Ask any fashion editor: Saint Laurent’s Le Loafer is the shoe of the season. It’s the kind of quiet-luxury classic that A-listers and FROW regulars go crazy for, with its supple black leather, diddy heel and, of course, that famous crinkle detail around the curved toe.
You needn’t take our word for it. Look to eternal It-girls Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz, who’ve both modelled the preppy style in recent months. And the hype has passed down to us mere mortals too, with global fashion platform Lyst naming it among the season’s hottest products, with a 66% month-on-month search increase. In other words, the £880 shoe is having a moment – albeit a very, very expensive one.
Honestly, we don’t have a month’s rent to drop on a pair of loafers. But here’s the good news: M&S has dropped a dupe so convincing it deserves its own Lyst entry.
The high-street store’s £56 Leather Loafer is sleek, shiny and even has the same signature slit detail across the shoe’s tongue as the Saint Laurent original. The crinkled finish mimics Saint Laurent’s signature polish, while the structured toe and low heel give it that smart, borrowed-from-the-boys charm.
M&S’s plain black leather is truest to the original, but for an AW25 twist, we’re huge fans of the suede incarnation too. There’s a stylish deep navy, but our undeniable favourite is the luxe chocolate suede – a great way to dip your toe (pun intended) into the season’s hottest colour.
Both the leather and suede versions have racked up hundreds of five-star reviews, with reviewers raving about the Insolia Flex technology, which is basically a special insole that makes sure your foot is supported while you walk. Sexy? Not particularly. But trust us: after wearing slip-on loafers all day, your trotters will be very thankful.
As far as we’re concerned, these loafers are the best of both worlds: investment look, non-investment price. Pair with calf-skimming socks for the perfect AW25 combination (don’t worry, cover the socks with jeans so you just get the occasional flash). Honestly, they’ll look so good that no one will notice if it’s YSL or M&S on the label.
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