I bought my first pair of burgundy loafers on a whim last October. My sister told me they were the color of a good jam, and honestly, she wasn’t wrong.
I wore them almost every day that first month. To coffee, to the office, to a long walk that turned into a longer walk because the weather was finally cool enough to enjoy it.
And here’s the thing about a deep red-toned loafer: it does more work than a plain black shoe ever will. It adds a little color, a little polish, without shouting about it.
20 Outfits That Prove This Shoe Does It All
Burgundy Loafers With Dark Straight-Leg Jeans
This is the one I reach for on repeat. Dark straight-leg jeans with a slight crop at the ankle so the shoe gets to be seen. A tucked-in white shirt on top, sleeves rolled, and you’re done.
Suede Loafers With Pleated Midi Skirt
Oh, I love this pairing. A pleated midi skirt has movement, and a soft suede shoe grounds it so the outfit doesn’t float away. Add a fine-knit sweater tucked in at the front only.
My friend Dana wore this to a lunch a few weeks ago and three people asked her where the skirt was from. She’d had it for years.
Chunky Loafers With Tailored Bermuda Shorts
Bermuda shorts came back around and I was skeptical, I will not lie to you. But paired with a heavier, thicker sole, they suddenly look intentional instead of like you gave up halfway through getting dressed.
Go for tailored shorts that hit just above the knee. A little slouchy sweater tucked into the waistband keeps it relaxed. This is the kind of chunky loafers for women outfit that photographs way better than it has any right to.
Burgundy Loafers With Grey Trouser Suit
A grey suit is the most sensible thing in the world, and burgundy shoes are the little wink that makes it interesting.
The color between the grey and the burgundy just WORKS. It looks like you thought about it, even if you grabbed the shoes off the closet floor at 7 am, which I did.
Suede Loafers With Cream Knit Dress
A cream knit dress is soft and cozy and can lean a little shapeless, so you want a shoe with some presence. Suede in a deep berry does that. It anchors all that pale knit with something warm.
Add gold hoops and call it a day. This is a cold-weather outfit that still feels put together, which is my favorite kind of outfit in the dead of winter.
Chunky Loafers With Mini Skirt And Blazer
A mini skirt on its own can feel a bit much for a Tuesday, but pair it with a structured blazer and those substantial shoes and the balance shifts. Suddenly it reads as smart, not casual.
I like a school-uniform vibe here, a little preppy, a little cheeky. Opaque tights underneath if the weather calls for it. Of course it usually does where I live.
Burgundy Loafers With Blue Jeans And Red Blazer
Here’s a bold one. A red blazer over medium-blue jeans, and the burgundy shoe ties the red and the blue together at the bottom. It sounds like a lot on paper.
In fact it looks better in person than it does when you describe it out loud, which is why I’m telling you to just try it. Keep the shirt underneath plain white so the colors do the talking.
Suede Loafers With Corduroy Trousers
Texture on texture, and I am here for it. Corduroy trousers in a warm brown or olive, paired with soft suede shoes, feels like autumn in shoe form. Everything a little brushed, a little cozy.
Add a cream turtleneck and you’ve got an outfit that would look right at home on a walk through fallen leaves. Or, in my case, a walk to the mailbox and back.
Chunky Loafers With White Socks And Culottes
The white sock thing. I resisted it for AGES and then my niece talked me into it. A little slouchy white sock peeking out between a thick-soled loafer and a cropped culotte is unexpectedly charming.
Culottes give you that wide, easy leg, and the sock adds a sporty note that keeps the whole look from feeling stuffy. It’s a fun way to wear a serious shoe.
Burgundy Loafers With Black Wide-Leg Trousers
Black wide-leg trousers are a workhorse in my closet. They go with everything and hide a multitude of sins after a big dinner.
Tuck a black or grey top in, add a longer coat over the top for the walk in, and you have something that works from a morning meeting straight through to dinner with a friend.
Suede Loafers With Denim Midi Skirt
A denim midi skirt is one of those pieces I forget I own and then rediscover with joy. It’s casual but has a nice structure to it. Suede shoes soften the denim and add a bit of richness.
I wore this on a Saturday of antiquing with my husband, who does not care about antiques but tolerates me. A chunky knit on top, and I felt comfortable all day, which is really the goal.
Chunky Loafers With Tights And Shift Dress
A simple shift dress in a solid color, dark tights, and those substantial shoes make for an outfit that is basically foolproof.
The dress does the work of looking pulled together, and the shoes keep it grounded and modern instead of ladies-who-lunch. Add a belt if you want a waist, skip it if you don’t.
Burgundy Loafers With Dusty Pink Knitwear
Dusty pink and deep burgundy are in the same family, sort of like cousins. So they play beautifully together. A soft pink sweater with the burgundy shoe feels romantic without being sugary.
Pair it with jeans or grey trousers, whatever you have. The magic is in the color story between the pink up top and the berry down below. I get a little happy just looking at it.
Suede Loafers With Chocolate Suede Jacket
Brown and burgundy is the combination I did not know I needed until this year. A chocolate suede jacket matched with suede shoes in the same soft finish creates a warm, layered look that feels expensive.
A cream tee and dark jeans underneath keep it simple so the two suede pieces can shine. This is the outfit I feel most like myself in these days, honestly.
Chunky Loafers With Pleated Mini Skirt
A pleated mini skirt has all that lovely swing to it, and a heavier shoe keeps it from tipping into too-young territory. It’s a nice tension, girly on top, sturdy on the bottom.
Tuck in an oversized sweater and let it blouse out over the waistband a bit. Tights when it’s cold, bare legs when you’re lucky. Either way it’s a look that turns heads at the coffee shop.
Burgundy Loafers With Navy Tailored Trousers
Navy and burgundy is a classic for a reason. It’s the sort of combination you see in old menswear catalogs and it just never stops looking good. Navy tailored trousers with the burgundy shoe feels quietly confident.
Add a striped shirt or a fine navy knit. This is a great one for a day when you want to look like you have your life together, even if the reality is messier. Mine usually is.
Suede Loafers With Long Denim Shorts
Long denim shorts, the kind that hit mid-thigh or a little lower, have a great retro feel to them. With a soft suede loafer they lean into something a bit vintage and easy.
A tucked-in blouse and maybe a cardigan tied around the shoulders and you’re set for a warm afternoon that cools off by evening. My kind of outfit for a farmers’ market wander.
Chunky Loafers With Oversized Blazer And Leggings
An oversized blazer over sleek leggings is a formula that always looks intentional, and a thick-soled shoe finishes it with just enough weight. The proportions are the fun part here.
Big blazer, slim legging, substantial shoe. It’s a silhouette that flatters and it takes about four minutes to put together. So on the mornings when I’m running late, this is what happens.
Burgundy Loafers With Plaid Midi Skirt
A plaid midi skirt, especially one with some burgundy woven into the pattern, is basically begging to be worn with a matching red shoe. So give the people what they want.
A plain sweater on top lets the plaid be the star. This is such a good autumn outfit that I keep it in mind all summer, waiting for the weather to turn so I can pull it out again.
Suede Loafers With Slip Skirt And Cardigan
A silky slip skirt has a bit of drama to it, all that shine and movement, so I love grounding it with something soft and unfussy. A suede loafers outfit women reach for again and again pairs that slip with a cozy oversized cardigan.
The contrast between the slippery skirt and the chunky knit is the good part. Add the matte suede shoe and you’ve got three different textures having a lovely little conversation. It’s cozy and a bit glamorous at the same time.