Once winter arrives, it’s unfortunately time to retire our ballet flats to avoid soaked socks and frozen toes. But when you need a sleek, smart shoe , something dressier than a trainer but more walkable than a heel, there’s one style that reliably steps back into the spotlight: the loafer.

Recent seasons have seen the classic loafer shape reimagined into a softer silhouette. The latest evolution? Ruched loafers. While the traditional loafer often brings to mind emergency pit stops for blister plasters, with its firm, structured sides notorious for digging into ankles, this new iteration is refreshingly different. Ruched loafers skip the usual "breaking-in" phase altogether.

© Getty Images Ruched loafers are the latest iteration peppering the street style set

A far more comfortable

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