Upgrading My Loafers
On owning my first pair of Alden shoes and my progression through footwear
Whenever I think about the menswear looks that most inspire me, I always picture the outfits that are complemented by a great pair of loafers. They’re a timeless and quintessential piece of footwear for self-proclaimed sartorialists and menswear hobbyists like myself. For years I dreamed about owning a pair of quality loafers that I could break in over time and really make my own. The problem was that I could never find a pair that looked good on my feet.
My very first loafers were from Nordstrom Rack back in 2012 when I had just started college. I still cringe when I think about those shoes. They were made by Steve Madden, with black suede and white contrast stitching, squared toes, and a high vamp that made me look like a pilgrim fresh off of the Mayflower. To this day I’m not sure what I saw in those shoes but I’m glad they didn’t last long in my wardrobe. I guess I could chalk it up to being young, naive, and wanting to be bold with my fashion choices.
A few years later I had saved up enough money to buy a pair of Randolph Penny Loafers by Allen Edmonds. With a calfskin leather upper in a rich mahogany, they felt much more serious and mimicked the timeless loafers that I aspired to own. But again, they looked off on my feet for some reason. The thing I kept noticing was how awkwardly long and clownish my feet looked in loafers. Not to mention that those Allen Edmonds felt heavy to walk in, and had a narrow upper that was really uncomfortable on my flat feet.
Admittedly I was disappointed because I had spent a lot of money on shoes that I was hoping to keep for the rest of my life. I had to learn the hard way that you can’t blindly trust heritage footwear brands to make timeless and great design, and that not all loafers are the same.
It wasn’t until sometime in this last year that I finally learned what the problem was with my previous loafers - the high vamp. For those who aren’t familiar with shoe design, the vamp is the upper part of the shoe that goes from the toe to wherever the shoe ends on the top of your foot. Having a high vamp means the loafer covers more of your foot, which can visually shorten your legs but lengthen your feet. Vice versa, having a low vamp means the loafer covers a smaller area of the top of your foot, which can make your legs appear longer. That was the reason why my old loafers always made my feet appear awkwardly long and disproportionate to my shorter frame. Nevertheless it was a relief to finally name this problem that I had dealt with for so long. With this new information I was intent on finding a pair of penny or tassel loafers with a low vamp and a timeless shape. Enter the Alden 561 tassel loafers.
The second I tried these on, I could see and feel the difference. My feet looked much more balanced with a low vamp and a rounded, but slightly pointed toe shape. The dark brown color gives them a serious, sophisticated feel while maintaining an earthy warmth that allows me to easily pair the shoes with denim or neutral colored trousers. While I originally planned on purchasing penny loafers, the helpful staff at Alden San Francisco enlightened me on how tassels are better suited for much more casual dress, which I think more accurately reflects my wardrobe as of now. Ultimately I was happy with my decision because the tassels provide such a unique silhouette and give off a sartorial sensibility. At some point later down the line I would love to invest in a pair of penny loafers from Alden.
What I found particularly surprising about my Aldens was how perfectly snug my feet felt while walking around, and how comfortable the arch support was. Having flat feet, I’ve struggled with things like pain and heel slippage, so it was refreshing to wear shoes that really conformed to the odd shape of my feet. Albeit I did have to break in these loafers for about three or four days before they got to that point. While Alden’s coveted shell cordovan tassel loafers were tempting, I opted for the calfskin leather after I learned that it’s much more pliable and breathable. And for someone who has flat feet and lives in the dry heat of Southern California, it felt like the obvious choice.
I’m pretty happy to have finally added a pair of leather tassel loafers to my footwear collection. They fill a very important gap in my casual tailoring, and I can finally pull together a lot of the pieces in my wardrobe. Whether it’s a laidback outfit like a corduroy shirt with high-waisted denim, or something more elegant like my chocolate brown suit, these loafers will be seeing plenty of wear in my wardrobe for a very long time (I hope).
Take care,
Brandon