Samuel Windsor

Learn to moonwalk in penny loafers

If you’re looking for a shoe with some serious pedigree, then the penny loafer not only has a story to tell, but remains quite possibly the most iconic shoe of all time.

Quite a boast, but these classic American shoes have hopped, skipped and moonwalked a long way since their creation over 70 years ago.

What about the penny?

Inspired by Norwegian shoes called Weejuns, penny loafers got their name when a leather band was added across the front in 1936.

The leather band contained a hole and this became a rather handy and fashionable place for a dime or penny to be stored when needing to use a payphone. Rather neat aye?

Immortalized footwear

But the penny loafer became immortalized by Michael Jackson. When he took one small step backward onto the dance-floor, and one giant leap to impressing the world with his moonwalk.

Preparation

So if you want to moonwalk like the king of pop, it begins with getting yourself a pair of penny loafers.

MJ was more than happy with their style, strength and flexibility and that’s quite an endorsement.

Get yourself some short black trousers and white socks too. If you look the part and you’ll feel the part.

The step-by-step moonwalk technique

Step 1 — Find a smooth floor with plenty of space and stand with your feet shoulder width apart.

Step 2 — Raise your right heel so that you’re standing on the ball of your right foot. Shift your weight onto that still raised right foot so the left foot feels weightless.

Step 3 — Lower your right heel slowly while sliding your still weightless left foot backward until the toes of your left foot are aligned with the heel of your right foot. If you do it right, it should look like your left foot is floating backward across the floor.

Step 4 — Lift your left heel and shift your body weight so that you’re now standing on the ball of that foot. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the opposite feet. With a bit of practice and an increase in speed, you’ll be moonwalking like Michael Jackson.

Watch the video below to witness the first MJ moonwalk and some of the many imitators:

The loafers guide to chilling out

Tinker, tailor, soldier or spy — it matters not what a man does for a living. What matters is how a man loafs in his loafers.

Relaxation allows for reflection, consideration and the escape from the shackles of employment. Chilling out, gentlemen, is a fine art. So do it with style.

Comfy Chair

Every man should have a comfortable perch. Whether it’s a chunky leather recliner or a vintage Frank Doerner swivel chair with matching footstool, demand some melt-into-me seating in your life. Everything begins with a priceless place to sit.

Large Plasma

A king once sat upon his throne surveying his kingdom from the many windows of his castle. These days the windows to the world are HD plasma ones and they’ll show you everything in every entertaining kingdom in the world. Whether you enjoy the afternoon game, a bit of David Attenborough or a good movie, go large and go plasma.

Tipple

Your favoured choice might be a vintage bottle of scotch, or a selection of ales or ciders, or it could be a dusty bottle of wine from a forgotten cellar. Whichever it is, a tipple will cause a ripple, of relaxing vibes to fill the air. And if you’re feeling extra special, give yourself a cigar.

Bookcase

A fine selection of books adds a kiss of intellectualism to any room , so you don’t need to be a bookworm to enjoy a bookcase. Though allowing your mind to be taken somewhere far away by a good book is a pleasure not to be missed. Entirely up to you of course.

Munch

The fridge should be fully stocked with a selection of munch: the ingredients to your favourite meal, a few tasty items you know you shouldn’t eat, but you will anyway, and enough snacks to keep you going long past the midnight film.

Loafers

With a name that suggests taking it easy, loafers are the finishing touch to a relaxing day. Simple in design, comfy too, loafers are all you’ll need to keep your feet warm if you feel inclined to shuffle along somewhere, anywhere or nowhere in particular. The trek to the fridge can seem quite far after all.