Mar
7
2011
By
The Staff
of Valet.
 

Seventy-five years ago, G.H. Bass & Co. introduced the loafer to America. The design was inspired by an old Norwegian shoe, resulting in a lasting nickname—Weejuns. The style swept through Ivy-covered campuses and by the late 1950s, guys like James Dean and Paul Newman had made them officially cool. A few years ago, Bass unveiled a new, leaner style dubbed the Dover. Today, they're offering a return to a more classic style. The new Longwood model is a flat strap loafer with a hand-sewn, leather moccasin upper, cushioned leather footbed and sturdy leather soles. It comes in three colors, but we're partial to the cognac shade, ideal for the spring weather ahead.

$99, at Zappos

Enduring Classic

The Bass Loafer

  • Bass made the US Army's boots for the first World War.
 

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