History of the Loafer: the Timeless Classic for Everyday Wear

Classic, sporty and chic; GuidoMaggi elevator shoes for men combine contemporary trends with timeless elegance for a true must-have style.

For almost 100 years, the loafer has been making a mark on the fashion industry. Despite an appearance similar to that of Native American moccasins, loafers are believed to have taken their inspiration from Norway – more specifically, Norwegian fishermen’s shoes.

During the 1930s, American shoe manufacturers, Spaulding and GH Bass, began producing loafers based on this design, with the Bass brand opting for the term “Weejuns”, a play on “Norwegian”. These Weejuns became the must-have shoe for Ivy League college students and soon were seen on the likes of Fred Astaire, James Dean and John F. Kennedy. The shoes quickly became a symbol of success and privilege. And when Gucci opened their first store in New York City in the 1950s, they jumped on the trend, creating luxury loafers with an Italian twist and further cementing the shoe’s popularity with Wall Street executives and wealthy businessmen. The loafer was now being worn with suits and formal wear, as well as remaining comfortable enough for everyday.

Today, little has changed with the style of the loafer, as it maintains its luxury appeal. However, GuidoMaggi has introduced an innovative touch to provide shoes for short men that remain both comfortable and chic. These height increasing shoes feature a hidden elevator system to create height shoes that make you taller and more confident without sacrificing style or comfort.

The Marrakech is one of the classic elevator shoes for men. With a luxury Cordovan leather upper in a rich cognac shade, these chic elevated shoes can increase your height discreetly by 2.6 inches.

The Mongolia is another classic shoe with a contemporary finish, featuring black waxed calfskin leather for a trendy look and adding an additional 2.6 inches to your height.

The Manama and Seville are also ideal elevator loafers for maintaining a classic, sophisticated look.

For a sporty and more trendy look, the Bastia elevator shoes take inspiration from the classic loafer to create a contemporary shoe with a rugged striped sole, silver clamp and green leather upper, all while adding up to 2.75 inches to your height. For a more elegant look, the Saint Moritz can turn heads. With its glossy black leather upper and gray tassels, this stylish loafer will add a sleek touch to any outfit and increase your height by 2.6 inches.

Comfortably add a chic touch to your wardrobe with the Lausanne.

These elegant elevated shoes, with a 2.6 inch hidden heel, are handcrafted from calfskin with a glossy, rich caramel tone and a classic gold tone bit buckle. Continuing with the contemporary elegance, the Grenoble is the epitome of luxury and sophistication, with its high sheen black calfskin upper, its sleek shape and its luxury silver tone buckle. Adding 2.6 inches to your height, these loafers will add an element of refinement to any formal wear.