The Piccadilly

Here at The Hand, we have a number of different penny loafers, but this collection focuses on Edward Green’s signature penny loafer, the Piccadilly. Formed on the 184 last, which perfectly balances a sense of formality with a casual appearance, Edward Green offer two styles of Piccadilly which are either lined or unlined.

Today, the penny loafer is a certified iconic piece of menswear, but that wasn’t always the case. It was originally a shoe worn by Norwegian farmers back in the 1930s and it stayed that way until the 1950s when it was introduced to the western world. Across campuses of Ivy League universities, this style of loafer was omnipresent; it was practical and stylish, and thanks to the saddle strap that sits on top of the vamp, students were able to store away a single penny coin which they’d then use to operate a payphone (hence the name penny loafer!).