How to recognise it
Leather or suede wraps the foot like a pouch, and a separate top piece is sewn on with visible stitching. The sole is thin and flexible, often with rubber pebbles, and there is almost no heel.
Where it comes from
North American peoples made the first moccasins; the name comes from the Algonquian word makasin. In the late 1970s Tod's made driving moccasins with a rubber-pebble sole popular.
Who and when it suits
The most comfortable summer shoes for travel, weekends and driving. They go with chinos, jeans, linen suits and shorts.
Variations and look-alikes
They come as driving moccasins with rubber pebbles, slipper moccasins with a fur lining, with tassels or a strap, in leather or suede. Slipper moccasins are the warmest. They differ from loafers in a soft sole without a heel.
How to style it
- Wear them without socks or with invisible ones.
- Keep suede out of the rain.
- For walking, choose a sturdier sole than driving models.
- With linen trousers in summer.
Similar styles
Frequently asked
01How do moccasins differ from loafers?
Moccasins are soft with no hard heel and the leather wraps under the foot; loafers have a firm sole and heel.
02Are moccasins good for long walks?
Driving moccasins with pebbles wear quickly; for long walks choose a sturdier sole.
03Where does the word moccasin come from?
From the Algonquian word makasin.