Good afternoon dear friends! Today has been a slow starter kind of day for me. There are several tasks on my to do list I really don’t want to do which means my ADHD brain has been in avoidance mode all day. Great for getting random things checked off the list (scheduled a bunch on non urgent Dr. Appointments), but not so great for doing what I actually need to do 😆. But don’t you worry, this is neither a task I’m avoiding, nor is it a task that using to avoid. This is my happy place. ❤️ There’s a reason I’m still blogging after 8 years… I’ve had crazy seasons as you well know, but continuing to share on here has been one of the constants in my life that has kept me sane.
Anywho. I’m very excited to share with you today’s post because we’re talking about shoes, and speaking of happy places… 😉.
I’ve been on the hunt for a long time for a pair of penny loafers, but I can be annoyingly picky sometimes when it comes to things I know I’ll have for a long time. I’m just not willing to settle anymore if I know I’ll end up passing it along because it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I noticed the Elba penny loafer earlier in September and right away I knew… they were the ones I’d been looking for, but I still waited a couple of weeks to be really, really sure (I told you I can be annoying). We’ll turns out it was a serendipitous pause because Freda Salvador reached out and offered to send me a pair before I pulled to trigger so a HUGE thank you is in order to the Freda fam for sending them over because… I’m in love.
I was leaning towards patent and I’m glad that’s what I ended up with because they add just a little bit extra to your outfit that I love and in a funny way they remind me of my cute little Italian Grandpa and the loafers he always used to wear. I love the nostalgia they give me every time I put them on, but I also love that make my outfits look so trendy and current because loafers are in my friends. As with all Freda shoes the quality of the Elba Penny Loafer is top notch, the stitching is beautiful, the leather requires no breaking in (which is saying something for patent), the soles don’t slip and slide, and there is nothing in the construction that itches, rubs or scratches.
I find them really comfortable to walk in, and I imagine they’ll get even more comfortable over time as the leather breaks in and molds to my feet (but as I mentioned there has been no painful break in period). I went with my normal size and they are a tiny bit big, which is what I wanted so I could wear socks with them in the winter, but if you want them to be just right I’d go down a half size.
Loafers are one of those things that you can really utilize however you want, but if you are looking for ways to refresh them for 2023 I’d pair them with looser, baggier fits. But not in a sloppy way. In this look everything is a bit slouchy and oversized, but it’s balanced by the prim cut of the jacket and the more fitted waist of the jeans. You don’t need to look like one of the crazier influencers to be trendy, it’s just all about taking a slice of what they’re wearing and making it wearable for real life. Paring your loafers with these more updated silhouettes instantly makes the loafers look updated as well. So if you already have a pair of penny loafers definitely give this kind of update a try, and if you don’t try out the Elba’s because they are a beautiful pair of shoes and I promise you will not be disappointed by them.
If you’re a first time customer at Freda you can use my code 15KARIN to save 15% off and while the Elba loafers are not on sale, there is a Friends and Family sale happening soon with 20% off select styles (including my Eddy Sneakers). They gave you guys early access through my link so you can shop before it’s open to the public.
Are you a loafer girly or are you a firm no? Let me know in the comments 😁 Love you guys!
Until next time,
Karin
