Gigi Hadid proves loafers work for summer off-duty dressing

Gigi Hadid’s yellow Tory Burch ballet loafers lit up a neutral, layered airport look. The bright shoe kept the outfit polished without tipping it into sneaker territory, which is why it lands so cleanly for summer workwear.

The loafer comeback already has runway receipts

Loafers are not creeping back in from the sidelines. They straddle the line between work and leisure, which is why they keep resurfacing in wardrobes that need polish without stiffness. They showed up on Fall 2023 runways, then kept moving through more recent spring collections.

Milan Spring 2024 pushed the idea even further. Designers placed loafers alongside heels and open-toed sandals, treating them as a warm-weather option rather than a cold-season default.

Hadid’s version is the useful one

Hadid’s airport outfit centered yellow Tory Burch ballet loafers, a Guest in Residence layer tee, a Miu Miu bag, and a peach Rimowa carry-on personalized with a Guest in Residence sticker. The mix is smart because nothing fights for attention on its own: the tee stays relaxed, the bag stays sharp, and the suitcase brings in a little color.

The shoe is doing the styling work here. A yellow loafer, especially in a softer ballet-loafer shape, gives you the hit of a statement accessory with the finish of something office-appropriate. It reads brighter than a black or tan pair, but it still keeps the outfit grounded in leather, structure, and clean lines.

Hadid has also worn Tory Burch ballet loafers in multiple colorways on New York City streets and at the airport.

Why this works better than a sneaker

The easiest way to make a neutral wardrobe feel current is to change the shoe, not the whole outfit. A white sneaker can flatten a look into default mode. A bright loafer gives you color, polish, and a little bit of attitude at the same time.

Hadid’s airport look gets that formula exactly right. The Guest in Residence layer tee keeps the silhouette loose and easy, while the Tory Burch loafers sharpen the finish. The Miu Miu bag adds gloss, and the peach Rimowa suitcase gives the color story one more soft punch, but the loafers are still the most legible statement in the frame.

If you want the same effect in a workwear setting, keep the rest of the outfit calm and let the shoe carry the mood.

• Stick to a restrained palette, like black, cream, gray, navy, or soft beige around the shoe.
• Keep the silhouette clean, with tailored trousers, a straight skirt, or a simple layered top.
• Let the loafer be the loudest object in the outfit, not one piece in a pile of competing color.

When bright loafers feel office-ready

Bright loafers work best when the shape stays polished. The Tory Burch ballet-loafer profile gives Hadid’s pair enough structure to read professional, even with a playful yellow finish. That kind of shoe belongs with tailored fabric, not beachy linen that looks wrinkled before lunch, and not with too many novelty details at once.

The effect stays smart when the color acts like punctuation. One vivid shoe against a neutral outfit looks intentional. Two or three bright pieces can start to feel fussy fast, especially in a professional setting.

Her own label, Guest in Residence, appears in the outfit. Born on April 23, 1995, she has modeled for Versace, Prada, and Jacquemus, collaborated on collections with Frankies Bikinis and Tommy Hilfiger, and was named global brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger in 2016.

The cleanest way to wear the trend now

Hadid’s yellow Tory Burch pair works best when the shoe does the talking. Keep the clothes relaxed but precise, the bag streamlined, and the rest of the palette controlled enough that the loafer can look deliberate instead of cute.