Loafers have had a sleek reset – the 5 styles that matter now, from snaffle to slipper, from £36

Loafers are a perennial autumn shoe, but this season they’ve had a subtle and sleek reset. After a couple of years when the gathered, ruched loafer – very Saint Laurent – led the conversation, things are getting slimmer, more refined and less chunky of sole. Less overblown of detail, too.

Which doesn’t mean boring. Quite the opposite. The details are still there, they’re just more precise and therefore more visible: an elongated toe, an elegant line of stitching, a slender snaffle or a beautifully cut apron front. These are small things, but in shoe terms they make all the difference.

Zara and M&S are particularly good for the freshest shapes, while John Lewis is my pick for quality – its elongated cigar apron loafer is a highlight of the new collection – and Boden has brilliant breadth with 22 individual styles including loafers created for comfort and fleixibility.

Charles & Keith, meanwhile, has produced a snaffle loafer with hardware inspired by a Cartier knot bracelet. Niche reference? Yes. Elegant? Also yes. & Other Stories has a beautifully simple leather pair with a sturdy but not too chunky sole that should serve you well through winter as part of your everyday style uniform.

And a special shout-out for white leather loafers. Not necessarily one for a rainy Tuesday, but if you want to make more of a fashion statement, they look exceptionally sleek and chic.

The overall message? Look for slipper, snaffle, Pennie, apron, and slimline gathered style, and aim for refinement rather than bells and whistles. A slimmer sole, beautiful leather fronts and one good detail is enough, though a tassel is sometimes hard to resist.

Wear yours with a neat dress and tights, or for ease with straight or barrel jeans, cords, or M&S' new cargo and barrel trouser hybrid, the "bargo". Make your own rules; the trousers can puddle around your feet, sure, but trousers that finish neatly at the ankle are all the better for showing off your shoes.

There’s something about that sliver of ankle followed by a precise, polished loafer that makes everything else you’re wearing look more considered. Funny how a few inches of shoe can do that.