The Rise of the Men's Loafer

Friday, February 13, 2026

Sneakers have dominated men's style for at least the last decade. Among teens and twenty-somethings, however, there's been a noticeable shift in their footwear preference. All the young dudes are buying fewer sneakers. Instead, many of them are shelling out money for … loafers. Esquire creative director Nick Sullivan has a sturdy theory as to why this is happening—and what it means for you. You can read his dispatch below.

– Michael Sebastian, editor-in-chief

Plus:

The Loafer's Big Generational Shift

Cool kids have discovered classic footwear. That's good news in my book.

Sitting at fashion shows in Paris sounds all well and dandy, but it's not the only thing that happens during the fashion season. Alongside the much-hyped runway spectaculars by the big brands are countless showrooms offering appointments all over town to see casual clothing, tailoring, and accessories across the spectrum of men's style. These, for me, have the distinct advantage of getting up close to the goods, feeling the quality. You also get to talk to the people who make them.

One such encounter this time around was with my old mate, British shoemaker Tim Little, who joined the storied but slightly moribund shoe brand Grenson (established in 1866) as creative director and CEO in 2005 and lit a fire under it.

"About 18 months ago we noticed the big fashion brands started to delete sneakers from their runway shows," he told me over a steak au poivre at our seasonal and very unfashionable haunt in Bastille one night. "At the same time, we started hearing from our retailers that our youngest customers were bypassing sneakers in growing numbers and asking what they could get for their budget that—specifically—wasn't sneakers."

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30 Best Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gifts You Can Order on Amazon

Valentine's Day is, somehow, just a few days away—which means if you haven't snagged a gift yet, the pressure is on. The good news? Last-minute doesn't have to look last-minute. If you've got Amazon Prime, you've got a fighting chance, because two-day shipping can turn a looming romantic deadline into a perfectly timed doorstep save (assuming the delivery gods are feeling generous before that big dinner reservation).

So what's worth adding to your cart when time is short? Start with the classics that never miss: a great box of chocolates, an adorable stuffed animal, maybe a sophisticated and sexy candle. Then level up with gifts that have built-in quality time, like a Lego bouquet you can build together, or plan an at-home couple's spa-night kit with luxe self-care staples. Bottom line: Don't panic.

By Bellamy Richardson and Elly Leavitt

You Should Really, Really Take a Date to Wuthering Heights For Valentine's Day

Hear me out: Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights is the ideal date movie. You can make a three-tiered evening out of it. First, a dinner to discuss the Emily Brontë book and the never-ending debate about whether this is actually a romance or a warning. Then, cozy up together at the multiplex to watch Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi ravage each other amid the misty Yorkshire moors. After that, drop by the dearest church to confess all the impure thoughts it put into your heads.

Given that it's an 19th century drama overflowing with lavish gowns, opulent manors, and torrid star-crossed romance, a screening of Wuthering Heights might seem on the surface like more of a girls' night out, but any man who assumes that is making a mistake. The appeal is not only the R-rated drama's high spice factor, although it does have that. The true benefit to boyfriends and husbands during the high holy time of Valentine's Day is the fact that although Elordi's character is undeniably alluring, he's also a son-of-a-bitch. Few can measure up to the 6-foot-5 Australian actor in terms of dashing looks, but you don't have to do a lot to be a better man than Heathcliff.

By Anthony Breznican