The concept of a slip-on shoe has never not been a thing. But the evident phrase ‘hey, let’s make these shoes fatter’ was probably first uttered in the latter half of last century. 

Chunky shoes have come in and out of fashion trends like a child on a playground slide. They climb their way to the top, then tumble down, oftentimes landing on their face. In this modern world, however, where things aren’t always as they seem, the clunky shoes (loafers in particular) have found a place they can call home. 

Apparently, when the population reaches a certain peak, with an emphasis on individualism, trends linger and become statement pieces. Regardless of whether this theory is true, or if we too will have cringe photos in the next decade of outdated wears, we focus on today. 

Many think the chunky loafer is limited to certain outfits and styles, but the truth is it offers a pretty decent range of versatility. All that is needed is some imagination. For those who have none or maybe need some quiet validation, we have this post. 

Get comfortable.

From Madden to Madness

Steeeeve Maaaaadden, we’ve all heard it. Aside from crossing Jordan Belford, Steve also made quite a name for himself in the fashion industry with his (then) outrageously oversized shoes and (still now) model heads.

While the clunky boot look had been riding the punk wave, Madden popularised the concept in other shoes, too. In fact, the clunky loafer was, and still is, one of the staple shoes of the Madden movement. 

Now loafers, on the other hand, have been around for a while. So long that they were around when it only cost a penny to use the phone booth. Many actually found a use for that little split on the front strap on the shoe by inserting a spare penny in case they needed to make a phone call. Hence, that particular style was dubbed Penny Loafer. 

Before, they were actually a Norwegian shoe worn by fishermen; then, the American shoe maker G.H Bass began to manufacture them, and their rocket to iconism lifted off. 

Now, we see ‘it’ girls like the Jenners and Dua Lipa rock these shoes. One thing we do know is as long as influential people don a fashion, said fashion will stay alive…for the most part. Maybe next year, Harry. 

The Challenges of Styling Chunky Loafers

Yes, they’re clunky. Yes, many critics have and will continue to say they’re masculine. But let’s ponder a question – has anyone actually seen a man wear these? Certainly not this decade. Why don’t we put such comments to rest? 

Men these days tend to prefer a slicker loafer for either the business casual or ‘I’m on a boat’ look. Let’s leave them to it and talk about how to style these chunky loafers. 

The fun thing about loafers, all loafers, is they balance the tightrope between casual and formal wear masterfully. Somehow, these Norwegian fishing shoes have crept into all sorts of formal occasions, even the prestigious MET Gala, and billionaires seem to love them. 

While some say ‘pick a lane’ or viciously claim the shoe is exclusively for them, we say great! This tightrope act leads to enormous versatility in what to wear. After all, it starts with the shoes, and it seems this shoe is happy to take us wherever.

Versatility of Chunky Loafers

Let’s start with a fashion fundamental: is it an ‘all-weather wear’? Many of our favourite items, shoes and shirts alike, are banished to the closet for half the year. An ‘all-weather wear’ does exactly what its name describes, and the chunky loafer is certainly that!

From partnering with miniskirts and fishnets in the summertime to big peacoats, scarves and beanies in the winter, the chunky loafer remains unbanished. This is a fantastic quality to have in a shoe, even if it’s not this shoe. 

Key Styling Tips

Without further delay, let’s dive into the best wears to wear with chunky loafers.

Pairing with Denim

This should come as no surprise to anyone; denim goes with most things. However there are some jeans that pair specifically well with chunky loafers. For example:

Straight-leg: So, one combination that doesn’t look all that great is fitting jeans with slick loafers or dress shoes. The denim drowns the shoe. We don’t have to worry about that here. The ‘chunk’ of the loafers gives them enough volume to not only compete with but complement the bottoms. 

Slim: On the other hand (or foot), the slim cut allows the shoes to pop out in a contrast that shouldn’t work but does. It’s still not too tight to look out of place, yet it gives the shoes a stage to show off on.

Kick flare: Again, like the straight-leg or baggy, these bottoms run the risk of drowning out the footwear – especially with a sturdy fabric like denim. But again, we don’t have that problem here. 

Avoid skinny jeans when wearing chunky loafers. The contrast is a little weird, and it begins to resemble chicken legs. Sometimes, it comes back into fashion with some punk rocker leading the charge, but it never lasts. 

Skirts & Dresses

As we said above, the mini skirt vibes nicely with the ‘Chunkies’. A nice skirt or dress is often seen paired with these shoes. It just works:

Mini skirts: Beit made from denim, leather, plaid or even tartan! There are no wrong answers, even better with fishnets, wide or narrow. 

Midi skirts & Long skirts: While we wouldn’t recommend fishnet stockings with either of these (that would be weird), a nice chunky boot can add a little flair to a nice conservative outfit.

Leather shorts: Bring back the fishnets! There are few things that complement each other, like some tight black leather shorts and a pair of black leather chunky loafers. Got a gig to attend? Give this look a try! Finalise this look with a white tank top.

Topwear Choices

With tops, more risks can be taken. As a general rule, it’s better to choose a top based on which bottoms are worn. That said, there are still some ‘top’ choices one can make. 

Adding a blazer, oversized or not, can be a great idea if matched with a long or midi skirt. Vintage T-shirts are never a bad thing when it comes to day-to-day fashion, and turtlenecks are always a statement of their own. They might not even notice the loafers.

Finally, a button-down shirt can add a little sophistication to the look; try it with the blazer.

Accessories & Add-ons

It’s always fun to have accessories, no matter what the style is. Many people absolutely love to wear colourful socks, so their look has that extra pop. We don’t discourage it!

Since chunky loafers take over more square footage than most, a nice bright colour coming out of them can really make them welcome. It’s a statement of a statement. Statement squared? We’ll workshop it.

Of course, we’ve mentioned fishnets time and time again in this article. They’re great, especially with these shoes. Want to know what else is great? Regular stockings. For some reason, chunky loafers just look good in all forms of stockings or tights. A thick pair of stockings with chunky loafers makes for a great winter wear. 

Colour & Material Choices

Colour and material are everything when choosing any shoe. They define what colours and fabrics are worn day in and day out. If someone’s only pair of shoes are some beige suede boat shoes, then it’s unlikely they will pull off the Nike tech. But hey, maybe that’s not for them anyway.

For more versatility, it’s always best to choose neutral colours like brown or black. However, even the decision between these can drastically impact a wardrobe. While a brown chunky loafer will look great with many outfits, it won’t look right with those black leather shorts. 

Leather is a very popular option, especially patent leather. The glossy sheen of this leather gives the shoe even more personality. Leather also comes with added durability, which is important for an ‘all weather’ shoe. 

Brands & Shopping Recommendations

Countless brands offer chunky loafers, Steve Madden still offers them as one of their most popular choices. Fashion giants like Prada, Gucci and GANNI have made their own luxury shoes with the prestige and quality that come with such brands. Websites such as FARFETCH offer these designer brands even long after they’ve been sold out, and yes, they’re real. 

Certainly, there are more affordable options of equally high quality. Just take a quick tour of the Dr Martens, Topshop and ASOS websites. 

It looks like the chunky loafers are here to stay. Very few trends come with versatility, which may be why they fade into obscurity. Sometimes, however, an item’s versatility breathes new life into it. The chunky shoes are a perfect example. For those who choose to wear these shoes be advised to take advantage of such versatility and experiment further.