My 5 Favorite Summer Loafers You Can Totally Wear With Shorts

I’m all about boots in winter, but in summer, I am all about loafers. I own a million pairs that run the gamut from dressy box calf to chonky casual, and I’m writing to disabuse you of the notion that loafers are too smart or preppy to wear with shorts and a t-shirt.

It’s true that most of these shoes kind of expect you to wear a collared shirt, but while surveying my mountain of loafers I realized I had a lot of models you can dress all the way down.

So, as part of my mission to bring quality footwear to more guys, I’ve compiled this list of favorite summer loafers that are high quality, resoleable, and still absolutely appropriate with shorts and a tee. I’ll also tell you the criteria to look for when trying to decide if a loafer can be in this category of breezy casual.

Our Top Picks for Casual Men’s Loafers

• Best Summer Loafer: Astorflex’s Dartflex
• Best USA-Made Casual Loafer: Oak Street Bootmakers’ Beefroll
• Best Value Casual Penny Loafer: Meermin’s Sway
• Most Versatile Loafer: Grant Stone’s Traveler
• Best Travel Loafer: Astorflex’s Patnoflex
• Also Consider: Sabah’s Turkish Leather Slippers

How I Picked My Casual Summer Loafers

Here’s what I emphasized when deciding if a loafer is ideal for casual wear in warmer months: the toe shape, breathability, leather, outsole, construction (ie. durability), and overall comfort.

First and foremost is the “last,” or the shape of the shoe. More precisely, dressy shoes are tapered, and casual shoes are roomier. In addition to looking for a wide toe, I look for gentle contouring as opposed to angular looks.

I prefer an unlined loafer for casual summer wear because it’s a more relaxed look, and it breathes better than something with lining. I didn’t disqualify an entry for having lining because it’s simply too common and because most guys still prefer it, so the list has a mix of lined and unlined options.

The product has to be available in more casual leathers: suede is king of the casual summer loafer, but I also included options made of leathers more common in work boots than dress shoes, like pull up leathers.

For this category I value soles made of softer, natural materials: crepe rubber or leather are my favorites. Both are relatively soft and breathable, ideal for this use case.

The construction also matters: I’ll always recommend resoleable footwear when possible, and the perfect summer loafer is resoleable without being too stiff and heavy.

All of these factors come together when discussing comfort. Since we’re leaning on summer wear, I’m emphasizing breathability, lightness, and flexibility over factors like water resistance and durability, but I’ve included a pretty heavy duty option if you’re the kind who always opts for Goodyear welts.

1) Best Summer Loafers: Astorflex’s Dartflex

• Breathable design from leather sole and lack of lining
• Lightweight, flexible build is easy to break in
• Lightweight yet resoleable
• $250

Astorflex is a family owned brand that’s been making shoes outside of Milan since the 19th century and today is stocked by many esteemed retailers, like Leffot in New York City.

Their products range from boots to derbies, but they all emphasize casual good looks, atypically wide toes, and an unusual type of resoleable construction called “ideal stitch” that keeps the shoe light and flexible.

The combination of an unlined upper, lightweight build, leather sole, and above all a nice, roomy toe make these excellent loafers for summer.

The main downside is they don’t come in half sizes. I’m a half size myself and sized down, and I didn’t have an issue.

What I like about Astorflex Dartflex

• Wide and curvy toe works well casually
• Unlined for great breathability
• Leather sole and no midsole make it very breathable
• Made in a family-owned Italian workshop
• Rare balance of lightweight and resoleable

Downsides but not dealbreakers

• I’d prefer a suede option for peak summer vibes
• Despite their summer superiority, some guys just don’t like leather soles
• No half sizes is a bummer

The Best Fit Tip for Loose Loafers

If your loafers feel a bit loose, don’t run and buy heel pads or toe fillers yet. A loafer’s fit actually depends a lot more on the instep, the area on top of your foot near your ankle.

Spend ten bucks on these tongue pads from Pedag, a German brand. I have a low instep and this simple purchase has allowed me to wear tons of loafers and Chelsea boots that were once too loose for me. Total game changer.

2) Best USA-Made Casual Loafer: Oak Street Bootmakers’ Beefroll

• Hand sewn in Maine
• Unlined with a leather sole = great breathability
• “Beefroll” design makes it unambiguously casual
• Rare genuine handsewn construction
• $348

One of my favorite American footwear brands is Oak Street Bootmakers, who have an exemplary record of providing longlasting footwear with timeless good looks.

I’ve worn many of their boots, but I’ve actually seen their loafers in production: They’re made in Maine with genuine handsewn construction, a vanishing art form that results in one piece of leather wrapping under the foot, no seams on the side. That means they do a great job of conforming to the shape of the foot over time—they’re fantastically comfortable and only improve with wear.

The more pronounced stitching of a genuine moc makes it extra casual, as does the wide, flat toe. The reason I love them for summer is they’re unlined and made with a leather sole, so they breathe very well in warm weather.

If you’re picturing a “New England preppy look” with shorts and loafers, these are probably what you envision.

What I like about Oak Street’s Loafer

• This genuine handsewn moccasin construction is a vanishing artform in shoemaking — and very comfortable
• Made in New England with American leather from Horween
• Unlined with a leather sole is ideal for summer

Downsides but not dealbreakers

• No options in suede, my favorite summer leather

3) Best Value Casual Penny Loafer: Meermin Mallorca’s Sway

• Roomier and more structured than most summer loafers
• Excellent value for Goodyear welted shoes with name-brand leathers
• $205

Meermin Mallorca is a Spanish brand well known for solid construction at an attractive price. I visited their New York store to look at their famous Chelsea boots and range of kudu leathers, but they may be best known for their wide range of stylish loafers.

I’ve worn their also casual Nova loafers and Tassel loafers (below), but the new Sway model is the best for casual wear: it has that roomy toe, but it also has more volume than your unstructured summer loafers because it’s lined with sheepskin. That might hamper the breathability just a tad, but you can get them in that summer perfect combination of suede with a leather sole — and with the hardy Goodyear welt build and CF Stead suedes, the value for money is unmatched.

What I like about Meermin’s Sway:

• More voluminous than many unstructured summer loafers
• Available in high quality, name brand leathers
• Terrific value for a Goodyear welted shoe with such reputable leathers

Downsides but not dealbreakers

• UK sizing can be confusing
• They’re lined, which you might not prefer for summer wear (if you want unlined, consider their only-slightly-slimmer Nova loafer)
• A Goodyear welt isn’t the most flexible construction

4) Most Versatile Loafer: Grant Stone’s Traveler

• Fantastically versatile design
• The most impressive range of leathers on this list
• Multiple widths are available, and sizing exchanges are easy
• Very sturdy, Goodyear welted build
• ~$400

The Traveler can look dressy in black calfskin or super casual in suede and Chromexcel. The toe shape is a little rounder than many realize, giving you an “all-rounder” loafer that can handle shorts or a sports coat with equal aplomb.

Grant Stone also offers multiple widths and half sizes, a rarity in this space, and the customer service is great: they’re very responsive to sizing inquiries and can do exchanges and returns lightning fast.

Their particular Goodyear welt build makes these the heaviest and least flexible loafers on this list, but it also means they’re easily resoleable and exceptionally durable. The recent price bump (around $400) reflects the extra labor and materials involved, but you may find it worthwhile if you want loafers that can handle anything.

What I like about Grant Stone’s Traveler:

• Very versatile design that can skew casual or business casual
• Unusually wide range of sizes and widths
• Great customer service and fast shipping
• Offered in a tremendous range of leathers, from classic to playful

Downsides but not dealbreakers

• These made-in-China shoes are expensive compared to others on this list, even the American made ones
• Unusually sturdy Goodyear welt makes this the heaviest (but most durable) loafer on this list

5) Best Travel Loafer: Astorflex’s Patnoflex

• Sometimes called a Venetian loafer or slipper
• Lightweight (the lightest on this list) and unlined — ideal for breathability.
• Simple, lightweight, and extremely light and flexible build
• $198

While the Fastflex is a more traditional penny loafer, I couldn’t finish this list without an honorable mention for this suede slipper that’s often called a Venetian style loafer — particularly since it’s the brand’s bestseller.

The Patnoflex is built to be the ideal travel loafer: It’s the lightest and most flexible on this list of light and flexible loafers, yet it’s still resoleable.

The emphasis on lightness also produces a very breathable build: unlined suede and a leather sole make for the most breathable loafer you’re likely to find. It’s a slipper style, but it has enough structure and quality to wear for plenty of casual-to-smart-casual occasions — plenty of guys pair them with lightweight suits for summer weddings.

What I like about Astorflex’s Patnoflex:

• Extremely breathable design
• Feather-light weight
• Very flexible, minimalist construction
• Under $200

Downsides but not dealbreakers

• May be seen as more casual than the classic penny loafer
• Some guys might prefer a more substantial feel

Also Consider: Sabah’s Turkish Leather Slippers

• Handmade in Turkey
• Huge range of leathers
• $210

This might be controversial in an article that’s ostensibly about loafers, but I thought these massively popular Turkish-style leather slippers deserved a shoutout in a list of versatile summer slip-ons.

Sabah modernized this traditional Turkish slipper by making it easy to order and available in a tremendous range of leathers to suit absolutely any use case, from somber black to playful leopard prints.

I was skeptical at first, but as you can see below, I quickly found countless ways to style these slip ons — and the extra wide opening and unlined build made them exceptionally easy to wear without socks.

What I like about Sabah’s Slippers

• Surprisingly versatile; easily moves from casual to smart casual
• Some two dozen color options
• Actually easy to wear without socks
• Very, very light and flexible

Downsides but not dealbreakers

• The sizing is tricky; be sure to size down
• Ultra simple construction offers little arch support
• Not ideal for days with lots of walking

How to Wear Loafers with Casual Outfits

• Wear a wider loafer (like enumerated in this article) if wearing shorts or casual outfits
• Suede is the most casual upper
• Waxy pull up leathers like Chromexcel also work
• Lean on smart casual looks over streetwear/workwear kinds of casual

Like I’ve spent this whole article saying, loafers are deceptively versatile: you just need to make sure your model isn’t very tapered if you want to wear it casually.

When in doubt, it’s always good to default to solid colors over patterns. Just in case someone thinks wearing loafers is a statement, there’s actually no problem wearing a “statement piece” if the rest of the outfit is pretty subdued.

But if you’re in a nice subtle brown loafer, no one will consider it ostentatious — that’s the beauty of classic styling. With that in mind, though, you’ll find the loafers easier to match if you’re dressing in a pretty “classic” fashion in the rest of your outfit.

That really just means simplicity: chinos, jeans, linen trousers, or chino shorts on the bottom; a solid t-shirt, polo shirt, or a solid button-up with the sleeves rolled up in a casual fabric like oxford cloth. Avoid ultra casual clothes like cargo shorts, denim shorts, or workwear like canvas pants or flannel shirts. In other words, lean on smart casual rather than streetwear or workwear kinds of casual.

Check out our guide to smart casual outfits for a more in-depth answer to the question of wearing loafers casually. The only real exception to what’s in that article is that t-shirts aren’t OK in a smart casual environment, but a solid t-shirt can be worn just fine with casual loafers.

Can You Wear Loafers With Shorts?

Loafers are an easy way to make any outfit look a little more put together — including fits with shorts. The main thing to remember, again, is to pick loafers that are fairly wide in the toe like the ones on this list.

You should also ensure your clothing isn’t too baggy; loafers are classic casual, not the modern streetwear kind of casual.

The sockless look, whether literal or achieved with no show socks, does look better with shorts. That’s one reason why this list emphasized breathable models so much.

But the sockless look can be pretty uncomfortable if you’re doing a lot of walking, so if you want to wear actual socks with loafers and shorts, you’ve got one option: white crew socks.

Types of Casual Loafers

We’ll start with the most casual and move into slightly dressier loafers.

Classic penny loafers, especially beefroll loafers, are the most casual style. Tassel loafers can be pretty casual as well, but you should make sure the toe isn’t too sleek.

The sleeker a loafer, the harder it is to wear casually, and the better-fitting your clothes should be.

If you’re after one loafer to take you to as many places as possible, consider these two: Meermin’s Sway or Grant Stone’s Traveler.

They’re both the right balance of roomy and smart to fit in just about anywhere. The main difference is that Grant Stone has more widths, sizes, and leathers, and it’s a more durable build — which is why it’s almost twice the price, so make your choice!

Tassel loafers shouldn’t be forgotten for an excellent casual option, though there’s no denying that it’s a slightly more “preppy” look, especially when worn with shorts.

Horsebit loafers are slightly less casual because of the chintzy hardware and Wall Street connotations, but a suede horsebit would works pretty well with smart casual outfits if you’re not wearing shorts. I’m a big fan of Allen Edmonds’ Randolph.

Wrapping Up

It took me a ton of time to find all these pictures of me wearing all these loafers but I think I’ve managed to show you that I’m a dude who has worn a ton of loafers in a ton of different ways. I know how to pick the right one for any occasion and any temperature, and I’m really confident that this list shows the best casual loafers for summer.

I considered the toe shape, breathability, leather, outsole, construction, weight, and flexibility to make these choices. Everyone has their personal preferences, but I’m confident there is a perfect pair of loafers for you here.