6 women put Everlane's new $155 Day Loafer to the test — here's how it stacked up

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.Everlane just released the Day Loafer ($155), a modern take on the classic style with a few upgrades for added comfort, like soft leather, cushioned insoles, and an elastic back for the ease of a sensible slip-on. Six women on the Insider Picks team took the shoes to the streets to see if they really are as comfortable as Everlane says.Overall, we loved the simple, minimalist style of these loafers and found them to be more comfortable than most loafers we've worn, though not the most comfortable Everlane shoes we've ever tried (that honor belongs to the Day Gloves from the same collection).You can find our full reviews below, or go straight to Everlane to get a pair of your own. The hunt for a pair of sophisticated shoes that feel a lot more comfortable than they look can often be a fruitless attempt. Loafers top the list of classy but uncomfortable, typically boasting too-slim fits, too-tight toes, and soles that feel like you're sliding on a slab of slick ice. Comfort, style, and simplicity are the trademarks of Everlane's cult-favorite Day Glove flat and equally beloved Day Heel, Day Boot, and Day High Heel. So, when it comes to stylish shoes that keep our feet happy all day long, the women of Insider Picks turn to Everlane for minimalist, easy styles that look and feel great, The brand just added a new member to their Day Family, the Day Loafer — and it's no exception, garnering the same excitement as its predecessors. Everlane's Day Loafer is a sharp but simple take on the classic. You won't find any crazy design details or hardware, just a classically styled loafer with a few modern upgrades. The five color options — black, dark rose, white, caramel, and pale yellow — are the perfect neutral and light color palette to welcome spring. Each pair boasts 100% buttery-soft Italian leather that molds to your foot, an elasticized back for slip-on ease, and a cushioned insole that your arches will thank you for.Everlane promises that these smart and stylish shoes can take you from the office out to dinner and everywhere in between, keeping your feet super comfortable while you go about your day, no matter what your day may bring — because we all have more important things to do than tend to blisters on our toes. At this point, many women on the Insider Picks team have acquired a small army of Everlane shoes — they're all a great balance of function and fashion at a price that actually feels fair. To see if the newest members of the Day Family lived up to the hype, we had to try them out ourselves. Six women on the Insider Picks team got the chance to test the Day Loafer.Keep reading for our thoughts (which were largely positive) and to learn if these shoes are right for your daily needs.Connie Chen, reporter: The Day Loafer in pale yellow, $155I love the feel of the buttery-soft leather featured across the entire Day shoe collection, but I think it makes particular sense for the flat styles like the Day Glove and this Day Loafer because your feet are close to the ground the entire day, and you need that soft, flexible comfort as you walk. I personally wish it had a regular back instead of the elasticized back (which is a little too tight on my heel), but overall the Loafer is still a very comfortable option that feels great the moment you slip it on. I went for the Pale Yellow, a fun spring pastel that's a little out of my usual color spectrum but manages to look sophisticated when combined with the classic and composed loafer silhouette.Sally Kaplan, editor: The Day Loafer in caramel, $155I love a good loafer, and specifically, I love the way Everlane's original Modern Loafers look. But I've skipped out on buying a pair because I've heard the stiff leather back is hard to break in — and who has time for blisters, anyway？ I'm a huge fan of Everlane's Day shoe collection, so I was really excited to try the new loafer style that featured a similar elastic back to the Day Heels combined with the semi-cushioned sole and buttery leather of the Day Glove. They did not disappoint my weary feet! Though they run a bit narrow and take a little time to stretch, they're as soft and comfortable as any pair of flexible suede loafers, while still maintaining the look of a rigid leather pair. I would definitely recommend sizing up if you usually wear a half size (I'm a 7.5 and I went for the 8). I don't have particularly wide feet, but even after sizing up, they were a little tight when I first put them on (as were the Day Gloves). However, they stretched to fit my feet perfectly after a few hours of wearing them — so I wouldn't be concerned if you feel like they're a little small at first.Some people on our team weren't into the elastic backs on the shoes, but I really appreciate them. I blister easily, and the elastic gives me just enough stretch to feel like I have room to move around in the shoes but not so much that they'll slip off. The soles aren't so cushiony that I feel like I can walk around all day in them on their own, but I put some thin insoles in the shoes and they really improved the comfort level.I'll be taking these on my week-long trip to Italy for sure — and I'll report back afterwards about how they held up for long days of walking.Malarie Gokey, senior editor: The Day Loafer in dark rose, $155Loafers have always struck me as a more professional-looking type of flat, so I was excited to try out the Everlane Day Loafer. I went with the deep rose color, which looks way more red online than it is in person. I'm actually glad it's not as red as I thought it would be because I really love a good deep rose color. The leather is super soft and smooth just like it is on the Day Glove. I love the simple, classic loafer look. I have a few criticisms, though, the first being that I really wish that Everlane hadn't gone with the scrunchy elastic heel on these. The Day Gloves were phenomenally comfortable because they didn't have the elastic on the back. I find that the elastic bites into my heels and feels too tight for comfort — it's the reason I don't love the Day Heels, either. The second thing I will say is that the sole is very thin, so I doubt they would last very long if you walk in them a lot. I'd personally prefer a slight heel and thicker sole for more durability, support, and a bit of height — even if it's just an inch.Quibbles aside, these loafers would make great office shoes because they're comfortable for short spurts of walking and they look great.Remi Rosmarin, reporter: The Day Loafer in caramel, $155I've always been fairly intimidated by loafers. Maybe it's that for so long the style seemed a little too mature, or that the only cute pairs I could find were $600 — but I'd much rather slip on a pair of slip-ons than a loafer. There are some moments though that call for something a little more sophisticated than a pair of sneakers, but not as formal as a pair of heels. These moments call for something like loafers, shoes that look sharp without trying too hard. We shouldn't have to sacrifice comfort to look put together, and thankfully with Everlane's Day Loafer us ladies no longer have to. The buttery, soft leather molds to your feet in a way that feels like the shoes were made just for you. I found them easy to slip on, off, and walk around in. The minimalist style is perfect to dress up or down, with business casual outfits or ripped jeans and a t-shirt. My only qualm echoes my coworkers, I don't love the elastic band, while tolerable it has moments of digging into my heel which I could definitely do without. Still, I'm hopeful that more wear will stretch them out, and the band won't be as noticeable an issue, because this caramel color is too good to put out of commission, especially with spring on its way. Mara Leighton, reporter: The Day Loafer in caramel, $155Everlane combining the immense success of the Day Glove's buttery soft leather (ie. function) with the beloved but notoriously uncomfortable loafer style (ie. form) is such a good idea that I'm a little mad I didn't think of it first. I ranked five of Everlane's best-selling shoes by their comfort and the Day Glove was easily the best, while the classic Modern Loafer came in third — and only after some break-in time that was painful on the heels. I loved the look but hated the pain required as a down payment.The Day Loafer ($155) fixes the issues of the Modern Loafer ($168). And it is, unsurprisingly, a fantastic shoe — as each new addition to the Day family consistently has been.The loafer style can be dressed up or down, the elasticized back negates painful blisters and break-in time, and the thinner, supple leather will mold to your foot over time like a glove. They're my new go-to travel shoe for airports and light tourist walking days (the cushioned insole is good, though you may need to supplement with insoles if you're planning a heavy day of walking/need more support). I suspect they will be used nearly as frequently as the Day Glove in my closet — and for more months of the year than flats can be worn.The caramel is true to the color online, if not slightly lighter in person. I stuck with my true size (I sized up a half-size for both the Day Glove and the Modern Loafer) and am happy I did thanks to the glove-like fit that will likely mold to the shape of my foot even more over time. Having said that, my feet are relatively narrow, and Everlane suggests you do go up a half size. If you're considering it, you should. The only thing I would note is that if you're comparing the Modern Loafer to the Day Loafer, you are getting different leathers and, obviously, slightly different styles. The Day Loafer ($155) has a more versatile, casual aesthetic and a glove-like buttery soft leather. The Modern Loafer ($165) is made from thicker, more substantial leather (hence the break-in period) and a more structured, architectural look. Shop the Day Loafer, $155, at Everlane