Pick the sneaker if you want the most height and an everyday shoe: VAHL's suede sneakers add 6 cm and cost 1 900 SEK. Pick the loafer if you want something dressier or have wide feet: the Venice suede loafer adds 5 cm, is wider at the forefoot and costs 2 100 SEK. Both have the lift built into the shoe, so from the outside they look like normal suede shoes.
Sneaker vs loafer at a glance
| Sneakers (Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo) | Loafer (Venice) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total lift | 6 cm | 5 cm |
| Visible outsole | 3.4 cm | 2.2 cm |
| Forefoot width (insole) | about 6.5 cm | about 7.7 cm |
| Insole length, EU 42 | 281 mm | 285 mm |
| Sizes | EU 39-46 | EU 39-45 (46 with the next batch) |
| Colours | Deep navy, beige, black suede | Deep navy suede |
| Price | 1 900 SEK | 2 100 SEK |
All four models have a genuine suede upper, pigskin leather lining and a rubber sole. Stock varies by size; the product page shows what is available today.
Which one makes you taller?
The sneakers, by 1 cm. Their 6 cm lift is split between a 3.4 cm outsole, in line with a regular sneaker, and a lift hidden inside. The loafer's 5 cm is split between a slimmer 2.2 cm outsole and the inner lift, which keeps the low, clean profile a loafer should have. If height is your main goal, start with a sneaker. More on the numbers: how much taller do elevator shoes make you.
How do they fit differently?
The three sneakers share one last. The Venice loafer is built on a different, roomier last: 4 mm longer inside in the same EU size and noticeably wider at the forefoot. A loafer also slips on without laces, so it has to sit right on your foot from the start. Measure your foot and compare it with the insole lengths in our sizing guide before you order either one.
When to wear each
- Sneakers: jeans, chinos, weekends, travel and casual offices. Stockholm in deep navy is our best seller and goes with almost everything; Oslo in black is the most discreet; Copenhagen in beige is the lighter summer pair.
- Loafer: the office, dinners, tailored trousers and a suit without a tie. Venice also suits a wedding where the dress code is not black tie.
Should you own both?
If you wear elevator shoes most days, one of each covers the whole week: a sneaker for casual days and the loafer for smarter ones. Keep in mind that you will stand 1 cm lower in the loafer than in the sneaker. If you are buying one pair to start, choose by what you wear most of the week.
Wrong choice? Exchanges are free
Size exchanges are free within 14 days of delivery: we cover the return label and the shipping of the new pair. A return for a refund is also possible within 14 days, with a return fee deducted. Try the shoes indoors on a clean floor; they must be unworn outside and in the original box. Full terms: returns and exchanges.
Sneakers vs loafers: questions
Which makes me taller, the sneaker or the loafer?
The sneakers. VAHL sneakers have a 6 cm built-in lift and the Venice loafer has 5 cm.
Do I take the same size in the sneaker and the loafer?
Go by your foot length rather than the size label. In the same EU size, the Venice loafer is 4 mm longer inside and wider at the forefoot (about 7.7 cm against 6.5 cm). Compare your foot length with the insole lengths in our sizing guide, or email info@vahlstockholm.com.
Which one is better for wide feet?
The Venice loafer. It is built on a wider last than the sneakers, so wide-foot customers often start there.
Can I wear the loafer with a suit?
Yes, Venice works with tailored trousers and a suit without a tie. For a formal black-tie dress code, a dress shoe is still the safer choice.
What if I pick the wrong model or size?
Size exchanges are free within 14 days of delivery. If you return a pair for a refund instead, a return fee is deducted. The shoes must be unworn outside and in the original box.