The Belgian loafer is one of those models that is hard to make different than every other brand. There is not much to the model, in terms of design, and if you start changing it too much, you run the risk of making it a completely different loafer. What has always stood out to me is the shape of the vamp/apron/tongue piece. That line that leads from your instep to the toe box is the make-or-break in a good Belgian loafer vs a bad one. The CNES x Natalino collab made that line perfect, in my humble opinion, and presents one of the cleanest Belgian loafer styles around.
If you are like me, you are probably asking ‘who is Natalino?’ According to their website, ‘Natalino is a London based independent clothing brand producing a concise and considered collection of relaxed, elegant classic menswear.’ Surprisingly, I had never heard of them until today, but after perusing the site, I must say, I like their style! I will definitely have to visit their physical location the next time I am in London.
What really made me appreciate the CNES x Natalino collaboration Belgian loafers was seeing the Dark Brown Suede version on the foot in the above, left photo. It sits perfectly and the cut is just right. But these are the types of things that I notice. After all, a well made shoe with a bad shape and a bad design is just a bad shoe. And that is what makes this a great shoe.
The Details
- Italian Suede
- Blake Construction
- Thin rubber sole for grip/durability
- Made in Vietnam
- Priced at $247
Potentially even cooler, although not the focus of the post, is the butterfly loafers they have, also in collaboration with CNES. These are lovely. And welted. And priced at only $307! Hard to beat.
The CNES x Natalino collaboration seems to be a smart one. I look forward to seeing what they conjure up next. For now, for you loafer lovers out there, here are 4 very cool options for you!
Learn more here: https://natalino.co/collections/footwear
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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***CNES is a supporter of The Shoe Snob Blog and you can consider this a sponsored post***
