Loafers are supposed to pair with dress pants, but Vans is putting them on a skate sole instead. The Skate Loafer wraps a traditional loafer last in chocolate brown leather, keeping the clean, understated upper that loafers are known for—while swapping in the durable rubber outsole typical of Vans' skate line. The two DNAs sit together without clashing.
Vans has been playing with the skate loafer concept for a while now, so the formula isn't exactly groundbreaking. But this chocolate brown colorway nails the balance: the deep brown leather is formal enough to wear with dress pants into the office, while the sole's thickness and tread pattern retain the attitude a skate shoe should have—it's not the kind of safe pick that gets instantly filed under "dress shoe."
