Celebrate Uncle Bill’s loafers when styling your own…
I’m sending an understanding head nod to all who often end up leaving their house in what feels like a surprise celebration of their Uncle Bill’s wardrobe.
Loafers are my everything. Give me a loafer and I know everything is going to be great. Over the top? Yes. But, it’s what came to mind while admiring my own so for the sake of this article, and my endless pursuit of that effortless chic life, we’re going with it. Just like your Uncle Bill. Bob? Timothy? That’s the thing, it doesn’t matter! Was it pleated khakis? Sweatpants, no socks?? TRACK SHORTS?? I’ll take one of each, and if you’re still reading, you would too. I’m going to really dive in, so, hold onto your frayed (bleach stained?) polo shirt, and let’s talk about how we got here.
Every spring season I realize more and more that I don’t like to wear sandals. I don’t. With the right outfit, always, sure, but if I’m throwing on a shoe to run out the door, it’s never the slide sandal or flip flop. This summer will go the same, as last and many summers of my long since over teen years. My trusty Birkenstock clogs, (shout out to my Birks, love you forever) would be the obvious choice. But, I was recently ready to run out in my worn and comfy linen pants, only to notice my clogs were inaccessible at the moment. So on the loafers went.
My Weejuns. The first penny loafer. Burgundy leather understated beauties. My fuss free lifers who have since accompanied me just about anywhere. Family walks to the park next door? (insert terry cloth track shorts and mens polo here) Yep, totally appropriate. The possibilities became endless. Anywhere from my heather gray sweatpants (elastic ankle a must) to a voluminous white poplin summer dress which I plan to continue well into this summer as well, though sans wool scarf. Not that we’ve ever kept a ton of distance from each other but, my loafers have become the “everywhere I go you can go too”shoe of the year.
Throughout the summer months I plan to make it a bit of an experiment. Anytime I start pigeonholing my versatile, (generous, forgiving) friends, I remind myself, if your Birks and an oversized button down can hang with your bubblegum pink linen mini dress, so can your penny loafers and bomber jacket. Why wouldn’t the obvious choice for cream cuffed denim and a matching ribbed tank be my loafers just as soon as leather flip-flops? We’re not on a beach over here so I think the full shoe is just as compatible of a choice.
While on the topic of pigeonholing - don’t forget about Uncle Bill who used to tell your grandparents that punk rock saved his life. That beatnik does loafers with socks and ripped jeans, worn tee shirts that are cheesecloth thin… leather pants? Eek I say do it. Do it all. Again, we have to let the loafer shine. Actually, let’s let the loafer grab the mic and turn it up to eleven.
Much like my own discovery of just how versatile the historically conservative style is, I have to guess that in some cases our uncle’s of the 80s and 90s fateful findings happened while running out the door as well. They had their own version of the missing Birkenstock clog, or maybe they were sandal people! Either way, we got here and we know who drove us, in the back seat of his two-door Saab .
The dolphin shorts, the cut-off ripped denim, frayed khakis, sweats, polos, and tattered tees. I wish there was more proof of these trailblazing moments in style history (we’re operating on more of a if you know you know basis), but thanks anyway, Unc for making it an easy call to slide on loafers that day.
Next time you see your Uncle Bill tell him he’s an icon, unless he’s “That Uncle Bill” who could do without the praise for now. Either way some of my fave style moments of the summer are destined to be inspired by his lazy day choices of decades ago, so I say, a round of applause to you. Thanks for the winter inspo. Uncle’s, gather. Sockless spring is before us.