Thanks to juiced-up and highly-embellished hardware with expanded proportions, the staid shoe is soft-shoeing out of its stuffy sartorial comfort zone and into chunky-loafer territory. Plus, the addition of sky-high treaded soles means that the brogue offers quite a bit more shock absorption than its more delicate predecessors — upping the support factor just in time for warm-weather walkabouts. Ahead, find 24 bulked-up loafers that will help you stomp into a new season.
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Franco Sarto Bazel Lug Sole Loafer
No fashion-quest is complete without a quick stopover at Nordstrom Rack, where of-the-moment brand-name goods lie in wait at a fraction of their original retail cost. With a topstitched detail and sky-high treaded soles, these streamlined patent loafers check every style box — at 50% off.
Franco Sarto Bazel Lug Sole Loafer, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Marc Fisher Morris Lugsole Loafer
These ultra-platformed lugsole loafers are leaf stompers if we've ever seen them.
Marc Fisher LTD Morris Lugsole Loafer, $, available at Marc Fisher
Zara Lug Sole Buckle Loafers
You can't go wrong with an oversized buckle and an under-$80 price tag.
Zara Lug Sole Buckle Loafers, $, available at Zara
Camper Walden Leather Loafers
Burgundy monochrome for fall? Groundbreaking.
Camper Walden Leather Loafers, $, available at Camper
Free People Decker Penny Loafers
This khaki-colored brogue offers a go-go-flavored option for card-carrying members of the modern-day mod squad.
FP Collection Decker Penny Loafers, $, available at Free People
Dolce Vita Aubree Platform Loafers
A chic pair of chunky loafers proving that wearing white after Labor Day is, indeed, a very good look.
Dolce Vita Aubree Platform Loafers, $, available at Anthropologie
GOR Shoes Handmade Loafers
Yup, even Etsy’s getting in on the game. We can see this stylish and affordable pair becoming a closet staple this season.
GOR Shoes Handmade Loafers, $, available at Etsy
Vagabond Carla Platform Loafers
If you're looking to stray from the ol' lugsole style, then look no further than this here pair of unexpectedly groovy platform loafers. Business on the top, party on the bottom?
Vagabond Carla Platform Loafers, $, available at Free People
Madewell The Corinne Lugsole Loafer
A lug sole in a caramel tone? Say less.
Madewell The Corinne Lugsole Loafer, $, available at Madewell
G.H. Bass Estelle Brogue Weejuns
A pair of shiny tasseled loafers from one of the brogue's original auteurs is a great way to dip your toes into the world of chunky footwear.
G. H. Bass Estelle Brogue Weejuns, $, available at G. H. Bass & Co
Rick Owens x Dr. Martens Bex Leather Brogues
If you’re ready to take your loafer-love to the next level of spendiness, you could also try the heritage footwear brand’s collaboration with Rick Owens.
Rick Owens + Dr. Martens Bex Leather Brogues, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Jeffrey Campbell Librarian Loafer
We came for the trendy monochrome look of these shoes and stayed for the block heel and perfectly exaggerated sole.
Jeffrey Campbell Librarian Loafer, $, available at Nordstrom
Sam Edelman Tully Lug Sole Loafer
An optic white finish, horsebit hardware, and elevated lug soles make these mod clompers an obvious contender for “spring shoe ride-or-die” status.
Sam Edelman Tully Lug Sole Loafer, $, available at Sam Edelman
Nine West Chain 3 Loafer
The blingy, Cuban-link detail is adorning loafers left and right right now, and we’re loving this affordable, streamlined take that boasts amped-up hardware.
Nine West Chain 3, $, available at Zappos
Bass Whitney Super Lug Weejuns
Even though Bass has been making their classic Ivy League favorite since 1936, they’re keeping the silhouette current with some of-the-moment details. We’re gaga over the raised sole of this bad and bookish shoe.
G.H. Bass & Co. Whitney Super Lug Basic Weejuns, $, available at G. H. Bass & Co
Charles & Keith Two-Tone Leather Penny Loafers
FUN! These might be our favorites so far. Simply add a bouncy, bright-yellow sole to a classically styled upper and voila — a shoe that you’ll look forward to trodding ’round in all season long.
Charles & Keith Two-Tone Leather Penny Loafers, $, available at Charles & Keith
Steve Madden MiriLoafer
We’re actually a little bit scared of Steve Madden’s shiny, ginormous, and blinged-out loafer mule. The super-stompy sole and massive gilded hardware is not for the faint of heart — but if it’s an entrance you’re looking to make, you can end your search now.
Steve Madden Miri Loafer, $, available at Zappos
Vionic Cheryl Loafer
A wolf in chic clothing? We found a stylishly thick-soled loafer hiding in the comfort-footwear section of Amazon.
Vionic Cheryl Loafer, $, available at Amazon
Mango Track Sole Leather Shoes
Everything about these loafers is chunky — the block heel, extreme tread, nice rounded toe, and chic muted color.
Mango Track Sole Leather Shoes, $, available at Mango
Leather Crystal Embellished Loafers
We rely on this Danish contemporary brand to inject the best basics with a dose of Scandi kook-chic, and Ganni’s take on the chunky shoe — a citrus-tinted pop of color topped off rhinestone hardware — does not disappoint.
Ganni Leather Crystal Embellished Loafers, $, available at Ganni
Salvatore Ferragamo Loafers
In the world of status-y logo hardware, this Italian brand’s rounded insignia ranks high on the recognizability scale. They don’t come cheap, but these Ferragamos offer the most expert blend of tradition and trend that we’ve seen so far.
Salvatore Ferragamo Rolo Loafers, $, available at Shopbop
Gucci Leather Lug Sole Loafers
Classics, indeed. There’s a little too much here to properly unpack, but let’s just say that these pumped-up clodhoppers are what sartorial investment dreams are made of.
Gucci Leather Lug Sole Loafers, $, available at Farfetch
Caslon Millany Loafer
This metallic option features a sleek and classic silhouette with an extra chunky sole.
Caslon Millany Loafer, $, available at Nordstrom
Marni Square-Toe Platform Loafers
Oh, wow. That was fast.
Marni Square-Toe Platform Loafers, $, available at Farfetch
Eytys Angelo Loafers
We dare you to find a loafer that’s more overgrown than these streetwear-inspired behemoths. We’ll wait.
Gucci Leather Lug Sole Loafers, $, available at Farfetch
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