The “tassel loafer” is a staple of adult leather shoes that boasts a high level of popularity among loafers. There is a wide range of choices, from American, Italian, and British brands, which are the originators of the loafer. In this issue, we focus on the tassel loafer and introduce recommended items while delving deeper into its history.
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More than just a decorative loafer?What is a tassel loafer?
A tassel loafer is a decorative loafer with a tassel (=tassel) on the upper. It is said that this type of loafer was not born as a mere decorative loafer, but was born out of the trend toward lighter clothing that accelerated in the U.S. after World War II. The tassel loafer appeared to fill a gap in the market at a time when the younger generation was looking for a shoe that was not as formal as a lacing shoe, but still looked more elegant than a coin loafer. From the time of its birth, the tassel loafer had the role of a “neat and comfortable shoe. The following section will explain how the design was born along the history of the shoe.
The story behind the birth of the tassel loaferIt all started with an actor's custom-made shoes
The tassel loafer was born when Paul Lucas, a Hungarian actor, acquired a pair of lace-up shoes in Europe that had a tassel on the end of the shoelaces. Lace-up shoes with tassels at the end of the laces. Lucas liked the design so much that he commissioned Farkas & Kovacs, a shoe store in New York, to manufacture them in 1948. The prototype was visually appealing but not comfortable, so he asked another shoemaker to improve it. The prototypes were not comfortable enough, so he asked another shoemaker to improve them, and they all turned to Alden.
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The best of laces and loafers!
It is important to note in this history that Alden did not copy the original shoe in its entirety. Alden retained the idea of the original lace-up shoe, but converted the base of the shoe to a slip-on type. The shoelace was redesigned as a new, more sophisticated shoe by placing it around the opening along with a tassel, with the idea of changing its role to that of decoration rather than function. The tassel loafer thus achieved a unique position that had the elegance of a lacing shoe and the ease of a loafer at the same time. The finished product officially joined the Alden lineup in 1950.
Brooks Brothers also made a markIn the 1950s, the market expanded in the context of Ivy fashion
The reason why the tassel loafer became a standard fashion item was not only the novelty of the design but also the vitality of the market. 1950s In the 1950s, coin loafers were already popular with college students in the U.S., and the tassel loafer was introduced as a “more mature loafer. Alden quickly expanded its market with the introduction of multiple materials and colors, and gained support from Ivy League students and sophisticated adults in urban areas. Then Brooks Brothers, a leading American shoe manufacturer, entered this market. 1957 saw Brooks Brothers introduce its own model, which became a rage among Ivy League and other students on the East Coast of the United States. This established the tassel loafer’s cultural position in the context of American traditional.
A cognitive shift as the shoes of the elite
The tassel loafer was all the rage among students, especially in the Ivy League. Graduates of prestigious universities, many of whom went on to careers in law and finance, preferred to wear tasseled loafers as leather shoes that were as formal as laces and as light as loafers, maintaining the style they wore on campus, and they came to be known as “lawyer shoes” or “Wall Street shoes. Since Japan is strongly influenced by American culture, businessmen wearing tassel loafers are often seen in Japan, but they are basically positioned as casual shoes, and it is mainly in Japan and the United States that they are actively worn as business shoes.
Next, we pick up tassel loafers from recommended brands!
10 recommended tassel loafers
Recommended Tassel Loafers 1
As mentioned in the section above, the Alden brand is absolutely essential when discussing tassel loafers. This time we picked up the 563 tassel loafer, one of the brand’s most classic models, with a design that is both original and complete, and made of Horween cordovan, a pair that is truly filled with Alden’s charm.
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Recommended Tassel Loafers 2
If you are looking for a tassel loafer, the Cavendish by Crockett & Jones is an option that you cannot miss. This model is sure to be utilized both on and off the street, and features a sharp silhouette. The round toe with just the right volume gives it an elegant look.
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Recommended Tassel Loafers 3
Church’s classic tassel loafer, the ” Tiverton. It features a casual design like a tassel attached to a coin loafer, and the serrated, jagged detailing on the tongue creates a rugged mood that tickles men’s hearts. The design goes well with denim, etc., so if you want to wear them in a rough, casual coordinate, why not choose tassel loafers with this kind of design?
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Recommended Tassel Loafer 4
The Tricker’s “Elton” tassel loafer has a sharp silhouette with a narrow last and a heavy spec sole. The suede leather with a soft and smooth texture creates an elegant atmosphere. Trickers is famous for its country boots, but the unexpected choice of ” Tassel Loafers by Trickers ” may be a strong option in the sense of launching one’s individuality.
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Recommended Tassel Loafers 5DOUCAL'S 'GLASGOW'
The Italian leather shoe brand ” DOUCAL’S” was founded by Mario Giannini in 1972 in Marche, Italy. It is known for developing items with a mode tail that incorporates trends while focusing on classic, standard shoes. The tassel loafers picked up from Ducals feature ribbon-like saddles with tassels attached. The combination with tassels gives a dressy impression.
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Recommended Tassel Loafers 6Loake 'BRIGHTON'
Over 130 years after its founding, the company continues to produce the most beautiful, comfortable, and durable men’s shoes in England. In 2007, Loake was granted a Royal Warrant as a British Royal Warrant Brand. The BRIGHTON from Loake is a classic tassel loafer that represents the brand. The thick-soled clear rubber sole is the most distinctive feature, providing the wearer with not only excellent durability but also flexibility and ease of walking.
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Recommended Tassel Loafers 7SANTONI 'Andrea'
The shoe brand “Santoni” originated in Italy. While many of the leather shoe brands that are considered top-notch in both Italy and the U.K. have a history of more than 100 years, Santoni is known as a brand that has joined the top brands in less than half that time. The loafers we picked up this time are a pair of loafers with a great presence, using polished leather with a dazzling enamel-like luster. The wide cuff and rounded heel give the loafer an elegant impression.
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Recommended Tassel Loafer 8Dr. Martens 'ADRIAN'
This shoe brand was created in 1945 by Klaus Martin, a doctor in the German army. The “bouncing sole” with air cushioning and the yellow stitching circling the sole are well-known. The bouncing sole and yellow stitching details are still present in the ADRIAN tassel loafer model. The combination of quilted and tasseled decoration creates a design with impact.
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Recommended Tassel Loafer 9
G.H.BASS is a long-established American shoe brand known as the first brand in the world to make loafers. Coin loafers, which Michael Jackson is said to have patronized, are famous, but tassel loafers are also a popular brand. The sharp round toe and iconic moccasin stitching of G.H.BASS go well with the tassel design. The elegant design is different from coin loafers.
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Recommended 10 Tassel LoafersBerwick '4340'
Spanish leather shoe brand Berwick is popular for its high quality and affordable price. Although they are Spanish shoes, Berwick’s tassel loafers are made with the original Alden tassel loafers in mind, and are a voluminous gem that exudes a distinctly American mood. The upper is made of polished binder calf, which has a luxurious luster as if it were cordovan.
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↓Click here for past articles on tassel loafers.
