Nineties-style devotees including Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber have had to rethink their grunge redux looks, and all because of a certain pair of Prada loafers that has persuaded them to go seriously preppy this fall (because loafers are the new fall boots, after all!)
If you have spent enough time on the internet, there’s a good chance these Prada flats are already on your wishlist. The sell-out style has got everyone from Vogue editors to Danish influencers (Pernille Teisbaek, we’re looking at you) and modern-day supermodels in a spin. So why is everyone so eager to loaf around in these chunky soles? The leather logo loafer, featuring a round toe, rubber soles, and the Prada triangle plaque placed front and center, is a polished take on the stompers we have lived in since last winter, and ties into the season’s back-to-school mood. You know the feeling: The leaves start to fall and we all imagine ourselves as Ali MacGraw in Love Story – all enrobing camel coats, sweater vests, and collegiate scarves. Except this season, the loafers pack a punch.
While Mrs. Prada was by no means the only one putting chunky versions of the sensible shoes into production, hers give her brand’s iconic typography pride of place. (Catnip for logomaniacs who like their investment buys to shout “luxury”.)
So far the styling of Prada’s thick-soled beauties has been less bookish, more eclectic. In a fall fashion curveball, Hailey Bieber paired hers with bright white ankle socks, Levi’s cut-offs, and a leather Nour Hammer Gotham coat. Bella Hadid upped the ante in baggy jeans and a vintage leather waistcoat, while Teisbaek has been teaming hers with full-look Prada ensembles.
A scholar might deduce that therein lies the appeal of Prada’s cult $850 footwear: There’s a new-school approach to wearing the stiff polished shoes that looks grown-up on everyone. If you have the $$$ to spare, these are a safe bet (and they are still in stock at Farfetch) but if you want to recreate the look on a budget, we've also rounded some chunky loafers options below. (Thank us later!)
This story originally appeared in British Vogue.
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