Flats and loafers: how to choose

How to choose flats and loafers

Begin with how you will wear them. A slip-on flat or loafer suits days that move between desk, pavement and dinner, while a lace-up front such as the white lace-up round toe flats lets you draw the fit closer across the instep. Look at the opening too: a shallow mouth settles the foot quickly, and a low-cut vamp shows a little more of the foot for a lighter line. If you want a closer, more covered feel, choose a style with a mid-top cut or a higher vamp.

Toe shape changes the mood as much as the fit. A round toe leaves room for toes to sit naturally and reads easy with denim, cotton and knit dresses. A pointed toe keeps the line neat under cropped trousers or a midi skirt, while a square toe gives the front a modern, defined shape. Try the shape against the hems you wear most: a sharp point looks considered with a clean cropped trouser, and a round toe feels at home with rolled denim and tailored shorts.

Heel height and sole matter for long days. A flat 1-3cm heel keeps you close to the ground, and a low wedge raises the step just enough to change your posture without changing the walk. Look at the sole as well: rubber, EVA, TPR and beef tendon all appear in our pieces, and each gives a different feel underfoot. A thick flat sole can feel steady on pavement, while a lighter sole keeps the shoe easy through a morning of errands.

Materials, details and fit

Uppers range from smooth cowhide and soft suede to PU, faux leather and mesh. The cowhide wedge loafers use first layer cowhide, a smooth calfskin with a soft sheen that takes a polish. Suede pointed-toe flats feel soft under the hand, and mesh flats let air move across the foot. If you prefer a clean, even surface, a smooth PU or faux leather upper wipes down easily and holds a neat line.

Linings change the feel and the fit. You will find imitation leather, microfibre leather, cloth, mesh, rabbit hair and faux plush across the range. A microfibre lining feels smooth against bare feet, a mesh lining keeps the inside ventilated, and a rabbit hair or faux plush lining adds warmth for colder days. Where a plush lining is designed for thick socks, the fit note suggests choosing the next size up if you sit between sizes.

Fit notes are worth reading before you choose. Many styles ask for your usual EU size; where the low upper sits close across the instep, a narrow foot may prefer true to size and a wider foot a half size up. A shallow mouth and round toe settle the foot with no laces or buckles to fasten, while a lace-up front gives you something to adjust. If you are between sizes, let the lining and the sock you plan to wear decide.

Details are the quiet difference between a plain flat and a considered one. A slim chain across the vamp catches the light, a buckle gives a traditional shape a modern tone, and hand-stitched seaming traces the upper for a neat finish. Cutout sides let a little air through on warm afternoons. Choose the detail that suits the rest of your wardrobe, then keep the rest of the outfit simple.

How to style them

Start with the hem. A shallow opening looks neat with cropped jeans, tailored shorts or a midi skirt, and it works with bare ankles or a fine sock. A pointed toe keeps the line clean under cropped trousers, a midi skirt or a knit dress. If you wear longer trousers, check that the hem clears the vamp so the shape of the shoe still reads.

Loafers sit naturally with tailoring and denim. A smooth PU pair in black or grey reads quietly with wool trousers and a cotton shirt, while a chunky sole gives a lifted, grounded stance with a long coat or dark denim. A buckle or chain detail adds light at the foot, so keep the rest of the outfit plain. For warmer days, a white lace-up flat looks tidy with rolled denim and light cotton.

Colour can do the styling for you. Black, grey and beige keep the line neutral and make the shoe easy to repeat through the week. Pink, wine red or white gives a small shift in mood without changing the silhouette. If your wardrobe is mostly denim and knitwear, a brown or khaki flat can feel softer than black, while a red or pink pair brings a little brightness to a simple outfit.

Care and storage

Give shoes a little air after each wear. Loosen any laces, wipe the upper with a soft dry cloth if it looks dusty, and leave the pair in a cool, dry place before you put them away. A shoe tree or a light stuffing of tissue helps hold the shape of the vamp and the heel. Avoid direct heat, which can dry out leather and suede.

Clean by material. Smooth cowhide and PU can be wiped with a soft, barely damp cloth, then left to dry naturally. Suede prefers a soft brush in one direction and a little patience; brush gently and let any marks settle before you reach for more. Mesh can be wiped with a soft cloth, and a cloth lining benefits from fresh air rather than a soaking.

Store pairs flat and separately. A dust bag or the original box keeps dust off the upper, and a little space between pairs stops one sole pressing into another. Check the sole for grit after a long walk and wipe it away before storage. For rabbit hair or faux plush lining, air the shoes thoroughly after wear and store them dry.

Standout pieces

• Cowhide Wedge Loafers: First layer cowhide gives the upper a soft sheen, and the low wedge sits on a beef tendon sole that flexes with every step.
• Chain Detail Mesh Flats: The mesh upper lets air move, a chain detail sits across the vamp, and the thick EVA sole with a low 1-3 cm heel keeps the base steady.
• Hand-Stitched Faux Leather Flat Loafers: Hand-stitched seaming runs across the smooth PU upper, while the injection-moulded rubber sole and flat heel keep steps light.
• Cutout Suede-Look Pointed-Toe Flats: A pointed toe and cutout sides shape the soft suede upper, and the low 1-3 cm heel keeps the line neat from morning to evening.
• Suede-Look Pointed-Toe Flats with Rabbit Hair Lining: The pointed suede upper has a low-cut vamp and a rabbit hair lining, with a 1.5 cm rubber sole that keeps you close to the ground.