comfortable they were, how they looked, and how they compared to other shoes. See our top picks below styled on Lian, Shani and Sophie, but rest assured that the other styles featured in this round-up are just as rated.
- romina introini/@romilux
- luca wetherby-matthews/@lucawetherbym
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Sascha Leather Penny Loafers
Lian Brooks styles her Dune loafers with a black mini skirt, polo top and white socks.
- romina introini/@romilux
- luca wetherby-matthews/@lucawetherbym
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Liv Loafers
Shani Cohen styles her Free People loafers with a belted blazer dress and white ankle socks.
- romina introini/@romilux
- luca wetherby-matthews/@lucawetherbym
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Dune Grisella Suede Penny Loafers
Sophie Cockett styles her Dune loafers with a faux fur coat and brown jeans.
Why you can trust me
For the past five years, it has literally been my job to be clued up on the latest in the world of fashion. I've not only attended all the press days, fashion shows and showrooms to see the latest drops, but I've been covering them all, too. I advise readers where to shop for capsule wardrobe essentials, which is exactly the category loafers fall into. It also helps that, as a 6ft tall woman, comfortable yet chic footwear is exactly my forte. So not only have I heard about which loafers are the best, I've actually probably been wearing them.
Now you know they go with everything, find the 21 best loafers for women below.
For more from Glamour UK's Senior Commerce Writer, Georgia Trodd, follow her on Instagram @georgiatrodd and freelancer Hattie Cotmore on Instagram @hattiecotmore.
- Sizes: EU 36-41.
- Style: Lug-sole penny loafers.
- Material: Leather.
Save when you shop for the best loafers with these Free People discount codes at checkout.
- Sizes: UK 6-12.
- Style: Penny loafers.
- Material: Leather.
Save when you shop for loafers with these Dune discount codes at checkout.
- Sizes: UK 3-9.
- Style: Moccasin loafers.
- Material: Suede.
- Sizes: UK 3-9.
- Style: Driving loafers.
- Material: Suede.
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- Sizes: UK 4-8.
- Style: Two-tone loafers.
- Material: Leather.
Save when you shop for the best loafers with these Lounge discount codes at checkout.
- Sizes: UK 3-8.
- Style: Penny loafers.
- Material: Leather.
Save when you shop for loafers with these Marks & Spencer discount codes at checkout.
Topshop Addie Real Suede Mule Loafer
- Sizes: UK 3-9.
- Style: Loafer mules.
- Material: Suede leather.
- Sizes: UK 3-8.
- Style: Penny loafers.
- Material: Cow hair.
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- romina introini/@romilux
- luca wetherby-matthews/@lucawetherbym
Dune Grisella Suede Penny Loafers
- Sizes: EU 36-41.
- Style: Moccasin penny loafers.
- Material: Suede leather.
- Sizes: EU 36-42.
- Style: Chunky penny loafers.
- Material: Leather.
- Sizes: UK 4-7.
- Style: Penny loafers.
- Material: Leather.
Duke & Dexter Wilde Cherry Leather Loafers
- Sizes: EU 36-41.
- Style: Two-tone loafers.
- Material: Leather.
Save when you shop for the best loafers with these Selfridges discount codes at checkout.
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Georgina Leather Penny Loafers
- Sizes: UK 2-8.
- Style: Penny loafers.
- Material: Patent leather.
Topshop Coby Ruched Toe Loafer
- Sizes: UK 3-9.
- Style: Moccasins.
- Material: Polyurethane.
Save when you shop for the best loafers with these ASOS discount codes at checkout.
- Sizes: UK 3-8.
- Style: Block heel loafer.
- Material: Leather and rubber.
- Sizes: UK 2-9.
- Style: Penny loafers.
- Material: Faux leather.
Save when you shop for loafers with these H&M discount codes at checkout.
- Sizes: UK 2.5-9.
- Style: Chunky.
- Material: Calf leather.
- Sizes: EU 36-42.
- Style: Tassel loafers.
- Material: Suede.
Save when you shop for loafers with these & Other Stories discount codes at checkout.
Church's Robin Glossed-Leather Penny Loafers
- Sizes: IT 36-42.
- Style: Brogued penny loafers.
- Material: Leather.
- Sizes: UK 2-9.
- Style: Monk shoe loafers.
- Material: Leather.
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- Sizes: UK 3-8.
- Style: Two-tone lug-sole boat shoes.
- Material: Leather
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What are the different types of loafers?
This is where things get complicated unless you know what to look for. The different types of loafers are…
- Penny loafers: these feature space for – or often come with – a penny in the shoe's vamp.
- Horsebit loafers: which feature a horsebit buckle across the vamp.
- Slipper loafers: these are completely smooth and free of tassels/embellishments.
- Tassel loafers: which have a tassel at the vamp.
- Loafer mules (or backless loafers): these have no backs, so your feet slip straight in and out.
- Lug-sole loafers (or chunky loafers): which are heavier and have lots of grip.
- Moccasin loafers (or driving loafers): these have a ruched/stitched edge.
- Kilt loafers: which feature a kilt or skirt trim at the vamp.
- Two-tone loafers: these are self-explanatory; the vamp is a different colour to the rest of the shoe.
- Boat shoes: which have a tie at the vamp and are a casual form of loafer.
Are loafers on trend for women?
Yes! Always! This season (SS26) we've seen loafers on the runways of Victoria Beckham, Celine and Miu Miu.
