Penny loafers, the lace-less, buckle-less slip-on shoes, have been around since the 1930s. They were copied from a shoe style from Norway that were worn mostly by Norwegian fishermen. George Henry Bass of G.H. Bass & Co. Shoe Company picked up this shoe and redesigned it into the classic penny loafer that we now know today. He gave it the name “Weejun”, which is of course derived from the word “Norwegian”.
When James Dean (pictured above) wore the Bass Weejuns with his biker jacket and his pants rolled up, he made not just an undeniable fashion statement but also turned the penny loafers into a timeless piece of clothing.
Presently, loafers are worn by men, women, and children alike. G.H. Bass & Co. is still regarded as the maker of quality penny loafers. Their range of penny loafers has broadened to include both classic and trendier designs.
The Bass Freeway is one of the top-selling styles of Bass’ women’s penny loafers:
Bass Women’s Freeway, now 10% off at Shoes.com
For men, the smart and sleek Bass Alberta is the popular style:
Bass Men’s Alberta, $71.00 at Shoes.com
Check out more popular penny loafer shoe styles for men and for women over at Shoes.com.
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