All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Answer: The loafer. The right pair makes getting dressed a breeze, but only the best loafers for men are up to the task.
Not sure what shoes to wear with a bespoke tux for a red carpet event—or just a really fancy wedding? Not sure what shoes to wear with cut-off jean shorts for the after- after party that same night? The only two vibes, really. Loafers again. No definitive loafer ranking would never be complete without a pair of Bass Weejuns. They've been an icon since the '30s, and when it comes to loafers—or any shoe, really—you'd be hard-pressed to find a better value.
The brand's casual-leaning silhouette is a GQ -favorite, beloved by old-school legends like JFK and modern-day loafer aficionados alike. The best way to wear them? Play down their clean-cut origins by pairing them with everything from cuffed Dickies to flower-child faded jeans. For the bargain-savvy shopper, these are about as close as it gets to a near-perfect black loafer that doesn't compromise on quality and doesn't call for a short-term loan to afford. In other words: as long as Bass keeps making 'em, we'll keep recommending 'em.
In our experience, Weejuns require a little bit of breaking in—and like all leather-soled shoes, can be slippery at the outset. We suggest taking your true size. They may not come equipped with a Goodyear welt, the gold standard in highfalutin cobbling, but the Blake stitch construction is noticeably easier to break in—and just as resolable.
The Alden tassel loafers below are great and all, but the rarified price point, cordovan leather, and dainty silhouette give them a scholarly, somewhat fuddy-duddy air that might not jive with your street-leaning sensibility. That's where Dr. Martens comes in. Its cult-loved Adrian loafers are done up in the brand's notoriously tough smooth leather, and then plopped on top of its surprisingly giving AirWair soles. The word "icon" gets tossed around real casually these days, but Gucci's horsebit loafer is the rare piece of design actually worthy of the moniker.
