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An American Classic: The Penny Loafer

An American Classic: The Penny Loafer

AN AMERICAN CLASSIC: THE PENNY LOAFER

Celebrate Independence Day by paying homage to a timeless American classic: The Penny Loafer.

Penny Loafer History

First introduced in 1930, the loafer has since become an American footwear staple, known for its effortlessly classic style. Leather loafers were first worn by Norwegian dairy farmers. It was not until a family farm in New Hampshire adopted an American version of the leather shoe that the moccasin style became the ‘loafer’ (named after the cows who ‘loafed’ around the farm).  

The signature strap the lays across the toe-box of the shoe contains a slit that was originally purposed to hold pennies in-case the wearer had to make a phone-booth call, thus introducing the ‘penny’ precursor that has stuck with the loafer style.

Classic American Style

The emergence of college prep in the 1950s rocketed the penny loafer to its popularity. Walk on any Ivy League college campus in the from the Kennedy to Regan-era and you’d be sure to come across packs of young gentlemen striding along the brick lined sidewalks wearing sockless penny loafers, denim and blazers.                                                       

James Dean wore his loafers sockless, styled with rolled-up faded jeans, a white v-neck and leather jacket. More often than not Dean finished his kicked back ‘cool kid’ look with slicked back hair and a cigarette hanging from his mouth.

 


Perhaps the most iconic All-American guy, John F. Kennedy, was known for his classic penny loafer preppy style. President Kennedy paired his penny loafers with suits, strolling across the white house lawn, or with chinos and a sweater on the golf course or boating with his family.

Of course, the Kennedy was not the only president known for his loafers. President Bush and Clinton took to wearing the loafers in a tasseled style.

The laidback heritage style, worn by countless American greats, evokes nostalgia for the American past. Wolf & Shepherd’s Bison Loafers implement updated performance technology within our loafer classic style, better representing the progress of innovation in technology and design that has taken shape since the shoe was first introduced with its wood and nails construction in the ‘30s. 


 Shop Wolf & Shepherd Bison Loafers

   

  

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Black | Black

Coast Loafer

Brown | Black

Coast Loafer

Luggage | Off-White

Coast Venetian

Desert | Off-White

Coast Venetian

Honey | White

Crossover™ Loafer

Black | White

Crossover™ Loafer

Brown | White

Crossover™ Loafer

Navy | White

Crossover™ Loafer

Stone | White

Crossover™ Loafer

Brown | Brown

Closer™ Loafer

Black | Black

Closer™ Loafer

Navy | White

SwiftKnit™ Loafer

Black | White

SwiftKnit™ Loafer

Stone | White

SwiftKnit™ Loafer

White | White

Cruise™ Slip-On

Sandstorm | Vanilla

Cruise™ Slip-On

Warm Gray | White

Cruise™ Slip-On

FEATURING VESSEL™ CONSTRUCTION

Innovative comfort

The Coast is unlike any other loafer that exists. Incorporating a Strobel board lasting atop our proprietary VESSEL midsole, this design is the first of its kind. The Coast Loafer enhances all of the features that you love about a slip on in a classic elegant design.
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2 Colors Available

Coast Loafer

Mens Coast Loafer Black / Black  Calfskin View 1
Mens Coast Loafer Brown / Black  Calfskin View 1
2 Colors Available

Coast Venetian

Mens Coast Venetian Luggage / Off-White  Nubuck View 1
Mens Coast Venetian Desert / Off-White  Nubuck View 1
5 Colors Available

Crossover™ Loafer

Mens Crossover™ Loafer Honey / White  Calfskin View 1
Mens Crossover™ Loafer Black / White  Calfskin View 1
Mens Crossover™ Loafer Brown / White  Calfskin View 1
Mens Crossover™ Loafer Navy / White  Suede View 1
Mens Crossover™ Loafer Stone / White  Suede View 1
2 Colors Available

Closer™ Loafer

Mens Closer™ Loafer Brown / Brown  calfskin View 1
Mens Closer™ Loafer Black / Black  calfskin View 1
3 Colors Available

SwiftKnit™ Loafer

Mens SwiftKnit™ Loafer Navy / White  Knit View 1
Mens SwiftKnit™ Loafer Black / White  Knit View 1
Mens SwiftKnit™ Loafer Stone / White  Knit View 1
3 Colors Available

Cruise™ Slip-On

Mens Cruise™ Slip-On White / White  Nubuck View 1
Mens Cruise™ Slip-On Sandstorm / Vanilla  Nubuck View 1
Mens Cruise™ Slip-On Warm Gray / White  Nubuck View 1