Beckett Simonon Cohen Penny Loafer Shoe Review: A Business Casual Option For Summer

Style & Appearance

While many penny loafers are particularly casual, the Cohen features a sleeker design thanks to a thin and neatly-stitched saddle. Combined with the single piece of wholecut leather, these loafers are surprisingly dressy.

As a result, the Cohen is a very versatile shoe that can be worn with jeans or even a relatively casual suit.

Furthermore, the vegetable-tanned stacked leather heel and sole offer a sleek profile that isn’t too thin either. This offers visually strong yet not overbearing footwear.

I’m not usually a fan of moccasin-style toes as I find them a little too bohemian for my taste. However, the juxtaposition against the wholecut leather only extends the shoe’s versatility with added visual interest.

Finally, the touch of burnish on the toe is only very slight. For those who like such a finish, they’ll have no complaints here. However, even men who aren’t particularly keen on burnishing won’t find the effect too strong either.

Fit & Comfort

Thanks to the Blake construction, you can expect a very short break-in time, which means that you’ll be good to go in just a few hours.

The footbed is much like the other models in that it’s firm but not hard. Instead, it provides just the right amount of support for regular use whilst the provided inserts can add extra cushion.

The lining is soft and performs as promised thanks to the lack of stitching. Although we’d recommend no-show socks, these are fine to wear barefoot too.

In terms of size, I’m usually between a 9 and 9.5 US. For the previous Beckett Simonon shoes, I opted for size 9s. However, I found that although they gave over time, they pinched a little at first.

Therefore, I asked for 9.5 on this occasion. I’m not sure if it’s due to this or because the loafers run a little larger than their regular shoes, but I did find that I slipped out of them on occasion.

Adding two of Beckett Simonon’s supplied inserts in the shoes happily solved this. Nevertheless, I’d recommend that you would be conservative on your shoe size.

Dress Code & Formality

As hinted a few times, these penny loafers go beyond their typical levels of formality. Generally, penny loafers are regarded to be more on the casual end of the formality spectrum.

However, thanks to their sleek design, I feel that these can be worn a little more formally. Indeed, they excel as business casual footwear. However, I’d dare go on to say that they can be worn in more laid back business professional environments.

Their level of formality would even increase during the summer period and they’d be particularly fetching with a khaki suit. Personally, I broke a few rules by sporting the tan Cohen loafers with a navy blue made-to-measure suit by Black Lapel.

I particularly enjoyed the contrast that this offered when visiting the Dominican Republic with Paul Anthony. While the navy suit exuded seriousness and stature, it was offset by the warmth and easygoing nature of the tan loafers.

However, I wouldn’t do this on every occasion and would reserve wearing the Beckett Simonon loafers with suits on occasions that would allow it. Otherwise, it’ll be a footwear option that I’ll use for more business casual settings.

Presentation & Value For Money

As is standard with all the Beckett Simonon shoes that we have reviewed so far, the Cohen loafers are delivered in a box with an information card on the reverse of the lid. This card features a detailed breakdown that passionate shoe enthusiasts may appreciate. There’s also the same booklet that walks you through Beckett Simonon’s story.

Furthermore, all of Beckett Simonon’s shoes are supplied with convenient dust bags as well as the foam inserts that I mentioned earlier.

Finally, the value for money offered by Beckett Simonon never ceases to amaze us. It’s impressive that for about $220, you can pick up a handmade Blake-stitched shoe crafted with full-grain calfskin leather. On top of that, Beckett Simonon embraces ethical values, which is a challenge on a budget.

This is partly thanks to their Group Made-to-Order approach, which reduces overheads and allows for a lower retail price. Therefore, there’s always a wait when you make a purchase.

However, you can also get 20% off with our exclusive “BU20” code during checkout, which brings the final price down to $175.20!

Closing Thoughts

If you’re in the market for a pair of loafers, give Beckett Simonon some serious consideration. Their Cohen penny loafers are among my favorites at the moment and they’re much more versatile than other brands.

Thanks to the sleek and elegant design, these can be worn both relatively formally and casually. Therefore, they’re comfortable loafers that can play an important role in your shoe rotation.

Further Reading

Once you’ve finished reading our review, feel free to peruse our wide range of shoe content such as the following resources:

• Beckett Simonon Brand Overview
• Beckett Simonon Yates Brogue Review
• Best Business Casual Shoes For Men
• Other Beckett Simonon Reviews