Finally, a Luxe, Puffy, And Dressy Vans Skate Loafer
From a skating perspective, the Vans Loafer “Unchain” sneaker holds its own. Grippy outsole? Check. Protective midsole for board feel and impact? Absolutely. That all-leather upper? Built to take a beating.
However, this isn’t really a skate shoe. This is a loafer.
The Unchained Vans loafers are a sneaker that riff on the classic Slip-On shoe but with a penny loafer makeover down to the sleek all-black colorway.
Vans’ Loafer “Unchain” shoe is part of a growing wave of sneaker-loafer hybrids, joining the likes of PUMA’s Sophyr Loafer, the New Balance 1906L, or GOLF le FLEUR*’s patent slip-on.
These are shoes that exist weird space between business and play, a design clash that somehow works.
The overall package comes together in a final streamlined design with a bit of puffiness, almost as if the Vans team wanted to slightly inflate the shoe.
It channels the spirit of those dummy thick Prada stompers we saw a few years back as well as Proenza Schouler and Vans' own puffy collab.
Currently, this skate loafer is available at Japanese retailer ABC MART for $40. The only downside, for all of those with adult-sized feet, is that this iteration of the Vans Loafer “Unchain” shoe is only available in kids' sizes. However, there is no shortage of similar adult-sized Vans.
We’ve seen Vans take on the loafer multiple times recently, for instance, with the style reaching its design peak in the Japan-exclusive "Bracelet" Slip-On, Harbor mules, and the actual Vans skate loafer.
All signs that Vans ought to keep on top of the classy slip-on sneaker styling.
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