A few weeks ago, we had received directives to put PENNIES in our displayed loafers. I could not have agreed more with the visual merchandisers. Growing up in a strong filipino culture, loafers were a must among the men, women, & children. My parents and grandparents told me that in the Philippines, the loafer was fast, easy, and looked good with the traditional formal wear. Since the weather is so warm in that area of Asia, people would kick them on and off all day. An image I will always have is of my late grandfather Nilo coming in the from the airport wearing his black penny loafers, blue pilot pants, a beige Member's Only jacket, his pilot cap, & his black suitcase..
While putting the pennies in, the team quickly whipped out Google on the iPad to delve into the history of the Penny Loafer. It was interesting to discover, from a variety of sources, that the loafer was among the most popular shoe styles for boys and girls in the 1960's. It was hip to put a penny in the slit of the vamp, or a dime if you wanted to be practical. The cost to use a pay phone in those times was a dime. As there are many brands pumping out unique and comfortable loafers today, the two most popular brands back then were Sebago (currently a main player in the boat shoe game) & Bass Weejuns.
From children to adult celebrities, loafers and specifically penny loafer became widely accepted as a fashion staple. Influential people like Steve McQueen and president John Kennedy were often seen in them. The popularity in fashion has evolved from a variety of brands taking the traditional slip on and adding their own flare, whether that be sparkles, studs, or suede. From a well tailored suit to casual day wear, the loafer has survived the ever changing world of fashion.
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| Source: LA Times |
In a GQ Summer of 2011 article Will Welch said, "You can definitely pull of penny loafers. How do I know? Because Michael Jackson managed it with white socks, and JFK made it work while playing golf" (http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201106/mens-shoes-loafers-summer). I personally have only one pair that I wear for semi formal occasions such as a evening out downtown or dinner. My older brother has embraced the look and has adapted it into his own fashion. No on to my own "client" and the cleaning of my brother's loafers after he wore his new loafer in the Pacific Northwest rain without waterproofing them. I saw them one day in by the front door and I instantly felt the pain. No 2 month loafer should look the way they did. By following my same restoration and cleaning tips, I was able to set the life of these back a few weeks.
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| Starting point |
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On the left: reconditioned and just in need of a quick buff and shoe trees
On the right: Buffed and edged dressed to cover the scuffed outsole
You're welcome bro |
If you are looking for other stylish penny loafers and trendy shoes for women, you could shop for women’s lace up shoes or even moccasins for women online only at coucap.com
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