loafers

The trick with shopping the end-of-Summer sales is whether or not you'll actually wear your new purchase (like espadrilles or a great sundress) a month later. With this round of sale shopping, we make it worth your while with a cool crop of functional, flat loafers you'll wear now and later. As a testament to their staying power, this menswear-inspired footwear trend looks just as chic with a pair of cutoffs and a striped tee as it will with slick leather pants and a polished blazer come Fall. We're especially drawn to the printed, metallic, and tasseled pairs for added outfit oomph, though there's also a batch of more traditional varieties for the classically inclined girl. Click on to shop 13 perfect pairs to slip into now and well into Fall.

Yes, it's hot and sticky, and no, wearing loafers may not be the first thing that comes to mind right now — but you don't have to sacrifice your love of loafers just because the temperatures have risen. The easiest way to do this is to swap out your chunky Fall leather or suede pairs for ones in crisp, cool linen or canvas; the fabric will allow your feet to breathe and ward off any sweaty-feet situations. Plus, it looks oh-so-very Brigitte Bardot on a yacht in Saint-Tropez — sleek and nautical with a healthy dose of menswear-chic, and much more sophisticated that your beat-up sandals or sneakers. If you're feeling the Summer loafer look, just click through to shop eight of our editors' picks now.

Jessica Biel, Jaime King, Jessica Alba, and Katharine McPhee were all on the same fashion wavelength when they wore preppy pieces while out and about in NYC. What made each of their outfits standout is that they all paired their prep with pieces that made them cool. Jessica Biel wore her plaid golfer hat with a crochet tee, Jaime sported loafers that were edgily studded, Katharine rocked white loafers with a Louis Vuitton scarf, and Jessica Alba showed off green pants with a denim jacket. Step inside for a closer look at these four ladies and to re-create their preppy-chic outfits for yourself.

It's 5 o'clock somewhere, right? So kick back by taking your dressing cues down a notch or two. That doesn't mean sacrificing your style; it means trading in your sky-high heels for your slickest loafers or comfiest pair of pumped-up sneakers or opting for your worn-in boyfriend jeans rather than form-fitted trousers. Luckily, we've got 15 street stylers bringing their freshest off-duty styling skills to the table. Look to them for easy ways to punch up your denim-and-flats attire, quick sophisticated fixes to your laid-back LWD ensemble, and more. Ready to achieve your own version of weekend warrior cool? Just keep clicking.