PAUSE Highlights: The Rise of the Sneaker-Loafer Hybrid

It seems footwear companies have finally perfected what we’ve been aiming to achieve for nearly a decade. Back in 2016, fashion, and particularly footwear, were at odds. 

On one side of the coin, you had hypebeasts running around in a selection of original Air Jordan sneakers and Yeezy V1s, pairing the fits with whatever expensive garments they could get their hands on (Enter Supreme box logo jumpers). And on the other side were your menswear fanatics, often styling pants that were far too tight with a pair of white leather sneakers or even loafers. 

During this era of fashion, there was a clear divide. Hypebeasts went baggy, menswear men went tight. Hypebeasts went comfortable, menswear men went dressy. You can see where this is going…

However, last summer, New Balance and Junya Watanabe finally allowed the two disciplines to live on in holy matrimony. Enter the sneaker loafer: dubbed the 1906L from New Balance, a breathable mesh upper was detailed with penny loafer accents, all while sitting atop a running shoe sole. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Junya Watanabe

When these first dropped, fashion communities were up in arms. The idea of pairing a timeless penny loafer with a running shoe seemed far-fetched and quite daunting from a styling perspective. Smartly, the brands offered the shoes in core black and white colour ways, in an attempt to create an inviting landing zone for those interested in giving the new silhouette a go. 

Comments aside, the shoe began to grow in popularity, and in response, the brand began releasing some less-than-easy-to-style colour ways. Since the initial debut, other companies have begun jumping on the trend. Brands like G.H. Bass, a renowned leather footwear brand that has been around for centuries, released a completely leather and suede upper that conforms to a running shoe sole. Hoka took a more adventurous, hiking approach, while Vans followed the athletic route offering a similar pair. Even Heydude went as far as trying to take the trend a step further, by forming a Wallabee upper instead. 

With the recent rise in comfortability blending into traditional menswear, it was only a matter of time for lowercase F fashion to follow suit. TikTok content creators sprung to pair quarter zips with baggy sweatpants, shirts and ties with wide cut jeans, essentially creating a modern fashion take on the mullet. And as far as I’m concerned, the sneaker loafer trend is the equivalent of the aforementioned shaggy hairdo. 

Regardless of how Frankenstein adjacent these shoes look, they seem to be growing in popularity. Especially as they continue impeding the development of low-profile sneakers as a trend. PAUSE has broken down three ways to style the sneaker loafer, and has recommended a few options at varying price points for you to try out. 

Nothing screams blending comfort with luxury more than looking like you’re about to play tennis. The last time Spring/Summer came about, we saw an influx of polo shirts making a comeback, and in response, brands began pushing the envelope on buttoning systems and materials. Grab whatever polos you stress-bought last summer, and pair them with some dart pleated trousers or super wide shorts that end just above the knee. Slap on some colourful wool socks and your sneaker loafers and you have yourself a simple yet chic summer fit.

PHOTO CREDIT: Gucci

On the heels of more classically tailored brands showing at Paris Fashion Week, suiting is all we can think about. Although luxury houses like Tom Ford opted for much slimmer, form-fitted cuts on their jackets, wider suits with higher waists are reigning supreme. Casually grab a billowing suit, with just a t-shirt underneath for a more casual approach, and ensure your pants drape over the sneaker loafers.

PHOTO CREDIT: Darrel Hunter/@modehunter

At the moment, the TikTok menswear uniform is a pair of baggy jeans, a dress shirt and a tie styled under a hoodie. Brownie points if the hoodie isn’t your generic cotton blend. The fact that oversized denim is going to swallow the upper is a good thing in this scenario, as it creates more mystique about what exactly you have on your feet.

PHOTO CREDIT: @sakiido_ Via Instagram