Preppy shoes announced their revival with the buzzy boat shoe resurgence of 2024, and its formal cousin, the loafer, isn’t doing too shabby either these days.
As an enduring and endlessly versatile footwear style, the classic loafer has been interpreted in countless ways through the years. Lately, the day-to-night, slip-on shoe has been showing up with ruching — as in, the upper is pinched along the edge to create an interesting textural effect.
Loafers have long been a unisex style, and lately in 2026, the ruched loafer specifically is looking like the latest footwear option embraced by men and women alike.
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On the men’s side of things, actors Hudson Williams and Patrick Dempsey have recently showcased two different approaches to styling a dark-colored ruched loafer. The “Heated Rivalry” star partied the night away after his Met Gala debut last week in a dress-meets-sport look from the ERL fall 2026 collection. He modeled athletic shorts which contrasted a black tailcoat and formal collared shirt; meanwhile, glossy, tassel-adorned black loafers completed the look, layered with white socks — what looked like two pairs.
Dempsey, on other hand, attended the Fox Upfront on Monday with a more traditional take on the footwear. Wearing a light-colored ensemble that nodded toward spring and summer, the “Memory of a Killer” actor styled his dark brown loafers with creased white pants, a casual white top and a plaid light green blazer. In an example from 2025, Jacob Elordi contrasted his crisp white button down and trousers at the Venice Film Festival with black loafers featuring the noticeable gathering.
On the women’s side, Tracee Ellis Ross recently wore Versace’s Guanto Leather Loafers in brown, an ultra slim style with 3D Medusa hardware on the vamp. Attending the Inc. Founders House Los Angeles event in April, Ellis Ross styled the shoes with a gray ensemble including a matching top and shorts and a tonal double-breasted blazer.
Elsewhere, Mirja Klein and Elle Ferguson have showcased ruched loafer styles lately, with Klein wearing a Massimo Dutti style in Munich in April while Ferguson donned a Miu Miu pair in March during Paris Fashion Week. The latter style was one with ruching along the back section of the shoe as opposed to the front.
Looking at recent releases, Aritzia and G.H. Bass got in on the ruched aesthetic with a collaborative loafer collection featuring a square-toe option and round-toe option. While that drop targeted women, the collaboration between Grenson and NN.07 focused on men’s with a hybrid style: a mule loafer.
The ruched loafer is just one unisex shoe rising to the top right now. Also fitting under the slim shoe umbrella, the ballet flat is having a moment as it seems like more men than ever, including stars like Harry Styles, are embracing the traditionally feminine style.