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Coffee Break: Cynthia Loafers

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black loafers with brown detail around sole and silver charm on vamp

It's been a while since Vionic has appeared here. For a while it seemed like they were focusing on sandals and sneakers, so it's nice to see that they have some loafers!

The pictured loafer, the Cynthia, comes in just black and cream; it's available in sizes 5-11 (regular and wide sizes) for $139.

If you want something with a bit more pizzazz, take a look at these light blue loafers, also from Vionic — I'm not sure everyone can pull them off in a chic way, but if you can, more power to you!

Sales of note for 3/15/25:

  • Nordstrom – Spring sale, up to 50% off
  • Ann Taylor – 40% off everything + free shipping
  • Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 50% off select styles + extra 50% off sale
  • J.Crew – Extra 30% off women's styles + spring break styles on sale
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything + extra 20% off 3 styles + 50% off clearance
  • M.M.LaFleur – Friends and family sale, 20% off with code; use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off 1 item + 30% off everything else (includes markdowns, already 25% off)

79 Comments

  2. I Love them, esp in the blue! I wear black patent lug sole loafers from Studio C with dresses all the time.

  3. If you wear loafers in winter, is it with visible socks? I got a lot of funky socks as stocking stuffers this year and since it is still cold here AND all pants seem to be cropped, was thinking of wearing socks with my loafers. I wore socks with skinnies and booties, but they were really not visible. My body can only do exposed skin if it is 80ish, apparently.

    1. As a Southerner, my eye is very unused to seeing women wearing socks with anything but athletic shoes or boots but I could get behind loafers and funky socks.

    3. Yes, I wear loafers with neutral colored socks visible until temps are in the 70s or so, then no-show socks.

  4. Have any of you tried the cool nights sleepwear from Soma? I am not having hot flashes (as I currently understand them), but over the course of my slumber, it seems that the heat builds up under the covers so that I can get a bit sweaty between the girls (and maybe where my legs hit my torso, especially if I am sleeping curled up on my side). I hate waking up damp (worse is getting up overnight and then being clammy / cold after getting out / back into bed). I usually run cold and bedding is just sheet and bedspread, so it shouldn’t make me get too hot. I can’t sleep in fewer or smaller pajamas because I often get too cold unless I’m camping in the summer. I’m not sure what the solution is.

    1. RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. The Cool Nights pjs help some, but don’t completely alleviate them. I will say that they dry fairly quickly when I get sweaty.

    2. I wear them. They help, I think, and they hold up well (I’ve had some for close to 1 years) but the hot comes from the inside when you’re perimenopausal so nothing is 100% for that.

      For your situation, I think you need fewer bedcovers.

      1. I need an overnight ladies maid who can peel off layers of covers every few hours once I’m soundly asleep. Or some Nest setting that will just keep cooling down). Is there a Nest macro for “40ish female”?

        1. I don’t know if this helps but I find my bed chilly when I first get in, then after a while it’s too hot, which is what I think you’re saying.

          First of all, our Nest goes down to 50 at night, and second, I read or play puzzles on my phone in bed before I go to sleep, and by that time I can already feel that my covers are too hot, so I kick off the throw blanket before I turn out the lights.

        2. I often go to sleep with an extra throw on my bed and when I wake up I find I’ve flung it across the room in my sleep!

        3. I have an Ooler sleep system and you can set it to change the temperature at different times of the night.

      1. Won’t the blanket get sweaty then? Easier to wash sleepwear than do a daily load of bedding.

    4. I have some Cool Nights pjs, but the best tops for summer for me are knit 100% linen tees I get from Loft. They are shirts for regular wear, but I use them for sleep. The key is they must be 100% linen (not rayon or poly blends) and knit, not woven. They are cool and they dry off quickly.

      I usually wait until the middle of summer and buy the leftovers on sale. The prints and colors may not be to my liking, but no one’s seeing me in them.

    5. I wear cool nights PJs on bottom and really like them, but tend to wear cotton shirts on top. I’ve noticed if I’m braless I’m a sweaty messy everywhere, so I wear a light bra. I just got some AIRism bra tops from uniqlo and like those.

    6. I like knits that are either modal, viscose or bamboo— naturally derived fibers. I tried the Soma jams and the wicking drove me crazy.

    7. I suddenly became a very hot sleeper after pregnancy; the Soma pajamas helped a little but definitely did not solve the problem. The only thing that’s made a real difference is the Chili Pad or Chili sleep or Sleep Me or whatever they’ve rebranded as. It seemed like such a gimmick but I ordered in a fit of hot sweaty desperation and it’s been amazing – easily my best purchase the last few years. It’s just on my side of the bed and I run it at 62 F which lets me sleep comfortably without running our AC ragged (SEUS so very hot in the summer).

    8. Yes, I’ve tried cool nights sleepwear and it was really helpful for me, and comfortable

  5. What is your ideal outfit for an overnight, 13 hour flight? If relevant, I prefer pants to dresses and will have two young but walking children with me.

    1. Athleta Brooklyn pants, thick wool socks, Hoka sneakers, long sleeve tee, full zip fleece, some sort of scarf or merino buff.

      1. I agree with anon that it could be cold but must also point out it could be warm!

        I wear elastic waist joggers (own one pair of fleece and one pair sort of microfiber for summer) socks, sneakers, short sleeve tshirt, long sleeve machine washable sweatshirt or sweater, bring enormous zara blanket/scarf.

    3. I run cold and get freezing on airplanes. I do layers and bring a fleece lap blanket (purchased approx. 10 years ago in an airport magazine shop, gets added to my carry on every single flight and use it as a desk blanket at home). I would wear a tank top, lightweight long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, then sweatpants or leggings and warm, high socks. I would wear shoes that are easy to get into/out of.
      If my destination is warm/hot, I would bring a pair of shorts and on arrival pop into the restroom and switch out leggings for shorts, tie sweatshirt around waist and stuff the long sleeve top into my carryon.

    4. Sneakers, thick black jersey leggings, t-shirt, long warm cardigan. I don’t run super cold and use the blanket provided by the plane.

    5. Leggings, short sleeve tee, medium weight tunic or other layer, compression socks, sneakers or Birks. Cashmere wrap in case it’s freezing.

    6. EF crepe pants, a loose knit top, a cozy cardigan, one of my many airplane pashminas, support knee highs, and slip-on flat shoes (I like the kind that look like a flat but have a sneaker-ish sole). I like this outfit better than something that looks like sweats because then I’m more or less presentable when I get off the flight, and I can wear some of the pieces again on my trip (or all, if I do sink laundry, which I do)

    7. Merino joggers, wool socks, Allbirds.
      Merino t-shirt, oversize merino cardigan for layering and a big cashmere shawl/wrap.

      I run cold on planes and prefer wool.

          1. No, by definition, most people do not fly business class. You can tell this by looking at the number of seats assigned to business class compared to the number of seats assigned to other classes, with “coach” or “main cabin” being the largest group of seats.

          1. Yes on United! That’s the airline I fly. But it’s only on longhaul flights like US-Australia and US-Asia. I don’t think you can get them on Europe flights, at least not from the east coast. Maybe from the West Coast. You normally have to ask, but they definitely have them on the longhauls if you ask!

          2. Interesting. The guy in the paired seat next to me on SFO-CDG asked for them and they said they didn’t offer any, we both got slippers though. He was Global Services flier (I know this because he told me and every flight attendant) and no PJs for him!

    9. Ice Breaker wool hoodie, t-shirt, no bra, American Giant sweats, compression socks, Birkenstocks, ear plugs, eye mask.

    11. I like shoes I can slip on and off easily in case i need to get up and around. Prefer to be in socks only when sitting in my seat.

    12. I wear comfy and relaxed fit black pants in cotton (elastic waist). V neck t shirt in good quality. Tod suede loafers.

      I always carry an eye mask with me.

  6. I know a lot of people here love moissanite — where would you go if you were looking to “upgrade” your wedding ring? local jeweler? online spot? original ring was a 1 carat emerald cut diamond, want something bigger and don’t care about diamonds.

    1. I upgraded my engagement ring for our 10 year anniversary and went from a 1.5 ct diamond to a 2.5 ct lab grown diamond at a fraction of the price. I truly don’t care about a real diamond (original one was an heirloom passed on to us) and I truly love how my ring turned out. We went to a local jeweler who helped us order the lab grown diamond online and they created a custom design around it. Just throwing it out there that if you’re considering moissanite, maybe consider a lab diamond!

  7. I’m not a fitness/sports/gym person AT ALL – the most I’ve ever done is yoga and pilates. But I’m desperately out of shape and know I need more physical activity. Well, I signed up for pickleball and had my first lesson and really liked it! I think I need more activities that are social, easy to learn and don’t involve extreme running/jumping/etc. Do you guys have any suggestions?

    2. I would not say golf is “easy to learn”, but it’s not that hard either. It’s definitely social, and there is no running or jumping. 9 holes of golf gives a nice walk (8 – 10K steps for me) and enough upper body work that I have toned arms for the first time in my life after playing weekly most of last year.

    3. Go for a walk! Exercise doesn’t need to be “a thing” and sometimes it’s easier to do when it’s not. If you’re truly sedentary, going for a 10 minute walk after each meal is a great place to start.

    4. Pickleball is SO fun, I’m glad you liked it! What about something like water aerobics or a dance class?

    5. I had my first pickleball class this past weekend too! And my butt muscles were really sore yesterday. Still kinda were this morning. But it was super fun!

    6. I really enjoy meeting friends for walking dates instead of brunch, drinks, dinner, etc. When I meet someone in the morning, we often meet at a coffee shop, order coffees, and then walk while we drink. The coffee is an extra bonus for me!

    8. Not in season but skiing! I am not super athletic but I did grow up skiing. I taught my kids and it’s our thing all winter long. We live in MA so we ski VT/NH for now.

  8. Oof. I’m so annoyed women have to make these choices and men don’t. Grrrr.

    I was just invited to a moderately prestigious event held by a client I’m actively seeking business from three weeks before I’m due to give birth. It’s a 4-5 hr plane ride away. That said, I’m 10 weeks currently, so incredibly early though I do have a below average MC risk (<3%) given I'm at 10 weeks and it was IVF with genetically highly-rated embryos, fwiw. I canNOT give up my spot that I'm pregnant at this point. I will actually work a lot of my pregnancy to hid the fact I'm pregnant so I don't lose business.

    I should accept, right? Decline later once I'm further along? They could pretty easily slot someone else from my firm in my place but it would be totally suspect / not a good look for me to decline without a very good reason right now. My firm and my client's firm are looped in to my invitation.

      1. She literally said she’s going to hide it as long as possible.

        I’d accept and then decline later.

    2. I would accept now and decline later once you’ve announced your pregnancy. It doesn’t seem like a big deal to back out last minute as long as you give them a few weeks notice so they can send someone else.

    4. Do not tell them now. Accept now and figure it out later. You have no obligation to tell anyone you’re pregnant at 10 wks along. That’s really private.

      I’m also mildly superstitious and would feel like it was bad like to count my chicks before they hatch, so to say… I didn’t tell work until about 15 or 16 wks for both my pregnancies. And I got weird test results for pregnancy 2 at 16 wks and needed an amnio to rule out issues where I’d have chosen to terminate if they’d come out a different way (which they didn’t and she’s a happy kiddo now). All of which is to say that pregnancy is really scary, crazy emotional and I wish you the best of luck getting through to the other side with happy baby!!!!

    5. Of course you accept now and then decline later. If you were 25 weeks along I might advise just saying something, but not at this point.

    6. Accept, then cancel when you let people know you’re pregnant. This shouldn’t be any different than someone finding out, for instance, that they will need surgery x months from now and have to bow out.

    7. I disagree with much of what she did, and think much of what she wrote was derivative, but Sheryl Sandberg was correct when she said, “Don’t leave until you leave.” Accept the invitation and, if you must, send regrets at the last possible moment.

    8. Accept and deal with it only after you’re ready to tell. Think of it like late interviews/taking a new job where the signed papers haven’t come through yet. You would accept and deal with a replacement whenever the time comes.

    9. Totally fine to accept now and deal with it later, don’t give it a second thought. And when you decline to the client consider saying since I’ll unfortunately not be able to make X event, I’d love to connect sooner and make up some reason to be in their area and have a visit or do some training or whatever.

  9. I’m not the OP from the life insurance thread this morning, but am in a similar place, and I took it as a nudge to do the thing and get life insurance quotes! I used Policy Genius and it was a 25 minute phone call. No idea if that is the “best” source to go through, but it was pretty quick and it got the job done. Thanks for the motivation!

    2. Good for you! If you’re comfortable please share your age and approximate monthly premiums (and any rating factors, if applicable). I think people who are “afraid” of getting term life sometimes don’t realize how relatively inexpensive it is.

      1. Came out to just about $400 a year at age 35 for 500k of coverage, 20 year term. Nothing particularly interesting in my medical history, but I am overweight. Kicking myself for putting it off for so long!

          1. That’s less than I am paying and my 20 year term is about to expire. Well done, Betsy!

  10. Re: the news about Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, what is the general sense about News Nation? I know it is supposed to be fact-based and unbiased. I’ve watched little snippets and found it to be right-adjacent. Is that because I am left-leaning, or is it really right-adjacent? Thoughts? Impressions?

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