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J.Crew Just Dropped Next-Level Loafers in Collaboration With Blackstock & Weber

Photo credit: Courtesy
Photo credit: Courtesy


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Loafers have had a hell of a run lately. Once the province of trad types and the lace-phobic, the humble slip-on shoe has been transformed into one of the flexiest footwear options you can choose on any given day. That's thanks in no small part to Chris Echevarria, the guy behind Brooklyn-based brand Blackstock & Weber. Instead of going the tried-and-true route, Echevarria takes the loafer—penny, tassel, bit, and even mule—and thoroughly freaks it. Looking for something in (faux) snakeskin, yellow pebbled leather, or raw denim? He's your man, and Blackstock & Weber your resource.

This is all by design. "It was very intentional from my part to create something that is different within the space. Our loafer doesn't look like anybody else's loafer," Echevarria told Gear Patrol in July of this year. "You won't confuse it. You'll know it when you see it. It doesn't have any logos on it, but you fucking know what it is when you see it. It's like seeing a spaceship drive down Fifth Avenue."

Considering Echevarria's resume, it's not particularly surprising that he's taken such a savvy view of the market and where his brand fits in. The guy's a fashion veteran, after all, studying at FIT before working at J.Crew back when the brand was in its Liquor Store-era heyday. Now, years after launching his own venture, he's having a bit of a full-circle moment, partnering with J.Crew on a pair of the waviest loafers the retailer has ever had on its (digital) shelves.

The collaborative iteration of Blackstock & Weber's signature Ellis penny loafer features snuff suede paired with dappled pony hair, taking the two-tone motif and turning it into something funkier and, perhaps counterintuitively, a little more toned-down and easy to wear. A chunky leather sole gives the silhouette the necessary heft—what's worse than overly dainty loafers?—and the made-in-England construction means these are the kind of shoes that you'll be able to wear for many years to come.

The only catch? Well, Blackstock & Weber has a nasty little habit of selling out. And considering how good these new shoes look, it wouldn't come as a surprise if they do just that, and fast, too. The only solution? Get your pair now and save yourself from taking the L later.

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