Men's Loafer Sizing

[donga]

does anyone know how loafers are supposed to fit and how the sizing works?

i've ordered many pairs from zappos and am now on my 3rd and 4th pair trying them on and have ordered a 5th. I went from size 9.5 to 9 to 8.5 and soon 8 with cole haan loafers.

are they supposed to fit incredibly snug or are they just always loose on the heel side? after all this time and effort i'm determined to find the right loafer that will fit me

 

[GoCubsGo]

While I'm not a man I do have a challenging foot. I went into a high end store to let them fit me. Then I purchased from zappos. I still bought 3 pair and kept 2 but it was better than buying 3 and returning 3.

As a female in loafers they wear close all around with little slippage in the heal. Some people just can't wear certain shoes so prepare yourself for that outcome as well.

 

[OutThere]

Just snug enough that the slippage in the back doesn't bother you, just loose enough that it isn't war to get your foot in. It seems I wear about 1 size down in Cole Haans. Normally I'm a 12, the latest pair I got was 11. My Johnston and Murphy loafers fit like a dream on-size, though.

I prefer to buy shoes in person and replace them (same brand, same size) on the internet.

 

[Davy.Shalom]

Well for a normal person, it's generally 1-1.5 sizes smaller. However, if you're like me, and have a very wide foot, I either order to exact length or slightly larger. Loafers generally aren't very wide anyway.

 

[Gonzo3333]

I have a pair of Penny Loafers (complete with pennies in them). From what I have heard about loafers in general is that you are not suppose to wear socks with them. (if you do, your elements of style are greatly reduced) The problem that I have had with my loafers is that they were just a little bit too big, meaning that the heel would rub against my ankle inducing a very nasty blister after a few days of use. I would suggest finding a pair of loafers that are more snug than you are use to with normal tennis shoes or dress shoes (they will stretch and conform). That would probably prevent chafing on the back of your ankle. I think blisters are a part of loafer life so either get use to it, or get use to it (yes both options) or just don't even bother.

 

[OutThere]

I have a pair of Penny Loafers (complete with pennies in them). From what I have heard about loafers in general is that you are not suppose to wear socks with them. (if you do, your elements of style are greatly reduced) The problem that I have had with my loafers is that they were just a little bit too big, meaning that the heel would rub against my ankle inducing a very nasty blister after a few days of use. I would suggest finding a pair of loafers that are more snug than you are use to with normal tennis shoes or dress shoes (they will stretch and conform). That would probably prevent chafing on the back of your ankle. I think blisters are a part of loafer life so either get use to it, or get use to it (yes both options) or just don't even bother.

I definitely never wear socks with loafers. The socks work to reduce friction between your heel and foot, which isn't what you want. If you have trouble finding a loafer that fits and doesn't give you blisters, you can buy peel and stick pads to put behind your heel to both give a snug fit and prevent chafing.

 

[donga]

thanks for the responses, I probably should have asked before going through 5 pairs of shoes. I ended up finding these cole haans in a size 8 (1.5 sizes down from normal). the right shoe is a tiny bit loose, and the left one i've got a hard time getting on but is real snug and feels like it fits just right.