WWD put six pairs of women’s loafers through a summer test, and one of the clearest standouts was a ruched Suede style from Alohas. The Barcelona-designed pair was built from sustainable, 100-percent cow suede in a coffee-like shade and carried a published price of $195.

That matters now because loafers are back in the shopping conversation as warm-weather shoes, even though they remain closed-toe and still carry the polished, winter-adjacent feel that has kept them in circulation for decades. The category has been getting fresh attention again through pop-culture references, celebrities and It-girls, which helps explain why a summer roundup devoted to them lands in the middle of the season.

The six-pair lineup leaned on variety. Along with ruched styles and Suede options, the test included penny loafers, a nod to the look that G.H. Bass’ Weejuns helped popularize in the United States in the 1930s. Among the names in the mix was the Steve Madden Madison, a black penny loafer crafted from genuine leather except for the outsole and priced under $100, giving shoppers a cheaper way into the trend.

The push and pull is what makes loafers interesting right now. They are easy to wear with summer outfits, but they still read as structured shoes rather than breezy seasonal staples, which is part of the appeal and part of the hesitation. That same classic quality has also kept them open to reinvention over time, from heritage penny loafers to softer ruched versions.

What WWD did not settle is which pair should be the definitive buy. The test makes the Alohas loafer easy to spot for anyone who wants suede, sustainability and a fashion-forward shape, while the Steve Madden option gives the category an accessible price point. For readers deciding now, the takeaway is less about a single winner than about which version of the loafer best fits how they want to dress this summer.