For those of you just tuning in, this is the latest episode of Menswear Trends Live (2025), where the coats are big, the jeans are even bigger, and the shoes are—wait a second, folks. We interrupt this transmission to bring you breaking news from the footwear world: right now, the shoes are actually…tiny. Which is kind of a huge deal.
For a good few years, men’s footwear defaults were pretty well-established: hulking derbies, beefed-up loafers, cartoonishly gargantuan sneakers. But a year or so ago, a ballet flat craze signaled that change was afoot. Then, throughout 2024, the most-desired sneakers started to slim down too. Now, dress shoes have followed suit. It’s not just ballet flats anymore: A survey of designers on the cutting edge—essentially the footwear landscape you’ll discover below—shows that all manner of dressy styles have gone on styling Ozempic, from loafers to derbies to slip-on.
Lemaire Flat Piped Slipper
The words ‘Lemaire’ and ‘elegant’ are like salt and pepper—they tend to show up together. The French designer has been on the low-profile shoe train for a while, with this style leading the charge. Part loafer, part slipper, it gets about as close to your foot (and the ground) as it can, but the piped vamp and slightly square toe box are just two of the details that keep things interesting. They’re made from a buttery lambskin, and we’d make a bet that they’re already by the door of the best-dressed guy you know.
Saman Amel City Moc Loafers
Don’t get it confused, this is not a boat shoe—but it’s just as easy to wear. Made from a pebbled leather that feels more at home strolling around a dinner party than the deck of a majestic schooner, the blend of a loafer moc toe shape with a lace-up closure similar to a derby shoe means that Saman Amel’s already-iconic shoe can do the job of either.
The Row Black Canal Slip-On Loafers
Are you ready for your third icon of this style? The Row’s Canal loafer is, like everything from the brand, admittedly pricey, but the collapsible back and soft leather construction means putting it on is a cinch, which helps with the cost-per-wear calculations. We suggest getting the most relaxed, pleated wool trousers you can, a slightly too-big shirt, and striding about in these, safe in the knowledge that anyone who asks where your shoes are from will likely then sigh longingly, and say “Yeah, I thought so.”
Hereu Puntera Loafers
How do you give slippers an extra dose of shape? Add a sick little pull string. I bet you didn’t think that any shoe on this list would have something in common with a pair of Salomon XT-6’s, but here we are. Hereu hand makes all of its “soft shoes” in Spain, which along with being a sure sign of quality craftsmanship, has the added benefit of giving you the feeling that you were born to saunter around a delightful Andalusian town.
Marsèll Coltellaccio Slippers
Magliano Furlana Mary Jane
If you aren’t quite ready to abandon the lug soles, Magliano’s Mary Jane-esque shoes are here to make the transition a little easier. They boast the same streamlined uppers as the other options on this list, but come rendered in a sturdy cotton canvas that you don’t have to baby. The semi-rugged sole means they can handle a light sprinkle and (relatively) uneven terrain on a trek around town.