‘The ultimate dad trainer’: What happened when I wore ‘snoafers’ to the office

“They’re absolutely awful,” one style-conscious colleague told me. “Oh Gosh, they are dreadful,” another chimed in. “No, absolutely not… they don’t make any sense. Very ugly,” someone else spat out.

Here I am, fielding sartorial judgement from my colleagues on The Telegraph news desk. Earlier this morning, I bravely stepped into a pair of New Balance 1906L’s, a new sneaker-loafer hybrid. I paired them with my usual shirt and suit for a day at the office. The shoes, which fashion editors have dubbed the “Snoafer”, did not receive a great reception amongst the news team, to say the least.

But clearly they’re missing a trick: after appearing on the Paris Fashion Week runway as part of a collaboration with Junya Watanabe for the autumn/winter 2024 show, New Balance’s own label shoe went on general release for £120 in September, selling out in a matter of moments.

There is no telling whether New Balance will release more stock as its website is only allowing shoppers to sign up to alerts for “similar launches”.

Double breasted wool blend blazer, £320; Cotton oxford shirt, £110 and wool trousers, £190, all A Day’s March

For now, resellers are reaping the rewards with the grey colourway being traded at a significant premium. On today’s market a fresh pair of the 1906Ls will set you back as much as £300, suggesting they are in high demand.

I call for cooler heads and more considered opinions. “They are sort of the ultimate dad trainer… the kind a California tech executive who currently wears Hokas to the office might slip into,” a revered Money writer suggested.

“Well, actually they are kind of cool, I think they can be pulled off in the right outfit,” that first colleague finally conceded.

I later wore them to the pub, which prompted mixed and often unsolicited feedback from punters spilling onto the streets of Soho. If you are ever short of friends or a conversation starter, stick these on your feet and every Tom, Dick and Harry will approach you with their two cents. The next day I wore them to the gym where they handled the stairmaster with aplomb. Who said fashion can’t be functional?

Wool blazer, £270 and trousers, £160; Cotton oxford shirt, £110, all A Day’s March

The release comes amid a wave of interest in classic loafers, which have made a huge comeback over the past 18 months or so. Last sported by Sloane Rangers – think Princess Di in her Tod’s – retailers have reported a sharp rise in demand for penny, tassel and horsebit styles.

Gucci’s Sabato De Sarno pounded home the popularity of the loafer in his debut show for the Italian fashion house in January, with most of the models seen wearing loafers. Crucially, De Sarno tweaked some of the brand’s classic designs by adding thick creeper soles to some shoes and sleeker lines to others to cater to a more modern audience.

The American brand G.H. Bass & Co started selling penny loafers in the 1930s, and they’re still going strong today with their Weejuns being a popular choice among the east London orange wine crowd. Brands such as Duke & Dexter have emerged in recent years as the popularity of the loafer has grown, with the London-based brand offering an excellent range of both modern and classic designs.

Tim Little, the creative director and CEO of Grenson, says the British shoemaker has seen a surge in interest among younger shoppers looking for a more polished aesthetic when it comes to footwear.

“About 18 months ago we saw that people were dressing up and moving away from athleisure,” he tells me. “We were witnessing the pendulum swinging and moving away from the ‘slouched around’ look. People were getting suits made and then around 12 months ago, dress shoes really started gathering momentum.”

At the fore of the trend towards dressing up is UK fashion influencer and model Reuben Larkin. He has built a following hundreds of thousands strong based on his vintage suit collection and penchant for penny loafers.

“They are better looking than some running trainers, but I think going on a run is the only thing you should wear them for,” says Larkin of New Balance’s foray into the loafer market. “But then a classic running trainer is probably a better option than a wannabe loafer.”

However, he gives a decisive “no” to sporting them to the office. “Wearing them with a suit or any classic menswear would just look awful,” he tells me.

Shirt and jeans, Alex’s own; 1906L shoes, £160, New Balance

But then again, New Balance’s website describes them as a reimagination of the “classic penny loafer”, going on to say: “The juxtaposition of sneakers and more formal attire isn’t a new idea, but it’s never been done quite like this. This design doesn’t just blur the lines between high-performance heritage and cutting-edge fashion; it erases the distinction altogether.”

The launch represents a sports brand trying to get a piece of the pie of an adjacent market. And while it is not a well trodden path, it is not uncharted territory. So time will tell if they are a success and if they spawn more shoes of a similar ilk.

“Maybe we will look back in 100 years and people will be wearing the…‘Snoafer’ because of its legacy, you never know,” Larkin says, though he remains sceptical.

It is, however, important to remember that looks don’t count for everything. All one has to do is consider the recent popularity of Vibram FiveFinger shoes, and the enduring appeal of Crocs. Perhaps this is the dawn of a new era.

Watch this space.