Kiltie loafers have as much sex appeal as their name. They're a bulky a shoe. And growing up I thought they were hideous.
The first pair I saw belonged to my Grandpa; they were brown; and he used them to mow his yard – I thought it was a weird shoe choice at the time. Why wear loafers to mow when you can rock some high ankle leather hot box of a sneaker Papa? But now I bow to him for paving much of my sartorial path – and other house chores.
For the uninitiated, the kiltie tassel loafer earns its namesake from a unique feature on top of the shoe. If you look down at my Grandpa's loafer from above you'll see two tassels dangling. Many loafers today stop there–but not our kiltie. The kiltie loafer has a flap of leather that sits underneath the tassels. It's a rectangle that lays horizontal and covers much of the middle section of the shoe. The rectangle is normal in all regards on three sides. But the fourth side, which points towards the toe, is cut to look like a vintage picket fence with pointed tips. It also looks like, you guessed it, a kilt. I suppose the designers of old missed the sleek and sexy memo. But as time has gone on, I have learned to appreciate the kiltie loafer, and recognize its status as a modern day power move.
Some tap their toes wearing combat boots (minus the fatigues) and others bask in the comfort of a simple cap toe. If you want to be unique, and show people what starting a trend looks like (because it's coming back) grab a pair of kiltie loafers. Cole Haan and Johnston Murphy make some affordable options. I got mine from Johnston Murphy, and I can't wait to wear them while mowing the yard when I'm older.
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