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- M.Gemi Felize in Leopard Suede
- Le Monde Beryl Venetian Slipper in Grigio
- Tory Burch Bunny Knot Smoking Slipper in Black
- Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafer in Azure Blue Velvet
- COS Croc-Effect Leather Loafers in Black
When I was living in New York City back in the day, I saw Belgian flats all over the city. It was the shoe that said you were put together without trying. This flat is basically back to the 2000s: the smoking slippers fashion people are investing in now are the Belgian flat reinvented, in plush velvets and rich colors, and I could not be happier about it.
Why Smoking Slippers Are Everywhere Again
Smoking slippers sit lower and sleeker than loafers, with a seamless, slip-on shape and none of the hardware. They started as indoor lounging shoes, which is exactly why they feel so relaxed, but the new versions are finished enough for dinner. After years of ballet flats and chunky loafers, this is the elegant middle ground, and the pair that makes everything from trousers to dresses look a little more expensive.
The Best Smoking Slippers to Shop Now
The M.Gemi Felize in Leopard Suede is the pair that comes closest to the originals I remember: true moccasin construction made in Italy, one piece of suede forming the sides and sole, so it molds to your foot over time. Leopard reads like a neutral, the same way it did back then. View the M.Gemi Felize in Leopard Suede.
The Le Monde Beryl Venetian Slipper in Grigio is handmade in Italy in the palest gray mesh, which keeps the classic shape feeling light and modern. It is the pair that makes jeans and a white shirt look considered. View the Le Monde Beryl Venetian Slipper.
The Tory Burch Bunny Knot Smoking Slipper in Black leans into the evening side of the trend with quilting and a tiny knot detail. It is the dressiest pair here and the one I would wear to dinner. View the Tory Burch Bunny Knot Smoking Slipper.
The Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafer in Azure Blue Velvet adds the horsebit detail to a plush blue velvet upper. The blue is rich without being loud, and it works with denim the way the old Belgian browns did. View the Sam Edelman Loraine in Azure Blue Velvet.
The COS Croc-Effect Leather Loafers in Black trade velvet for a croc-embossed leather with the same low, seamless profile. If velvet feels too precious for every day, this is the pair that makes basic trousers look sharp. View the COS Croc-Effect Leather Loafers.
Photo credit: M.Gemi
Photo credit: Le Monde Beryl
Photo credit: Tory Burch
Photo credit: Sam Edelman
Photo credit: COS
How to Wear Smoking Slippers
Wear them with straight-leg jeans and a blazer, with trousers and a silk shirt, or with a simple black dress when heels feel like too much. Velvet reads polished rather than precious as long as the rest of the outfit stays simple. If you remember the Belgian flat years like I do, welcome back. If this is your first round, start with a color you love and wear them with everything.
