Harry Styles’ choice of loafers for a long walk across New York has prompted questions about whether slip-on shoes provide enough support for extended walking.
Styles was photographed walking about eight miles from Brooklyn into Manhattan while wearing dark brown Prada Shuffle loafers before his residency at Madison Square Garden. The shoes are reported to cost £910.
The footwear attracted attention because loafers generally have less structure than shoes with substantial fastening systems. Dr Helen Branthwaite, chief clinical advisor at the Royal College of Podiatry, said the narrower forefoot of some loafers can compress the toes if the shoe does not match the wearer’s foot shape.
Orthotics specialist Christophe Champs also warned that walking long distances on hard city pavements in shoes with limited heel contour or arch support can contribute to foot problems. He said his clinic had seen a significant increase in patients with plantar fasciitis during the summer.
To test the idea, Guardian writer Tim Dowling wore his own penny loafers for several days and attempted to build up his walking distance. He reported toe compression, heel slippage and foot soreness, eventually stopping the experiment before reaching eight miles.
Experts stressed that the experience of one person does not necessarily mean Styles is harming his feet. Branthwaite said a person who is comfortable walking and performing in loafers may have feet that are well suited to the particular shoes.
Loafers have also become more prominent in menswear as trainers have appeared less frequently on some fashion runways. Footwear designers have pointed to renewed interest in slim-soled styles associated with 1970s fashion.
Styles was later photographed wearing flat-soled light blue trainers, suggesting his footwear choices may have changed after the New York walks.
Source: The Guardian
