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From Miu Miu to Loewe to Bally, some of the most notable designers are welcoming back the preppy — and divisive — boat shoe.
Otherwise known as a deck shoe or boat loafer, this footwear category saw a resurgence on the Spring/Summer 2024 runways, and has since been spotted on the feet of fashion‘s most in-the-know figures.
Steve Madden Sag Leather Loafer
First invented in 1935 by Paul A. Sperry, the style was born out of necessity, serving as a safe and practical non-slip solution. His namesake brand, Sperry (known as Sperry Top-Sider until 2015), truly became synonymous with the signature shoe. (Just last week, the brand partnered with Aritzia on the now sold-out Sperry X Aritzia Authentic Original Boat Shoe.)
Over the years, the once humble footwear choice took on a new life as a bit of a status symbol. While the possession of boat shoes is no longer a marker of wealth for its association with yacht ownership, per se, the streamlined silhouette now serves as a status symbol for a whole new reason: the biggest fashion houses are bringing them back.
Loewe Campo Leather Boat Loafers
By Anthropologie Lug Boat Loafers
Traditionally worn without socks and paired with a preppy wardrobe, the leather loafers are getting a “cool girl” makeover, often seen styled with scrunched, slouchy socks and more relaxed silhouettes. And, sometimes, the typical leather construction is thrown out the window altogether — take Loewe’s raw denim pair, for example.
Here are a few more favorites that make us wonder: Will boat shoes be the 2025 equivalent of mesh ballet flats?
Jeffrey Campbell Yachting Day Boat Shoes
Miu Miu Bow Canvas Leather Boat Shoes
Related: On Shoes Are Up to 50 Percent Off: Here Are the Brand’s Best Sneakers for Running, Walking and Hitting the Gym