Worn by our favorite blonde singer-songwriter, K-pop idols, and K-drama leads, chunky loafers are in style for their chic simplicity, ease of wear, and statement-making look. Classic loafers have been in style forever. They were initially designed for menswear, but in 2023, who really cares about who wears what kind of fashion? Exactly—no one should. Regardless, we’re all about the recent trend of chunky loafers on all kinds of people with all kinds of style. And while they seem like they’re clunky and heavy, chunky loafers could actually be very comfortable and versatile. You could just slip them on over your feet or over tall socks, and you’re instantly stylish.
You can find chunky loafers almost everywhere these days, but below are eight brands and stores that offer variations of the shoe that you can browse to find your perfect one. And let me tell you, when I found my perfect pair, I could not stop wearing them. So take the chance and get a new pair now—because we know you’ve been itching to.
CLN
The CLN Cerus Chunky Loafers are perfect for school, the office, or a night out. The smooth edges of the rubber sole is a subtle change that makes this shoe distinct from other loafers. If you’re not into this smooth look, CLN also sells the Caelyn and Colombine loafers for you to choose from.
H&M
Give off Taylor Swift in London vibes with these burgundy loafers with a gold chain detail. H&M’s chunky loafers offer that classic style in a deep, rich color that could make any outfit look a hundred times more expensive.
ZARA
I don’t know why, but I feel like wearing these Zara fringed loafers would make you want to imitate a British accent immediately. The studs give an edgy, rocker vibe to the classic loafer silhouette, and would pair well with a leather jacket or a sleek all-black outfit.
LONDON RAG
London Rag was able to seamlessly blend classic and modern in this heeled loafer design. The tassels, the white top detail, and the lug sole with a heel makes this shoe stand out while still giving a polished look. This shoe, along with plenty of other London Rag loafer options, is available on Zalora.
CHARLES & KEITH
Talk about a shoe for everyone! Charles & Keith offers their Metallic Accent Chunky Platform Penny Loafers in a variety of colors, and they also have a wide range of loafer options of all heel heights and uppers.
ALDO
Nothing looks more classic than Aldo’s Bigplan Loafers. Minimalist and solid, this leather shoe is designed like a typical penny loafer, perfect for someone who’s just starting their collection. Also, did you know penny loafers are called so because the slot in the strap across the upper was used to hold pennies for payphones way back when? You learn something new everyday.
UNIQLO
Even Uniqlo joined in the trend! Their own shiny lug-soled Comfeel Touch Loafer is simple and sleek, perfectly on-brand with the comfort and minimalism the Japanese brand is well-known for.
ANDANTÉ
Andanté is all about elegance, timeless pieces, and “classic leather footwear for a modern wardrobe.” Championing slow fashion, sustainability, quality, and fair trade, their shoes are handmade by artisans in Marikina. The Chunky Loafer in Cream is designed with long-lasting comfort and style in mind.
What’s in in fashion, especially for the new generation? A subtle mix of the classics, athleisure, graphic streetwear, old-money, and academia, that’s what. Whether you follow Western influencers or K-Pop idols, whether you call it “tenniscore” or Korean preppy academia, you would definitely recognize the rising popularity of the modern preppy, casual-cool aesthetic seen on the likes of Hailey Bieber and Kelsey Merritt.
The trend may or may not have enticed you to cop sweaters, tennis skirts, vests, collared knits, and subtly graphic pieces. If it hasn’t, then let these local brands, some of which are founded by Gen Z entrepreneurs, convince you to hop on.
East Prep Club puts a spin on old-school prep with subtly stunning graphic detail and an air of collegiate sophistication. Their pieces are inspired by varsity sports, classic charm, and stylish comfort. The brand also started a youth-led non-profit organization, The East Prep Project, that advocates for youth education, empowerment, and transformation.
Simple and sporty, Anakainoo Club boasts hoodies, shirts, caps, and giant neverfull tote bags all in their signature colorways perfect for the laid back individual. The lifestyle brand not just champions athleisure, but also being “healthier and happier.”
The Cloudnine Studios’ half-zips are classic, simple, and perfect to pair with anything. The brand also sells unique tsuno bags with their signature logo to complete an effortlessly stylish ‘fit.
A pioneer in the urban streetwear scene, Charlotte Folk’s pieces are statements in and of themselves. Their wide selection showcases the brand’s growth and creativity over the last few years, and their designs boast rich colors, aesthetically-pleasing detail, and an old-school feel the brand is now iconic for.
Prettiest also offers more casual and graphic pieces in colorful designs, but their collections all carry an air of youthfulness and laid-back fun. Their catalogue is often sold out, so always keep an eye out for new drops and restocks.
The time has come. Bobs, pixie cuts, and bangs galore. It’s that part of the hair trend cycle again where people are doing the Big Chop, and we are here for it.
The time has come. It’s that part of the hair trend cycle again where people are doing the Big Chop, and honestly, we’re living for it. Allure predicted that nostalgic, short hair styles are going to make a splash in 2023, and so far, they’re right. Bobs, wolf cuts, pixies, short bangs, and more are making the rounds in style these days, and maybe you’re thinking you should follow suit?
You don’t have to be going through it to feel an urge to cut your hair, but it has been proven to signify a certain change in one’s life. Whether it’s because of a breakup (Venus retrograde has been especially unkind, to celebrities at least) or simply wanting to spice up your look as you go through a lull in your life, sometimes a chop is just what you need. Check out Zendaya, for example, who rocks every hairstyle, but also posted that she “needed a little refresh.”
Zendaya/Instagram
Hair is tied to choice and agency, identity, and even culture. The freedom to do what we want with our hair is intrinsically linked to who we are. No wonder many people are loving their short hair—and as well as those who cry after regretting their new cut!
A hilarious scene in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag delves into what hair means to women, and it strikes a balance between being commentary on beauty standards and femininity, and being a reminder that hair doesn’t change lives as drastically as we wish it would.
But a chop could still affect our lives, give us confidence, and express our personalities and creativities. Whatever your decisions may be, hopefully it’s made with much thought and consideration.
TO CHOP OR NOT TO CHOP
If you do decide to chop, there’s plenty of styles you can experiment with. Aside from Zendaya’s voluminous layered, Rachel Green-esque hairdo, recent new celebrity chops include Kim Kardashian’s sleek bob (or FAB, depending on who you ask), Yujin of IVE’s cute bob with bangs, and Keke’s edgy, tousled ‘do. You can keep a “short” haircut still pretty long, or go wild with pixie cuts, bangs, color, and the like.
Taylor Swift announcing 1989 (Taylor’s Version) actually precedes some of these chops. Inspired by her short hair era in 2014 to 2016, people are chopping their hair off to signify their own new era beginning. It also ties back to the notion of agency—agency in taking control, agency in cutting hair, agency in Taylor’s reclamation of her discography. While Taylor herself has not returned to a short ‘do, it just goes to show that people place a lot of meaning in hair, haircuts, and hairstyles.
Other precedents to cutting hair could be stress, anxiety, or a need to feel in control. When emotions run high, sometimes we take it out on our hair. It could end up being a good distraction, or even an act of liberation. But essentially, before you give in to the universal urge to chop your hair, you have to consider at least a few things: why you’re doing it, what do you want out of it, and how would you feel once it’s done?
And while your personal decisions shouldn’t really be contingent on what’s trendy or how stressed you feel at a certain point in time, it’s always good to try new things. Be sure to not jump into things without any thought unless that’s what you really want to do. Ask the right questions and plan the right execution. Hair may not be everything, but it definitely means something.
Wondering what to wear for back-to-school is a perpetual problem for students everywhere. Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, expressing your identity through clothes is just as important as staying comfortable during those walks between classrooms. If you’re looking for inspiration, here’s a few things that should always be in your college wardrobe!
THE EVER-ENDURING SWEATER
Some college classrooms feel like the Arctic—that’s where sweaters, pullovers, and hoodies come to save the day! A simple sweater is an easy way to express your fashion sense even if you have to wear a uniform to school. From cotton and polyester to knitted fabrics and wool, you can easily find the best snuggly sweater to wear to fall asleep study in.
Between classes, extracurriculars, and a social life, you’ll need something as versatile as you. Graphic tees are characterized by three things: comfort, making a statement, and showcasing the personality of whoever wears it. And as an added bonus: wearing witty statements, pop culture references, or eye-catching artwork on your shirt is an instant conversation starter.
Some people like to wear heels or boots to school, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, you’ll most likely see everyone on a college campus in their comfiest (often most scuffed-up) sneakers speedwalking from one building to another. Find your favorite pair, wear them down, and let them carry you to excellence.
Finding the perfect denim pieces in the mall or even in thrift shops is almost as rewarding as an A+. A classic pair of jeans or a denim jacket goes with everything, and you can style them as casual or as elevated as you’d like, perfect for classes, org events, and even after school late nights at your favorite bar or restaurant.
The end of skinny pants is imminent. If you want to switch out your denims for those warm, relaxed days, no worries! As legroom and breathable fabric takes center stage in the current trend cycle alongside 90’s and 2000’s fashion, cargo pants have also come back to the mainstream in different colors and fits perfect for your own sense of style.
Don’t judge too hard—many people have agreed that socks with sandals are the pinnacle of comfort. Sometimes, you just don’t feel like lacing up your sneakers for a long day of 3-hour lectures. Thankfully, a pair of comfortable rubber, leather, or cork sandals will keep your feet comfy and supported all day.
The roomier, the better! Canvas totes allow you to throw everything you need for the day into one big, lightweight bag you can carry all over campus. So if you no longer want to deal with zippers and flaps or want everything right at your side, you can find tote bags that perfectly meet your needs and reflect your style—you can even get some customized!
While college seems like a place to show off, serve a look, and be trendy, don’t forget to choose what’s best for you, your comfort, and your goals. Stick to what works, but also try out new things once in a while! That’s what it’s all about.
Fashion and technology may seem like worlds apart, but they both play a pivotal role in the evolution of self-expression and self-actualization for the ever-stunning Liza Soberano
How far will you take your styling game? Apart from the usual tops, bottoms, kicks, and even outerwear or jewelry on occasion, how else do you express your personality? Over the turn of the past decade, people have been integrating technology into their daily fits. Tokyo street fashion has been a pioneer in this space, with teens rocking retro-tech like Tamagotchis and Game Boys as accessories, in working condition or not. For a more contemporary style, you see this reality in people who proudly tout their headphones, earbuds, and smartwatches—tech turned into statement pieces. However, people are now turning to a seemingly mundane item they already carry with them daily as their newest fashion accessory—smartphones.
This power in our pockets is now becoming more integrated into our fashion. No matter how varied your personal style can get, whether you like the expressive color clashes and pattern plays, or the classy elegance of formal wear, your smartphone is always by your side. Actually, one of today’s beloved online fashion mavens, Liza Soberano, admits to this as she finds herself right in the middle of an extensive style search. I got to sit down with the trailblazer herself and discuss the evolution of her style, the impact of fashion influence in today’s youth, and how our phones are becoming more personal than ever before.
Fashion is More Than Just Material
After having gone through multiple outfit changes throughout the production of this story, Liza comfortably takes a breather in a baby blue robe and reminisces on how far her journey in the industry of spotlights has taken her fashion game. “I think the industry that I’m in allows me to play around a bit, and that’s great because when I have a certain role [in film] and [pose] in magazine shoots, I get to try different looks, and that’s where I get to discover what I really like and what really fits me.” Even the worldwide industry has influenced her tastes, such as, “I’m super attracted to the K-Pop industry, like I’m obsessed with it. They’re always experimenting, and in every [group] comeback, they always have a different look and a different style approach. Sometimes, I wish I had the opportunity to do [that].”
However, more than the outer appearances that shift with every project, Liza opens up about how self-acceptance has become such a beautiful outcome of this exploration. “Back in the day, I would try to avoid anything too girly or feminine because I don’t like it when people notice me because of my body, or how much of a womanly figure I have. Now that I’m getting older, I’m trying to embrace that femininity in myself and I’m becoming more comfortable with my body. I guess that’s because I learn to love even my flaws, which I didn’t appreciate before.”
Liza focuses on a great point that needs to be mentioned time and time again: it’s how you feel about yourself and your outfit that will shine through, more than the glamour or how “put together” everything may seem. It’s a great perspective in answering the age-old question: Does the person make the outfit, or the outfit make the person? Initially torn, Liza gathered her bearings to settle in the middle, “If I’m trying a different look than I would normally wear on a daily basis… I think it [shows] a different side of me. But if I were to style myself in everyday fashion, it’s about me working my outfit more because it’s something that’s more personal. I’m not copying a certain trend or look, so it’s really my personality that has to come out and bring that outfit to life.”
The Trendsetter’s BFF
If you really want to get a good read of who someone is, pay attention to their wardrobe. They say first impressions last, and there’s no bigger first impression you can make than through your clothes. Unconsciously, however, we tend to look past the fashion and shift your judgemental eyes to the phone. Admit it: in this hyper-digital world, your phone says a lot about who you are. In fact, try to remember the evolution of your phone over the years, such as its features and looks. “People nowadays are so into cases and lanyards, or putting stickers and photos on your cases, and it’s telling of their fashion sense and their personality,” Liza Soberano shares.
Lots of people have been obsessing over their phones just as much as how they would obsess over a good designer jacket or the latest sneaker collab. It is today’s biggest essential, containing our most personal information, digital payments, and online access on-the-go.
“You don’t go anywhere without your phone, so might as well make it an accessory to your outfit.”
Liza Soberano on the next fashion statement
Of course, talking to someone who’s always on the pulse of fashion, beauty, and entertainment, I had to know what smartphone the Liza Soberano was packing in her purse and how it compliments her style and daily necessities. Fitting right on the palm of her hand is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, the latest in Samsung’s family of foldable devices and a stunning piece of tech. For Liza, when someone holds this phone, it’s an easy read of their personality: “With the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, you can tell that person is adventurous and a trendsetter because they want to be in the now… They want to constantly try out new things.”
And new is right, with its 6.7-inch Infinity Flex Display that impressively folds to square off the phone into a mere 4.2 inches—an exciting feature that puts you on the bleeding edge of technology. Liza finds this as both practical and suited to her interests, as she reveals, “I don’t like [big and heavy] phones because I like playing games, and I don’t want to get trigger finger or my wrists to hurt after playing. It also needs to fit into my pocket and small purses.”
The ingenious build is accompanied by every online leader’s essentials: a 120Hz refresh rate on the Dynamic AMOLED 2X display for smooth-scrolling through your feeds, an IPX8 rating that makes this the world’s first water-resistant foldable smartphone for outdoor adventures, a three-camera system for a variety of shots, and the unique Cover Screen on the face of the phone when folded closed for productivity without even opening the phone. Or, let’s face it, you would mostly use the Cover Screen as a display for high-quality, wide selfies using the rear cameras.
Yes, Your Phone Can Be a Personality Trait
It recently dawned on me how over the years, as smartphones constantly refine their functionalities to suit our needs, they are now being transformed into visual extensions of ourselves. Liza and I reminisced on this cultural shift we’ve grown with over the years: “Before, you would only have two [phone] colors to choose from: black and white. Although black and white are timeless, people nowadays want to show their personality through their gadgets and clothing. Today, people are all about diversity.”
The Galaxy Z Flip3 5G itself, accessories aside, already presents itself in a selection of expressive colors: Cream, Phantom Black, Lavender, and Green. In a playground of pop, Liza emanates personalities based on these colors, from the nostalgic, Y2K teenage dream that can play with Lavender and Green, to the timeless glamour of a woman all grown up with the equally timeless Cream and Phantom Black colors. It’s the visualization of a multi-faceted Liza, a woman who effortlessly comes off as both the nation’s sweetheart through her youthful aura, but also a queen of classical eras as she is often described as having an “old soul” fit for the 50s.
Running through the palette, Liza and I had fun trying to characterize the colors with their distinct auras. “Because the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G comes in different colors, you can tell automatically what kind of person that is. If they go for the Lavender, that person is probably more feminine and playful. If somebody goes for Phantom Black, you can tell they’re more serious. People who like Cream are more of the simple kind… and they know that phone will fit into each and every outfit they wear. Lastly, maybe the people that like Green are more of the masculine type, but maybe that’s just me.”
The Flip Side of Fashion
If this is where we are headed with the marriage of fashion and technology, then I’m here for it, and so is Liza Soberano. “I know a lot of people will try to match their phones with their outfits. I feel like a lot of people will be more conscious about that in the coming years, especially when people like taking mirror selfies nowadays and, [for example], candid photos where they’re just scrolling on their phones and their friend takes a picture of them, of course they want their phone to be at par with their outfits.”
This consciousness in one’s own appeal is stronger today than ever before. The urge for constant discovery and productivity keeps the online world abuzz, like sharing a great style mix in a soon-to-be viral TikTok, or finding new ways to multitask with your Galaxy Z Flip3 5G on Flex Mode while your hands can do more. However, as Liza and I got a bit excited about the future of fashion and technology, Liza opened up about a concern that hits close to home, and one we must all keep in mind: “I’m very conscious with what I post on social media because I don’t want to get hated on for things I truly love and [for me] being authentic… Honestly, I don’t like fashion police. I’m okay if you talk about me by myself, but I don’t like it when you compare me [and my outfit] to other people’s.”
So, as you begin to make your mark in society, why not do so by taking the lead in both fashion and technology? As Liza interestingly shared in our conversation, “Only 13% of the population are the people that try out things for the first time, and 50% of the population are the people that copy the people that try for the first time.” Be that top 13% who not only want to try new things, but also innovate with these new possibilities—new ways to snap a photo, to be entertained, to stay in touch with your friends and fans, and to be more productive.
If it isn’t obvious already, phones are indeed fashionable. So, as you take a look at your entire fit from head to toe just before you head out of home, and as you make some last-minute hair brushes or tugs on your shirt, take an extra minute to look at your phone and check if it fits your look—not just stylistically with the right color, but also literally as you flip it shut and slip it neatly into your pocket.
