# Classic shoes become a craze among young people and challenge the reign of sneakers

Loafers, derbies and oxfords have entered Gen Z's wardrobe, searches for them have soared, and the sneaker market is starting to feel the effect.

- Section: Luxury
- Published: November 13, 2026
- Address: https://ceoone.com.br/en/article/classic-shoes-become-a-craze-among-young-people-and-challenge-the-reign-of-sneakers
- Em português: https://ceoone.com.br/artigo/sapatos-classicos-viram-febre-entre-jovens-e-desafiam-o-reinado-dos-tenis.md

![A man's feet in beige trousers wearing brown woven leather loafers, beside a close-up of the shoe](https://pub-b80e49b2737940b3ab5d3f20d0578192.r2.dev/artigos/sapatos-classicos-viram-febre-entre-jovens-e-desafiam-o-reinado-dos-tenis-foto.webp)

Photo: Courtesy of Louie

## Key points

- Loafers, derbies and oxfords have become fashionable among Gen Z, and searches for them have soared.
- Retailers such as Renner and Louie report rising demand while the sneaker market slows.
- For creative director Camila Yahn, classic shoes are now worn for everything, as if they were the new sneakers.

What do Taylor Swift, Paul Mescal, Natalie Portman and Harry Styles have in common, besides crowds of fans? A taste for the loafer, a shoe similar to the moccasin, in which all four were recently photographed. In recent months the shoe has also been seen on Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo and the Brazilian actresses Isis Valverde and Marina Ruy Barbosa. And the trend is not limited to celebrities: a quick search on social media turns up a flood of posts about loafers and other classic shoes, such as the derby and the oxford.

The difference lies in the details. The loafer resembles a moccasin, with no laces. The other two, in the style of dress shoes, have laces and differ in the flap the laces tie together: on the derby it is open and more informal; on the oxford, it is closed.

## The interest in numbers

This year, worldwide searches for loafers grew 40% compared with the average of the previous five years, according to Google Trends. Searches for the derby began rising five years ago and are still climbing: in 2026 they grew 10% over 2025 and 350% compared with the average of the previous five years.

On Pinterest, the favourite network of people looking for fashion ideas, 48% of those searching for loafers are between 18 and 24, the age group leading searches for these shoes on the site. Young people of that age also top searches for derbies and oxfords.

The movement has reached the shops. At Renner, one of Brazil's largest fashion retailers, the category has been gaining ground over sneakers, according to Juliana Frasca, the brand's style director. "This reinforces a trend of greater demand for models that combine style, versatility and timeless appeal." At Louie, a Brazilian maker of classic shoes, founder and creative director Livia Ribeiro says interest has grown recently, driven by young people. "I think there is a fatigue with the disposable. The younger generation already comes with this culture of spending less and better."

![A man's feet in grey trousers wearing a brown suede derby shoe, with the laces untied](https://pub-b80e49b2737940b3ab5d3f20d0578192.r2.dev/artigos/sapatos-classicos-viram-febre-entre-jovens-e-desafiam-o-reinado-dos-tenis-derby.webp)

On a derby the lacing flap is open, making it more informal than the oxford. Photo: Courtesy of Louie

## Commanding respect at work

Marketing analyst Maria Eduarda dos Anjos, 23, wears classic shoes to get around the stereotypes attached to her generation. "It gives an air of professionalism, especially for someone at the start of their career. I need to assert myself somehow at work, and these shoes are a good way to do that. They command respect," she says. She wears them not only at the office but also in her free time, and sneakers have been losing space in her wardrobe. "I really liked sneaker culture. I didn't buy them because I couldn't afford them, but I was very attached to it. Now that I can buy them, I don't choose them."

## Sneakers feel the blow

A report released in January by Bank of America says the sneaker market is going through a period of slowdown and even decline. One sign was Nike's announcement that it expects revenue to fall next year and plans to lay off staff. Projections by the consultancy Grand View Research, on the other hand, suggest the loafer market will stay hot, rising from US$ 35 billion in revenue last year to US$ 49 billion in 2033.

Sneaker makers responded with models that borrow elements from classic shoes. At the end of 2024 New Balance unveiled a sports shoe shaped like a moccasin, and Puma and Adidas launched hybrids of their own. The mix stirred controversy. "Are these shoes hideous or genius?", asked the headline of a New York Times story.

For fashion creative director Camila Yahn, the hybrids are in fact a way to win over consumers. "Companies are figuring out how a sports brand can offer footwear that speaks to this style, because I don't think it is something that will end this year."

## The pleasure of dressing up

Yahn will not guess when the wave will pass, but she can point to where it began. During the pandemic, with people working from home, comfortable clothes such as sweatpants and flip-flops took over. "With the return to the office and the end of a post-pandemic cycle, there is a renewed pleasure in dressing up," she says. And Gen Z, in her view, is leading the movement.

"The coolest thing is that they dress up on their own terms. They are not trying to dress like an older generation. That's why they take these codes and use them out of context." Hence the hi-lo style, which mixes sophisticated pieces with casual items, such as jeans with classic shoes. "These shoes used to live in people's wardrobes, but in a very formal corner. Not anymore. People are wearing them for everything. It's as if they were the new sneakers."

## Sources and editorial notes

- Based on Folha de S.Paulo, November 10, 2026 edition, Ilustrada section, pages B8 and B9: report by Matheus Rocha.

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