Work Travel Shoes - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

About: Ensemble: Sweater & Contrasting Tank

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Work Travel Shoes

rachylou

Veteran

I really like the black Gucci driving loafers featured in Angie's blog post this morning. I'm wondering if they'd be good for corporate work travel, or if maybe they read too casual? Both here in the U.S. and in Europe. And what about the regional differences within both?

There are some patent ones too, which I presume would be safer but not as practical for my wardrobe in any case.

Hard tech and bio tech (the fields I work in) are kinda interesting. Things aren't suit fancy, but they're not informal either. Not that anyone actually cares.

Maybe as long as one sticks with wool trousers?

Saks Fifth Avenue

Gucci Regent Leather Frame Driving Loafers

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3

Saks Fifth Avenue

Gucci Patent Leather Horsebit Loafers

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1

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

em

Driving loafers have a rubber strip that extends from the bottom of the shoe over the heels, so that the shoe is protected when you are driving and your heels is resting on the floor as you work the pedal.

Those loafers you pictured are absolutely appropriate for a business setting, although, on me, anyway, they are too masculine.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Ooh I really like the second one.

rachylou

Veteran

The second are pretty.

Interesting point, em. They call them "driving loafers". That's *like* their name. But interesting because I wonder if distinctions are made between moccasins and loafers. The heel that comes up, I associate this with "driving moccasins." Which, I guess, are loafers.

Ahaha How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? That's when you know you need to take a break.

I'm not sure who taught me to dress, but I always have a sneaking feeling loafers are casual. I associate them with weekends and holiday.

unfrumped

Veteran

Those loafers are fab--to me they look like true "dress" loafers.

I've added several pairs of loafers this year for comfortable flat shoes for work.The problem I have to watch is the hem widths and PPL's for the shoe vamp and the tongue of the shoe and all that. What works for sure is narrow-straight long pants scrunched over top of foot, or ankle pants. The latter are not my best "professional" look so I'm focusing more on what types of long pants and what hem widths look best. My good ol' AT 20" hem trousers don't work, for sure (for me, anyway). The point is, you need to test drive the loafer (no pun intended) with the target pants.

Anonymous

I love the second pair - and would wear those with a dress or skirt and tights too . A knife pleated skirt would look so cute yet still pro with shoes like that. Just don't wear a white shirt with a polka dot tie thing at the neck:)

DonnaF

Veteran

I tend not to be a loafer fan, but I really, really like the second pair which strike me as dressier. The first pair is a bit too classic for my personal taste but still a nice shoe. It's Gucci after all, right?

rachylou

Veteran

Good point about PPL.

I always think white Gucci's, but black is quite striking to me.

Loafers with a contrasting sole would definitely be un-business-like, right?

1

unfrumped

Veteran

I think if the contrasting sole is leather in natural colors (not pink or citron!)
and the shoe style is the real stacked-sole loafer style (not tan rubber), then it can especially work in summer when one might combine black with creams and cognac, straw, linen--those summer neutrals, and selected colors. It might not be as year-round versatile, and is not as dressy, but I don't think it's a deal-breaker for the right shoe that has a good fit and silhouette with whatever else is in the outfit.

fathenry

Veteran

Loafers can be dressy if there are enough other dressy elements in the outfit. Likewise they can be casual if there are enough other casual elements in the outfit. I dress them up with a blouse, ankle pants and a jacket..

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. Those are some good styling tips!

Thistle

Veteran

I really like the second pair. I agree with fathenry that the rest of the outfit will determine whether they read dressy or casual. I also like the look of a streamlined loafer like that with BFs and skirts/dresses.

shedev

Veteran

Both of those loafers look dressy to me.

bj1111

Veteran

Those loafers esp the second one are the bomb. Brand seems to be standard issue among continental europeans more than brits. I've seen these peeping out of many a dress pant suit at our large trade confs/mtgs.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I prefer the first pair, which run big and wide so size down a lot. Both pairs are killer though, and are plenty dressy.

rachylou

Veteran

Thanks, Angie! Good to know about the wideness. I really wasn't sure about the office-dressiness factor.

And that's reassuring, bj, to know you've seen them at business conferences and meetings.