Wierd expression

Question

Hello!
I'd like to know what does the expression "penny-loafered" mean? It was in this kind of context: someone described someone's other bad personality and said "he has this little, bad, penny-loafered self" What could it mean? Is it some kind of a slang, or an idiom?
Could someone enlighten me? I'd be very grateful!

Pieanne · Accepted Answer

Hello, Fiasco, Welcome to the Forums!
I moved your post to this section, I think you'll get an answer more quickly!
PS: it's weird

Abbie1948 · Answer

I have often read this in American novels, and always assumed they were some sort of shoe, but never had the motivation to look it up. Well, here is the definition!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_loafers

Loafers or penny loafers are low, leather step-in shoes whose tops resemble a moccasin, but have broad flat heels. They first appeared in the mid 1930's. They have no shoelaces or buckles. Penny loafers are made of leather and are often worn in formal situations.

Fiasco · Answer

Thank you for your effort, but that's not exactly the explanation I'm looking for. I've already know the one meaning of 'penny-loafered', that is the one you mentioned, as you might have noticed I wrote I'm looking for it's meaning as in the expression 'penny-loafered self ' describing, from what I managed to deduce, someone who is bad or something like that. I've searched all the Internet and found it decribing ,for example politicians, but I didn't grasp the exact essence of that expression... I don't think it was meant to express that someone's self is 'low, leather step-in shoes', don't you think?

Anyway, thank you.
I'll still wait... maybe there is someone who knows that expression...

Pieanne · Answer

Hello, Fiasco,
I found that a "loafer" is a very lazy person, but I didn't find it with "penny"...

Abbie1948 · Answer

I do apologise for misinterpreting your first post, and I hope you won't mind if I try again.

Here is a definition from a site selling penny loafers (bear with me, I'm not going to define the shoe!)

The classic penny loafer speaks of someone tied to tradition yet open to learning and moving forward with the changing times. Frequently seen on college campuses, the loafer graduates to the business world with a self-assured stride.

I looked up "penny loafered" and got lots of hits where the expression was used, mostly in a slightly derogatory sense, as in the example you give.

I have the impression that "penny-loafered" is a term for an ambitious, middle class and probably self-seeking person. Such people are often associated with conspicuous consumption - they wear the "right type" of clothes, eat and drink at fashionable places, and usually have jobs or businesses which involve making a lot of money, perhaps from other people. (I notice that lawyers and politicians are often referred to as "penny-loafered")

In England in the 80's we used to speak of in a derogatory tone of "yuppies (Young Upwardly Mobile Professionals)

Yuppie - "A young city or suburban resident with a well-paid professional job and an affluent lifestyle" (dictionary.com)

I think penny-loafer wearers are much the same, but not defined by age, as all ages wear them, from preppies to retired middle class men and women.

Hope this helps a bit more in the context of your reading.

Fiasco · Answer

Thank you very much, your explanation sure helped a lot!
So from what I've read I have an impression that someone with a penny-loafered self is usually starving to achieve all of his often slightly over-ambitious goals so that he would be respected and admired by masses, is that right?

Anyway, Thank you once more for you great effort, I really appreciate it.

Abbie1948 · Answer

Well, he certainly has a sense of his own importance, and may be inclined to look down on others. He may or may not be over-ambitious, but equally may come from a wealthy background, and have genuine power, but I think you're getting the picture.

Khoff · Answer

One detail about the shoe itself - they were called "penny loafers" because the top of the shoe had a leather design with a hole or slot in the center, and people used to insert a shiny penny into this slot.  Part of the penny would show as a little shiny decoration on the shoe.

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