The Secret to Carefree European Style Starts With These Shoes

Sperry, to its credit, follows through on that form with comfort-focused function: a double-stacked rubber sole absorbs even the longest boardwalk strolls, and yet the shoes are lightweight. They won’t anchor a tux, but these Venetian loafers, along with a pair of your breeziest pants, will hold you down for all the summer weddings, grad parties, and tropical getaways in your Memorial Day to Labor Day calendar.

Best Upgrade Venetian Loafers: Sanders x Buck Mason Leather Wholecut Loafer

From chinos comfy enough for WFH days to ’90s-inspired tee to a historic streak of wildly sought-after collaborations, Buck Mason is all gas, no brakes right now. It tends to cook with brands that have a storied past, which explains the recent team-up with U.K.-based Sanders, a shoemaker that’s been crafting footwear since 1873.

You might know them as the brand Steve McQueen rocked in Bullitt. And where Buck Mason could have gone the easy route with an updated, upgraded chukka, it instead went diving in the archive and came back to the surface with this, the Sanders Wholecut loafer.

As per the name’s previous email, it’s made from a single piece of leather—no seams, no layers, nowhere to hide a bad cut. That forces the team at Sanders to use premium hides only, and results in a stunningly sleek silhouette.

Inky matte-black leather and a meaty Oxford-style rubber sole means this loafer can hold down a straight-laced suit in ways that some other Venetian-type loafers might struggle. It also means the Sanders x Buck Mason Leather Wholecut loafer will be able to stay in your rotation long after Labor Day’s last beer is downed.

Best Handmade Venetian Loafers: Astorflex Venetian Loafer

Italian brand Astorflex has been in the shoe business for seven generations, still handcrafting each pair in its charming hometown of Castel d’Ario, nestled in northern Italy. The brand’s factory? Over 200 years old. Its methods? Surprisingly modern. Vegetable-tanned leather, natural rubber soles, and water-based adhesives channel sustainability mixed with old-world swagger.

We really appreciate that the loafer is made of vegetable-tanned—instead of tanned using chrome —calf leather. (Both your body and Mother Nature are much better off without more of the latter.) Moc-toe stitching adds extra structure right where your feet bend the most. A leather-covered memory foam footbed offers support, while the lack of a lining makes the shoe limber right out of the box. So limber, in fact, that you can step on the heel and have yourself instant mules.

Best Venetian Loafers for the Function: Jacques Solovière Lex Loafer

Okay, yes, fine: technically Jacque Soloviére’s Lex is a Belgian loafer, not a Venetian. But we’d argue that, A) the differences are minor, and B) whatever, it’s still Europe. And the woven raffia version of Soloviére’s slip-on maybe best represents the Venetian’s purpose: looking suave as hell, no matter the function.

Weddings in the botanic garden? Suave. Brunch date with the in-laws? Very suave. Flipping burgers at the family reunion? Suavissimo. The secret is (duh) the raffia. A natural fiber made from the leaves of the raffia palm, it’s lightweight, breathable, and usually handwoven, giving each pair an earthy, artisanal vibe. Lined with natural calf leather and built on a lightweight sole with a double-stitched welt, these loafers also keep comfort top of mind.

Pair them with a bathing suit and a good book, or a pair of high-waisted pants, or that cream linen suit begging to be let out of the closet. Then enjoy all the compliments.

Best Venetian Loafers for Fashion Guys: Hereu Off-White Sastre Loafer

The leather gurus at Spanish label Hereu make some of the most beautiful bags on the planet, so no surprise that their shoes are equally stunning. Inspired by Spanish Mediterranean culture, the brand blends folk art, traditional weaving, and an eye for details that whisper instead of shout.