Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round and listen to the true story of the perfect summer shoe. There are some out there who would have you believe the ideal summer shoe is some sort of fuzzy travel sneaker. But those don’t last, and, like all fads, that one will fade too. Others would try to convince you that you need a leather sandal that you might have seen in Greece 3,000 years ago. Unfortunately, those only work if you find yourself near water (or at the Acropolis). In truth, the perfect summer shoe is the unlined suede loafer. Classic, comfortable, versatile, durable. This is the one shoe you need to maximize your summer wardrobe.
Meermin sent me one of their unlined suede loafers to help me prove my point. If you’re unfamiliar with Meermin, they are a shoemaker based in Mallorca, Spain (one of the great shoemaking capitals of the world). They offer exceptional value for goodyear-welted shoes, similar to other Spanish shoemakers, by using high quality materials and managing production costs. When they asked me to write a piece, I knew I needed to talk about unlined suede loafers.
Why You Need an Unlined Suede Loafer
The timing of this piece is perfect, given that we just experienced an incredibly excessive heat wave here in the northeast. If anything was going to test the summer handling of some unlined suede loafers, this was it. 100° F days, unbearable humidity, and sidewalks as hot as griddles, summer was in full form.
Obviously, the most important factor in considering shoes is comfort. If your feet hurt, you won’t wear them. These loafers delivered comfort. Between the unstructured heels and toes, the flex leather sole, and the cork insoles, they quickly began to feel like slippers. The suede began to take form around my feet and broke in as easily as any shoes I’ve worn before. I was honestly surprised with how comfortable they became in such a short amount of time.
The true hallmark of the unlined suede loafer is the “unlined” portion. With no inner leather lining, the suede really shines. These loafers are more breathable than their lined counterparts, a beneficial property of suede. Additionally, unburdened by additional layers of leather, the uppers can break in faster, feel more comfortable on your skin, and keep your feet cooler during those broiling summer days.
What takes unlined suede loafers to the next level, making them the perfect summer shoe, is their versatility. While some other shoe options might work in one or two settings, these loafers can go almost anywhere. In just the past few weeks, I’ve worn them with everything from shorts to linen trousers to a casual suit. And when fall starts to creep into the conversation, I’ll wear them with jeans. You could even wear them to a poolside cocktail party. You could even wear them in colder months with some socks. In fact, these shoes only look better the more you wear them and beat them up a little. They really are some of the most versatile shoes you could buy. Just wear the shoes.
So while you could buy some travel loafers, some sandals, some sneakers, and whatever else is trending right now, just go ahead and buy the perfect summer shoes instead. Unlined suede loafers. Oh, and don’t worry if summer has passed by the time you read this, they’re goodyear-welted and recraftable, so they’ll last for years too!
