Mule mocassin Varenna portée, confortable dès le premier jour

Comfortable loafers for women: 6 criteria to choose well

The loafer has everything going for it: it dresses up jeans as well as tailored trousers and slips on without laces. Yet many women gave up on it after a first pair that was too stiff, rubbed at the heel or tired the soles of their feet. Good news: a comfortable loafer does exist. Here are the six criteria to check before buying.

The essentials

A thick, flexible sole tires you less than a thin, rigid one.
The heel is the sensitive spot: a soft or open back prevents blisters.
A material that's soft from day one beats leather you have to “break in”.
The right size is checked in centimetres, not just by your usual number.

1. A thick, flexible sole

Many classic loafers have a very thin sole: elegant, but you feel every cobblestone. To walk around town or stand for long periods, look for a rubber sole a few millimetres thick that bends in your hand. A treaded sole adds grip on wet ground. We go into detail in comfortable soles: the 5 criteria that really matter.

2. A heel that doesn't rub

The heel counter, the stiff part around the heel, is the main cause of blisters with new loafers. Two solutions: a soft, padded heel counter, or none at all. That's the idea behind the loafer mule: the back is open, the heel stays free, nothing rubs. If new shoes have hurt you before, also read how to avoid blisters.

Camel Varenna loafer mule in profile, open back and thick treaded sole

3. A material that's soft from day one

You often hear that a loafer “moulds” to your foot after a few weeks. That's true of some leathers, but those weeks are rarely pleasant. A material that's soft from the start, like suede or microsuede, hugs the foot straight away. Vegan suede has another advantage: it feels soft against bare feet. To understand the differences between these materials, see vegan suede, microsuede, suede: what's the difference.

4. A shape that suits the width of your foot

A loafer that's too narrow squeezes the toes and tires the front of the foot by the end of the day. Look at the shape of the toe: the rounder it is, the more room your toes have. If you have wide feet, choose a material that softens and avoid pointed toes. Our test how to tell if you have wide feet takes two minutes.

5. The right size, in centimetres

Sizes vary from brand to brand. Measure the length of your foot in the evening, when it's at its longest, and compare it with the size guide. A loafer should leave about half a centimetre in front of the toes. The method is explained in how to measure your foot and find your size.

6. Easy care

A loafer you wear every day should freshen up in two minutes. Suede and microsuede are brushed dry to lift the nap and remove dust. Keep a brush within reach: ours, the suede care brush, is free from 3 pairs.

Our pick: the Varenna loafer mule

We designed the Varenna loafer mule around these criteria: an open back to free the heel, a vegan suede upper that's soft from the first wear, a thick treaded rubber sole, and a penny strap and moccasin stitching for style. It comes in camel, taupe and brown, EU sizes 35 to 44, at €39.99.

Treaded rubber outsole of the Varenna loafer mule