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Late summer, I started thinking about what I needed in my closet to complete it for fall and winter. I have built a pretty great wardrobe, but there are still some holes or mediocre pieces I want to replace with magnificent. And one item I saw a need for was a dressy loafer.
Searching for a Chic Wide Width Dress Loafer
I have wide feet that are also high volume, with thick ankles and strong legs. This makes shoe shopping a challenge. Even if not looking for comfort and support, it's hard to find shoes that fit let alone not look dreadful on me and with my clothes. Loafers, an incredibly popular shoe that is sold everywhere, has been especially difficult to find.
It's Nearly Impossible to Find Stylish Wide-Width Women's Loafers
When it comes to wide width shoes, so many are... ugly. There, I said it. They're ugly and even though I need the width and desire support of comfort shoes, I just can't with so many of the styles. It's like the designers are effing with us, trying to just ruin a perfectly good shoe with drekery.
You'll find plain black leather loafers in wide widths have white stitching to make them less versatile and less dressy. If they're all black, it's a mix of suede, leather, and something random like snakeskin or mesh. Or it has a crackle finish, contrast sole, weird topstitching, or the fakest cheesiest looking hardware. And if they're plain, they're made of fake leather and have no support or cushioning.
If the shoe is simple or, dare I say, chic, even though it's cut for a wide foot, it's designed for one that is dainty, demure, and mindful. The vamp (the top of the shoe) is so low I practically have pinky cleavage on the side, and the top of my foot is pouring out, creating that popped biscuits effect.
What I Desire in a Dressy Loafer:
- I want the shoe to be glossy black leather or patent leather.
- I want the whole shoe black - sole, stitching, sides, you name it.
- If it's a leather loafer, I want it to be real leather, not manmade, so I can polish, resole, and maintain it for years.
- The only exception is patent leather, which may be manmade.
- If the shoe has any embellishment, it needs to be very classic and not steal the spotlight from my outfit.
- I want a menswear vibe instead of a delicate feminine touch. These are to wear with wide-leg jeans, work trousers, and pantsuits.
- No lug sole or heel over 1/2″
- A full shoe, no mules or D'Orsay or whatever.
The Loafers I Tried:
This fall and winter, I have tried the following:
- Franco Sarto 'Carolyn' Low Tassel Loafer: This gorgeous shoe that I couldn't fit my foot into. Too narrow and too low profile. Tried both silver and black patent, hoping the first pair was unusually narrow.
- Vionic 'Uptown': I actually own a pair in bone with a white sole. They're comfortable right out of the box, but not dressy, and I only like them with ankle pants because of the soft snubbed toebox.
- Sam Edelman 'Loraine': Sam Edelman shoes are not wide enough for my feet, and if by chance they do fit, they aren't comfortable. Like Nike shoes, I feel Sam Edelman shoes are designed for a completely different species of foot than what I have.
- Bandolino 'Lindio' Bow Loafer: I almost kept this shoe, but it curved inward while my foot is straight, and the vamp was so low that you could see my foot even with full-length pants. It looks structured online but in person the toebox is as snub as a pair of Keds.
- SARTO by Franco Sarto 'Eda': Too narrow for comfort and didn't look as dressy in person.
- Birdies 'Starling' Velvet Flat: I felt the velvet may look chic with cocktail pantsuits. Unfortunately, Birdies are shaped differently from my feet. I also got the popped biscuits effect on top.
- Margaux 'The Louisa': I ordered these on October 1st. They are still back-ordered, and well, the holiday season is here, and I needed shoes for my outfits!
Then Macy's had a big sale that included shoes and I ordered the Bandolino loafer mentioned above and this loafer from Anne Klein. I never tried Anne Klein shoes before and didn't know the brand offered wide widths. I worried the hardware would look cheap and I didn't love the shoe was all manmade fabrics but I was willing to try.
I Finally Found a Chic Wide Width Dress Loafer!
I tried, and I succeeded! While the Bandolino was packed up five minutes after slipping it on, this Anne Klein loafer is the only one I've tried all year long that is worth keeping.
Anne Klein 'Korrie' Loafer
This patent loafer is structured, but not too manly or Frankenstein. It's comfortable right out of the box. It's a high enough vamp that I can wear socks and not have the socks show unless I cross my legs, but they also look cute with no visible socks (sadly, no removable insoles for my favorite no-show sock hack; these are my favorite no-show socks).
The hardware isn't cheap looking, the style looks classic, and best of all? The shoe was on sale for less than $60. I like them so much I went on a hunt to see if I could find them in other colors:
I am still looking forward to my Margaux loafers, whenever they arrive (current estimate is mid-January). Margaux shoes are fantastic quality and they are real leather, so they can be maintained for years. But with these wallet-friendly Anne Klein wide-width loafers, I'm set for comfort and style through the holidays and into the new year!
