Unmarked Western Loafer in Saloon Tan
Blue Owl Workshop in Seattle is where it all started for me. My first pair of raw denim came from there, and that's when I really started caring about clothes. Back in the golden age of r/MFA, Blue Owl was at least internet-famous, a denim mecca that had just enough mystique and used to be hard enough to find, that walking in felt intimidating. I remember stepping inside, nervous that I didn't know enough to be dropping $100+ on jeans. Turns out, the employees were absurdly knowledgeable, patient, and more importantly, genuinely nice. I tried on a pair and was hooked.
Even though Blue Owl is best known for denim, they also do some seriously cool shoe drops. I've been eyeing their annual indigo-dyed Shoes Like Pottery for years but have never quite pulled the trigger. My latest obsession, though, is their Unmarked Western Loafer in Saloon Tan. A color called "saloon tan" promises a good time, and these absolutely deliver. Two-tone loafers are effortlessly cool. I don’t make the rules, I just report them. Most two-tone loafers are black and white, but these? Saloon tan and white. As someone with an aversion to black shoes, this feels like the universe balancing itself in my favor.
Then there's the tongue. Most shoe tongues are an afterthought--plain, unremarkable, functional but not interesting. Not these. These have triangle pinking. I won't pretend I know what that meant before today, but basically, it looks like they took a ravioli cutter along the edge of the tongue. And it works. Little touches like that make all the difference. Another standout touch: the insole has a gold Talavera-like skull stamped on it, a subtle but killer addition.
For my fellow shoe nerds, these loafers are Goodyear welted with Vibram soles. For everyone else, this means two things: (1) these shoes are very well made, and (2) when you eventually wear down the sole--many years from now--do not throw them out. Take them to a cobbler, get them resoled, and keep them going. Also, make sure that cobbler stays in business because it is a dying art. Remember, with proper care, these loafers might outlast you.
In terms of a pairing, these are begging to be worn with dark raw denim. But they'd work just as well with chinos and even fatigues. They've got that versatility where they'll hold their own in oversized fits too. With a suede upper, you're looking at more of a summer shoe so keep it breezy--a sample T-shirt, a lightweight short-sleeve button-down, maybe something knitted since that's the move right now. And if you're feeling in a Western mood, you have to add this western belt with silver plating on the buckle, belt keeper, and tip. I've been meaning to write about this belt for a while, but this will have to do. It is extremely cool.
One final note: resist the urge to top this with a cowboy hat. It might work, but unless you're an actual cowboy, let's not push our luck.
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