A Brief History of Aimé Leon Dore Loafers

In just a couple years, they've become a new summer shoe staple.

First invented in 1936, the penny loafer as we know it today began as the Bass “Weejun,” a silhouette that G.H. Bass of Wilton, Maine reinterpreted from a pair of Norwegian slip-ons (hence: “Weejun” for short). Bass is still synonymous with a variety of affordable loafers with a moccasin-style toe (or “moc toe,” if you’re a menswear nerd), meaning you c…