The top driving loafers to slip on for summer roadtrips
Whether you turn to Ralph Lauren or Crockett & Jones, a solid pair of driving shoes will shift your road-going adventures into a higher gear…
What do you drive? A low-slung sports car? A highly-polished, much-coddled classic? Or the latest, electric-powered roadster? Whatever your wheels, a pair of pebble-soled loafers will shift your driving into a higher gear.
Traditionally stitched in suede, these moccasin-style slip-ons feature a less-structured sole than your usual loafers; eschewing a full tread for a series of small rubber dots that’ll give you increased grip and pedal-pushing flexibility.
In the Gentleman’s Journal garage, we’ve parked a pair from Tod’s — finished in silky nubuck and detailed with racy, exposed stitching. You’ll find similarly-stitched penny loafer styles from both Crockett & Jones and Polo Ralph Lauren, also in suede. Or, for the original driving loafer, Car Shoe still offers the same high-octane, handmade design it developed in 1953. Take a closer look below — and happy motoring…
Crockett & Jones ‘Torino’ Driving Shoes
First up, Crockett & Jones. The Northampton-based shoemaker knows a thing or two about fine footwear — and these sumptuous navy slip-ons will stitch cosmopolitan, continental chic into every single step. They’re named ‘Torino’, for the Italian automotive haven (where car brands including Fiat, Lancia, Pininfarina and Ghia have all motored to life).
The shoes themselves have a broad, blunt toe and a generous opening to ensure they remain as ergonomic as possible. The cleated rubber soles are neatly divided into sections to guarantee the utmost flexibility, and that contrast stitching adds a sophisticated touch to the sleek silhouette.
Ralph Lauren ‘Reynold’ Suede Driving Shoes
The driving loafer is a classic design; as timeless as it is traditional. And yet, Ralph Lauren has managed to put a new spin on this high-octane style — delivering an unmistakably ‘Polo’-pitched offering called the ‘Reynold’.
In supple snuff suede, it’s got summer spirit in spades — and a moulded footbed comfortable enough to step you from supercar to villa to café to beach (and back again). Finished with a pebbled sole and featuring penny loafer detailing on the upper, it’s a versatile, good-value option.
Car Shoe Soft-Grained Leather Driving Shoes
The originals are often the best — and Car Shoe’s soft-grained leather slip-ons do nothing to dispel that notion. Ideal for roadtripping, these weatherproof, casual kicks are handmade in Italy to ensure unrivalled comfort and craftsmanship.
The soles are studded with tens of individually-applied rubber pebbles to ensure endless grip on your pedals, the tubular construction affords the shoes strength and the metal eyelets keep that leather cord in place — from where it snakes around the heel to that front-tied bow. And Car Shoe don’t do things by halves; almost five metres of fine English thread are used to create each shoe.
Tod’s ‘Gommino’ Driving Shoes in Nubuck
Lastly, another trimly tailored tour of Italy. Tod’s driving shoes are cut from a silky nubuck and feature a traditional tie finish across their uppers — accentuated by a subtly stylish, stamped Tod’s monogram.
Also available with a metal Tod’s ’T’ bar in place of those rakish bows, all of the brand’s ‘Gommino’ shoes are studded with rubber pebbles on their soles, and feature exposed handmade stitching in a complementary, slightly-contrasting colour.
This article was taken from the Summer 2022 issue of Gentleman’s Journal. Take a look inside the latest magazine here…
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