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After the heyday of sneakers, people are now turning to leather shoes for their footwear. Among them, coin loafers are attracting the attention of fashionable people. They are not as fussy as laces, yet they are more elegant than sneakers. They have been at the core of style in every era, crossing over the contexts of American, French, and British fashion. American icons such as Michael Jackson, Paul Newman, and John F. Kennedy, as well as European celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana, have worn a pair in their own styles. To choose a classic is to look beyond the fashionable to the value that remains. In this article, we look back at the history of the coin loafer and introduce thirteen classic pairs that you should keep in mind.
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As the mood of footwear shifts from sneakers to leather shoesOf all leather shoes, the coin loafer is the one to watch out for right now
While sneakers have long been the mainstay of footwear, we are beginning to see a change in that landscape as well. OTOKOMAE has been continuously reporting on the growing popularity of loafers and the trend toward a return to leather shoes through snaps taken by visitors to Pitti Uomo and Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week. through snaps of visitors at Pitti Uomo and Milan Men’s Fashion Week. Hybrid loafers with sneaker soles and even derivative designs derived from clog sandals have appeared, and the expression of loafers has become more and more diverse. Overseas, Esquire, GQ, WSJ, and other publications have reported on the reevaluation of loafers, and it is precisely because of this battle between the best of the best that we at OTOKOMAE would like to take a fresh look at the classic coin loafer.
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With the growing popularity of loafers, in addition to standard variations such as bit loafers, tassel loafers, and vamp loafers, in recent years, hybrid types that cross loafer designs with sneakers and even clog sandal-derived designs have appeared, expanding the options considerably. It is precisely because of this that the coin loafer is the first thing we would like to focus on. They are the most authentic, can be worn with any outfit, and are connected to both current moods and classic contexts. Looking at this pair, it is easy to see why they remain a staple.
Origin and History of the Coin LoaferBorn in Scandinavia in the first half of the 20th century, it came to the United States and became an icon of Ivy style!
The origin of the coin loafer can be traced to Scandinavia in the 1920s. Norwegian shoemaker Nils Gregoriussen Tverangel is said to have developed the ” Aurland moccasin ” around 1926, inspired by North American moccasins and local fishermen’s shoes. This shoe became popular not only in Norway but also in Europe and the U.S., and became an indispensable source for the loafer lineage. Later, the American men’s fashion magazine “Esquire” featured the Ulrand moccasin and introduced them as “the shoes worn by Norwegian farmers in the loafing area before the milking parlor. In the early 1930s, the magazine also collaborated with Rogers Peat, a well-known New York company, to boost sales, and sought out U.S. manufacturers to manufacture the shoes with a view to securing a stable supply.
In this vein, the Spalding family of New Hampshire marketed slip-ons under the name ” Loafer,” and the designation spread. Then, in 1936, G.H.BASS, a long-established U.S. shoe manufacturer, introduced “Weejuns. They featured a design with a cutout in the saddle portion, which became the prototype for today’s style called the coin loafer.
In the 1950s, the coin loafer grew to symbolize the East Coast student culture represented by the Ivy style. G. Bruce Boyer, a men’s clothing critic who knew the style at the time, wrote in his book, “In the 1950s, there was hardly a middle-class young man in America who did not own a pair of oxblood-colored penny loafers. The book also states
Reference: G. Bruce Boyer, ‘ Elegance: A Guide to Quality in Menswear’ (1987), W. W. Norton & Co. Inc.
Photo by Super Stock/Afro.
Since the 1950s, the coin loafer has become a symbol of U.S. East Coast student culture, and its influence has spread across the seas. In Japan, they became popular among young people as a must-have item for the Ivy look, and in Europe, brands in various countries added their own interpretations and refinements. In this way, the coin loafer became not only a symbol of student culture, but also a universal leather shoe that fits in with both casual and business wear.
Coin loafers have been loved by celebritiesWorn by Michael Jackson in the U.S. and Princess Diana in the U.K.
An essential part of the history of the coin loafer is the attire of celebrities who symbolize their times. Michael Jackson is known for wearing G.H.BASS “Weejuns” in his music video for ”Thriller,” which made his name known around the world along with the King of Pop’s famous song. It should not be overlooked that many other icons from artists to actors and politicians, including Elvis Presley, Paul Newman, and John F. Kennedy, have worn coin loafers.
Their popularity spread beyond the United States to Europe. Audrey Hepburn incorporated loafers in her film ‘ Paris Lovers,’ and Princess Diana often wore them on the feet of her casual, no-nonsense style. What their outfits from different eras and regions have in common is that the coin loafer was not just a staple shoe, but a compelling addition to their respective styles.
Features to know when choosing coin loafers. !Multiple designs exist in saddle design
At first glance, all coin loafers look alike, but it is the design of the “saddle” on the instep that greatly influences the impression. This part, which has a slit to insert a coin, is the key feature of a coin loafer. The three main types of saddles are the “half saddle,” the “beef roll,” and the “full saddle. Each has its own expression and compatibility with the outfit, so this is what you need to keep in mind when making your choice.
The simplest type with a neat appearanceHalf Saddle
The most basic type with both ends of the saddle sewn along the upper. Since the design does not assert itself too much up front, it is easy to create a clean and neat look even among coin loafers. It is a basic detail that does not make you feel peculiar.
A slightly casual design with a distinctly American lookBeef Roll
Both ends of the saddle are sewn together as if wrapped in thread. The name is derived from the fact that it looks similar to the string used to tie roast beef. The style is closely associated with the student style of the U.S. East Coast, and has a more casual look than most coin loafers.
A somewhat rare type with relatively few examples of adoptionFull saddle
The saddle extends long at both ends and covers close to the sole. The design around the instep is easy to see, and even in its simplicity, this type gives a sense of expression to the foot. This type is not as common as the half saddle or beef roll, and there are somewhat fewer examples of its use.
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