Are black loafers frumpy or cool?

[CoffeeOpinions]

I am new to the style and beauty board, and I see a range of opinions on here about all things S&B, but I thought I'd ask my question here and garner some thoughts!

It's about flat shoes - black loafers, with a gold embellishment on the top (e.g. chain or snaffle, as in from a horse's bridle). I see younger models wearing these shoes in online advertisements, and I'm sure I've seen young women wearing the shoes in real life and looking smart/cool/good.... but I worry about looking frumpy! I'm 41. Does the level of frumpy vs cool/stylish depend on the specific brand of the shoe, or something about the shape? I live in London, and I work in the arts.

Here are a few links to the sort of thing I mean. If anyone has any insight on how to choose the least frumpy version for my age, do share!

Black Dune leather with chain
https://www.dunelondon.com/goldsmith-chain-trim-leather-loafers-black-0076510780004484.html

Black Dune suede snaffle loafer
https://www.johnlewis.com/dune-glenniee-suede-comfort-snaffle-loafers-black/p111138960?size=EU40&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJWO7bcNKeHh3EpntNrtdJ1X48SN3C_r0NX0nIvBuWKb2t5HQbTELCxoCNQMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Black Russell Bromley snaffle
https://www.russellandbromley.co.uk/loafer/123953?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5v2wBhBrEiwAXDDoJQeCrIvrOfbUuVkZejmiy8q38bgpMGrd4l1PQCp8yq-rsgFtuy1b-RoCFNkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I just couldn't.

School shoes from the 80s. They look particularly naff on blokes with short jeans and no socks.

If you're going patent, don't forget to lick your finger and wipe any muck off if it's carpet time.

They are definitely in style at the moment. Cocobeautea on instagram shares some great outfits including them.

Those are hideous. I hate clumpy shoes. They make my feet look huge and I don't need the extra height.

I recently bought loafers for the first and last time and they instantly aged me 20 years.

Far more interesting comfortable flats exist.

Am very interested in this subject. I like loafers, and DD, who is a reasonably cool and professional 25 year old wants some nice ones for her birthday. She'll wear with her usual clothes of slip dresses, minis and mum jeans i expect.
What are the more interesting flats @VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia ? I may want to seek them out for DD..... are they mary janes? They seem to be everywhere at the moment

Can you give me some ideas please.
I really dislike chunky shoes, they make my feet look huge.
I hate pointed shoes as well.
I need to wear orthotics.

And I need to try shoes on, buying footwear online doesn't work for me.

I know this is a tall order

I don’t like any of the ones linked to in the OP, they are all frumpy imo.

I love a chunky loafer and wear them a lot to work. I also have those R&B ones linked above.

Mary-janes, ballerinas, khussa pumps, boots, brogues. Brands: Doctor Marten, TUK, Fly London.

If you're young, tall and slim you can pull them (and everything else) off. If not, they're dreadfully unflattering.

I’ve got these black Dune ones for work
and I do love them. I’m 51, but my Daughter, v stylish - 27 brought the same ones for work. They’re called Grandeur, However, one day not long after I got them I noticed the label still on one and they’re called ‘Gran’ for short 😭😭😂😂 https://www.dunelondon.com/grandeur-metal-trim-snaffle-loafers-black-0076500620103484.html

I like those @LifeisHard73. They look very similar to the ones I already have. I can wear my insoles in them as well.

Fair enough but they are a lot more “trendy “ than the ones the OP posted. Obviously people can make other choices and don’t have to follow what’s considered in.

I don't do "trendy", but I don't want to look last century either. I think try too hard trendy at my age (65) looks rather tragic. I prefer to nod to current style rather than slavishly follow fashion if you see what I mean.

I have a pair from Mango with a chunky sole. I can't wear them with jeans they look a bit strange and remind me of my dad's penchant to wear formal shoes with his denims, tucked in formal shirt and tie. 😂😂😂

I wear mine with cropped cigarette pants fishnet knee highs under and a black fitted cashmere polo neck or Oxford shirt.

Lots of compliments on them but I work in a young office and they are very fashionable at the moment. I hate Ballet flats, I have over pronation when I walk, so it's a nice alternative to trainers for me.

Loafers are tricky to pull off. Often they are quite uncomfortable too, with their hard backs. It was ever thus, I had some patent ones when I was about 20 in the 80s. I could only wear them with socks, not knee highs or tights.

In the late 90s I wore some high block heel loafers at my brother’s wedding. They were also patent but still looked frumpy with some outfits. The fashion in shoes turned away from that style shortly afterwards, so all round not a great buy.

I’ve got quite a lot of footwear but only a few pairs that could be described as loafers. I tend to think of them as easily packable shoes for the evening out on a hiking holiday or breakfast shoes in a hotel. Inevitably these are soft backed cheap shoes.

The only loafers I’ve ever found genuinely comfortable are the backless mule style ones. Mine are Jones the Bootmaker from years ago.

The chunky ones look nice, but I fear that they will soon go out of style and they hard to pull off as a style. I work in a library, so I’m keen not to look like a classic librarian 😂

Absolutely, but some of those non chunky loafers are shoes my 95yo gran would wear, I prefer not to have a similar style 😁

This shoe style doesn't fit with my style at all, but I completely agree with @Tinymrscollings and think her description of the dilemma this kind of shoe poses is perfect. Also, for me I associate that shoe with toffs at school in the 80s and I can't get past that.

Like anything it’s going to depend on what you’re wearing them with. If I was going to wear them it would be the original Bass Weejuns probably. ( although I’m not set on a particular style ). I would wear slightly cropped wide legged trousers and contrast socks and a blazer and a tote. Maybe even a baseball cap if I was feeling crazy. Im not sure I’d wear them enough to justify the cost though

https://www.ghbass-eu.com/collections/womens-bass-weejuns?_gl=1fx2k34_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwrIixBhBbEiwACEqDJRj_pwL4gNr_gpyFBGsvG7BtPkOgNcYpQ5APFHEeXBCrrIwflSy-BhoC1a0QAvD_BwE&page=1

My Nan has been wearing these type of shoes my entire life. I think they just look old ladyish, sorry! The platform/chunky ones seem more stylish but it's still a nope from me I'm afraid.

I love loafers ❤

I think coloured ones are easier to pull off in less formal settings - I have had tan and oxblood - as I think black smart shoes can be too remiscent of school shoes (to me).

You do need to have the right outfit for them as well. Eg they go well with straight legged/cropped trousers, or a short skirt with dark tights.

I do prefer a penny loafer myself rather than the embellished ones though, eg https://www.russellandbromley.co.uk/penny/242354?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwrIixBhBbEiwACEqDJdkZV95yGnW3LMOpOGV0AeCu6qeXuPiiLiR7tmHkd45I1LTsJLL9WRoCdfcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I read the other day that the chunky look is out now. So they say ....it's like suddenly skinny jeans are " back in" because Kate Moss was spotted in them the other day. Go with what suits you.

Love those! Edgier than the ones in the OP. Would look great with trousers.

PS. OP S&B is not the place to ask about style, it’s mainly M&S + Clark’s.

I do quite like these ones, although not black:

Wilde Olive + White Penny Loafer - Women's | DUKE + DEXTER (dukeanddexter.com)

I absolutely hate loafers. There's very few, if any people that look good in them.

Too me they are associated with either my school uniform from a couple of light years ago, which was a terrible uniform or my very elderly great aunts choir group.
I don't want to fit in either category, even though I'm as old as cemetery soil!