What are loafers and how to wear them: men's and women's outfits
Loafers are low, lace-free shoes you slip on without untying anything. Here is where the style came from, how loafers differ from moccasins and mules, and how to wear men's and women's pairs — with Babylon nubuck and leather models as examples.
In short
Loafers are low shoes without laces or fastenings, with a moccasin-style upper and a separate sole with a small heel. They go with jeans, chinos, cropped trousers, skirts and smart-casual suits. Babylon, a Ukrainian footwear brand with its own factory in Kharkiv, makes men's and women's loafers from genuine nubuck and leather with genuine leather linings.
What are loafers?
Loafers are low shoes without laces or fastenings that you slip on in one move. The upper is made like a moccasin's — with the characteristic seam around the toe — but the sole is separate, firmer and usually has a small heel.
The modern loafer took shape in the first half of the 20th century. Reference sources mention the Wildsmith house shoes from London and the Norwegian Aurland shoe, which combined the Native American moccasin with local footwear. In the 1930s the American maker G.H. Bass began producing a version called Weejuns — from "Norwegians". The name "penny loafer" appeared in the 1950s, when students tucked a coin into the slot on the strap.
Babylon is a Ukrainian footwear maker with its own factory in Kharkiv, operating since 1997, where shoes are made by hand. Its range includes men's loafers and women's loafers in genuine nubuck and smooth leather.
What types of loafers are there?
Loafers are usually told apart by the decoration on the vamp — the leather piece across the instep. The three classic types are penny loafers, tassel loafers and horsebit loafers with a metal bar.
- Penny loafers — a leather strap with a slot across the vamp. The most versatile type; the men's Flex-13 and Flex-11 are penny loafers.
- Tassel loafers — two leather tassels on the vamp; they appeared in the 1950s.
- Horsebit loafers — a metal bar shaped like a horse's bit across the instep, a style popularised by Gucci. Babylon's women's Sky-14 also has a metal detail on the vamp.
Loafers also differ by sole: thin classic, light and flexible "driving" soles, and chunky lug soles. Babylon loafers have light, hard-wearing or flexible rubber soles for everyday city wear.
How are loafers different from moccasins and mules?
Loafers, moccasins and mules look alike but are built differently. A moccasin's sole and sides are one piece of soft leather; a loafer has a separate firm sole and a heel; a mule has no back at all.
| Feature | Loafers | Moccasins | Mules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sole | Separate, firm, small heel | Soft, one piece with the sides | Varies |
| Laces | No | Sometimes decorative | No |
| When to wear | City, smart-casual office | Walks, leisure | Warm weather |
| Babylon example | Flex-13, Sky-14 | Breeze-14 — lace-up moccasins | — |
What to wear with men's loafers?
Men's loafers go with straight jeans, chinos and tailored trousers ending at or just above the ankle. Black leather pairs suit a smart-casual suit; nubuck pairs suit relaxed spring and autumn outfits.
Three reliable combinations:
- Jeans + shirt or polo. Straight dark jeans with a small turn-up, a white shirt or polo and the navy nubuck Flex-13. An everyday basic.
- Chinos + sweater. Beige or grey chinos, a fine-knit sweater and nubuck loafers in the same tone or a shade darker.
- Smart casual. Straight wool trousers, a blazer without a tie and the black leather Flex-11. Its product page says it works for both business and casual looks.
What to wear with women's loafers?
Women's loafers go with jeans, wide-leg trousers, midi skirts and trouser suits. Nubuck pairs in warm neutral shades — grey, brown, beige — fit easily into a basic wardrobe.
- Straight or cropped jeans + white T-shirt or shirt — the simplest look, with the grey Sky-14.
- Wide-leg trousers + trench coat — the nubuck Sky-13 on a flexible sole.
- Midi skirt + sweater — loafers with thin socks or tights in a matching tone.
- Trouser suit — classic penny loafers instead of heels for the office.
The Breeze-14 lace-up moccasins are a more relaxed option for jeans and summer dresses. For sneakers, see "What to wear with sneakers".
What season are loafers for?
Loafers are for spring, summer and warm autumn days. Nubuck and leather pairs with a genuine leather lining are comfortable from a cool morning to a hot afternoon, but they are not made for slush or snow.
- Spring and autumn. Closed penny loafers in nubuck or leather, with thin socks. Babylon also lists such models in its "Demi-season" section.
- Summer. Light pairs on flexible soles, backless mules, worn barefoot or with no-show socks.
- Rain. Treat nubuck with a water-repellent spray in advance; in a downpour, choose other shoes.
What loafers does Babylon make?
Babylon's loafers are made from genuine nubuck and smooth leather with genuine leather linings. For men there are the Flex penny loafers; for women, Sky loafers and Breeze moccasins. There is also a separate section of women's suede and nubuck loafers.
- Men's Flex-13 loafers — genuine nubuck, genuine leather lining, light hard-wearing sole.
- Men's Flex-11 loafers — black genuine leather inside and out, soft leather insole.
- Women's Sky-14 loafers — 100% genuine nubuck, genuine leather lining, flexible rubber sole.
- Women's Sky-13 loafers — 100% genuine nubuck, genuine leather lining, flexible sole, handmade at Babylon's own factory in Kharkiv.
NubuckMen's nubuck loafers Flex-13Lining: Respira — Italian lining leather; sole: lightweight and hard-wearing€95View 
LeatherMen's leather loafers Flex-11Lining: Respira — Italian lining leather; sole: lightweight and hard-wearing€95View 
NubuckWomen's nubuck loafers Sky-14Lining: Respira — Italian lining leather; sole: flexible rubber€72 €93View
NubuckWomen's nubuck loafers Sky-13Lining: Respira — Italian lining leather; sole: flexible rubber€72 €93View
Almost every Babylon model is made on its own last, so compare your foot length with the size table on the product page before ordering — see "How to measure your foot at home".
How to care for nubuck and leather loafers?
Clean nubuck loafers with a dry nubuck brush and protect them with a water-repellent spray; wipe leather ones with a damp cloth and treat them with leather cream. Let a wet pair dry naturally, away from radiators.
Nubuck doesn't like water: treat the pair with a nubuck protector spray before the first wear and keep repeating it regularly.
How nubuck differs from suede and how to look after both: "Nubuck vs suede" and "How to clean nubuck and suede".
Where to buy Babylon loafers?
Order on the English version of the store: Babylon ships worldwide for free from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and international returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days of delivery. In Ukraine, you can also try loafers on in the showrooms in Kharkiv (128 Sumska St. and 50/52 Pushkinska St.) and Kyiv (18 Pavlivska St.).
FAQ
What are loafers, in simple terms?
Loafers are low, lace-free shoes you slip on in one move. The upper is stitched like a moccasin's, but the sole is separate and firmer, often with a small heel. Babylon makes its loafers from genuine nubuck or smooth leather with leather linings, for example the men's Flex-13 and the women's Sky-14.
What is the difference between loafers and moccasins?
In a classic moccasin the sole and sides are one piece of soft leather, so it bends like a glove and suits light, casual walks. A loafer borrows the moccasin's upper but has a separate, stiffer sole and a small heel. That is why loafers keep their shape better and work with tailored trousers.
What to wear with men's loafers?
The easiest option is straight jeans or chinos ending at or just above the ankle, with a plain shirt, polo or sweater. Black leather loafers such as Babylon's Flex-11 also work with a smart-casual suit. Nubuck loafers such as the Flex-13 are the more relaxed choice for spring and autumn.
What to wear with women's loafers?
Women's loafers go with straight or cropped jeans, wide-leg trousers, midi skirts and trouser suits. Nubuck models such as Babylon's Sky-14 and Sky-13 pair easily with beige, grey, white and denim. In cooler weather, wear loafers with thin socks or tights in a matching or neutral tone.
Can you wear loafers with socks?
Yes, both ways work. In summer most people choose no-show socks that stay hidden below the heel line. In cooler weather and with cropped trousers, visible socks are fine — plain ones matching the trousers or a deliberate contrast. Just avoid thick sports socks: they make the loafer tight and spoil the look.
Where can I buy Babylon loafers and how do I choose the size?
Order on babylon.net.ua: Babylon ships worldwide for free from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and international orders can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery. Almost every model is made on its own last, so compare your foot length with the size table on the product page of the pair you choose.
Together with Nataliia Nikitska, he founded Babylon in Kharkiv in 1997 as a wholesale leather footwear manufacturer; since 2015 the brand has sold directly, in its showrooms and online. Today its own factory has 25 craftspeople and 2 technologists and makes 5,000–10,000 pairs a month. All articles by this author
Sources and notes
- Materials and model names are taken from Babylon product pages: Flex-13, Flex-11, Sky-14, Sky-13, Breeze-14 (as of 6 October 2026).
- Definition and history of loafers (Wildsmith, Aurland, G.H. Bass Weejuns, penny loafers, Gucci): "Slip-on shoe", Wikipedia.
- Moccasin construction: "Moccasin", Wikipedia.
- Mules as backless shoes: "Mule (shoe))", Wikipedia.
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