Dexter Penny Loafer

FlashBack Friday

Penny Loafers call to mind east coast dress/casual, sock-hops, prep school style and classic American shoe making. This style crossed gender lines and has had a foothold in every decade since the 30's . I can see the crisp white blouse cinched at the waist, smart dark blue denim and shiny pennies peeking out from under the hem in the wardrobe of any woman who loves the classics. Gentlemen have enjoyed the penny loafer with office wear and into their weekends with khakis and no socks.

The split in the strap across the vamp was designed to look like a pair of lips and quickly became the point of embellishment with small objects; pennies in particular. When pay phones were prevalent kids had the coins for a call home niftily tucked in their shoes which proved to be functional and fashionable.

I love the cordovan colored shiny top-grain leather of my Dexter penny loafers. I still have the original pennies I put in them the day I bought them. I pulled out the pennies and read the year: 1997. I have had these gems quite a while. I slipped my feet into them yesterday and the leather had that old familiar feeling that only a moccasin stitched toe box can give you. To be honest, they are a bit small for me now...my feet have changed over the years. I am reluctant to give them up because they feel like a piece of history, my history and the history of American made shoes. Of course, Dexter no longer makes shoes in the U.S. anymore nor do they make the penny loafer. Companies change, evolve and Dexter has gone the way of quantity over quality and have carved out a niche in the bowling shoe market. I bet Mr. Alfond, founder of Dexter never saw that ball coming:)

I won't be surprised to see the penny loafer come back into style as the fashion pendulum always swings and it is truly a classic...So, if you have a pair wear them yesterday, today and tomorrow. Isn't it neat to know you can embrace nostalgia and be a trendsetter with one great pair of penny loafers?

 love and loafers,

abigail dagmar