I often lament to anyone who will listen that J. Crew should be focused on developing its line of seasonless staples, instead of expending most of its energy on overly trendy styles like this multicolored “bib” necklace.
J. Crew’s fall collection is mostly devoid of frills that likely won’t stand the test of time, but the Leather Academy Loafers (also available in flannel, calf hair, tiger print, and metallic leather) in particular is a timeless style that I feel is sometimes in short supply at a reasonable price and with the right workmanship.
The leather used to construct the Academy Loafers is stiff, which I consider a feature, not a bug (but some online reviews might disagree with me on this point). The material does relax somewhat with wear, but I personally really enjoy the preppy priggishness of a pair of new penny loafers.
As for fit, the length runs true to size (with a longer toe box), but the width is narrower (between 2Aand B or N and M) than the width of shoes you might find at retailers like Ann Taylor or Nine West.
The Academy Loafers are reasonably priced at $178, though they are included in most storewide promotional events so you can expect (at a minimum) 15%-25% off the list price. The style is currently offered in three colors: a dark brown called “Bittersweet Chocolate” (shown here), a bright white called “Highland Mist,” and black. All three colors are extremely versatile, and I plan to own them all at some point.
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| J.Crew Academy Loafers in Leather // Bittersweet Chocolate |
Here are a few ways I’ve worn the shoes recently, but I especially enjoy wearing these brown loafers with medium-wash jeans and cable knit sweaters, a really unremarkable combination, but one that works well when every piece is polished.
J. Crew is currently running a 25% off store-wide sale (use code SCORE at checkout) and shipping is also free on all orders for a limited time. If you are interested in these shoes, now’s a good time to order a pair.
