The Versatile Flat Shoe Style That's Probably Missing From Your Wardrobe
If there’s one shoe style that will see you through from Monday through to Sunday, it’s backless loafers. When humble loafers were spliced at the hands of Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele circa 2015, among the agenda-setting collection were reworked slip-ons, lashed at the back and lined with a furry interior, thus creating the ultimate easy shoes known as backless loafers. Like the more uptight mannish originals but combining slipper-like comfort, they’re still smart enough to pair with your 9-to-5 uniform, from suits to midi skirts, but better yet, they’re the perfect pairings to those tricky in-between ankle lengths such as calf-length dresses and culottes—double win.
The best way to wear them on weekends is with ankle-grazing denim or simple dresses. Our only style rule is don't wear with tights—too likely to fly off your feet and also look a bit strange on your heels. Scroll down to see our edit; these styles are worth a touch of frostbite.
Style Notes: This season's knitted dress trend can be a tricky one to style, however Natasha Ndlovu makes it look easy with her favourite Gucci loafers and a smart backpack.
Style Notes: Backless loafers are the perfect way to smarten-up stonewash jeans and a statement knit.
Style Notes: We love this show-goer's twist on classic pieces: a shirt under a lacy slip and loafers with a fur trim. Genuis.
Shop Our Edit of The Best Backless Loafers
These have so many '60s vibes.
Up Next: Bye, Heels—I Went and Found the Best High-Street Flats for You
-
Elegant Dressers in Manhattan Are Trading Suede Flats for This Equally Rich Trend
A worthy investment.
-
Before You Invest In Mesh Flats, Consider the Newer Version I Keep Seeing Fashion People in Lisbon and Miami Wearing
Copenhagen, New York, and Barcelona, too.
-
I Couldn't Help But Notice That L.A.'s Coolest Dressers Always Wear This Shoe Trend With Black Trousers
If you guessed ballet flats, you'd be wrong.
-
Fashion People in Their 20s and 50s Wear This Flat-Shoe Trend With Skirts to Look Chic
Hint: It's not loafers.
-
In SoHo, These Three Fashion Items Are Considered Every Fashion Person's Holy Grails
Worn separately or together.
-
This Is *the* Ballet-Flats Color Fashion People Will Buy for the Remainder of 2025
As seen on Bella Hadid's Instagram.
-
Margaret Qualley Just Wore Flats on the Red Carpet With the World's Strictest Dress Code
And pulled it off with aplomb.
-
This Stylish French Woman Paired Summer's Controversial Shoe and Shorts Trends, and the Outfit Is So Chic
See how to re-create the unexpected look.