Introduction

The epitome of Victorian-era dandyism, dress slippers are a controversial style currently making waves within the industry. Also known as a Prince Albert slipper (the royal was said to be a fan), they were initially designed as a house shoe for Victorian men hosting formal dinner parties in their homes.

However, over the past couple of seasons the industry has been pushing the silhouette as a modern everyday footwear style, not limited to the privacy of gentleman’s clubs or the most formal of events. Featuring in a wealth of current lookbooks and campaigns, from a variety of brands, they are now paired with everything from smart-casual staples to red carpet tailoring (Ryan Gosling is a fan).

A silhouette that is bound to divide opinion with our readership, the FashionBeans team are of the opinion that this rakish footwear option is bold, brave and brilliant – guaranteed to elevate both your formal and casual ensembles up a notch or two.

The Dress Slipper

Defined by their obvious slip-on style and slight heel, dress slippers are often textured in appearance, due to their traditionally velvet or suede outer. Luxury, heritage-inspired styles can also feature detailing such as tassels or embroidered monograms.

A louche option, in comparison to other popular styles such as the brogue, penny loafer or monk strap, the dress slipper is steeped in heritage and a real moniker of elegant metropolitan style.

As sharp as they are comfortable, dress slippers are a surprisingly versatile, everyday footwear alternative. Often considered a lavish lounge option, reserved for the Hugh Heffners of the world, they’re no longer restricted to the mansion or the townhouse.

As good for black tie as they are for a weekend shopping session, they’ve stepped out of their ‘toff’ typecast and become an all-purpose shoe. Intimidating as they may seem, the trick is to wear them like you would a pair of driving shoes, loafers or monk straps – doing so with confidence and without any second-guessing. The dress slipper doesn’t need to be a conscious effort to pull them off; sub them straight into your current looks and don’t think twice.