The rule that told us to put white away after Labor Day goes back to the late 1800s, to the Gilded Age, when wealthy families summered in places like Newport and Southampton and packed whole wardrobes of white. White reflects sunlight and keeps the wearer cooler, and wearing it also signaled that you had a summer house to wear it in. In the 1970s the etiquette writer Amy Vanderbilt told a Ladies Home Journal reader the rule no longer holds. I am taking her word for it, and so should you.

That is the spirit of this edit on white loafers women can wear in any month. I like them best in the colder months, against dark denim, gray flannel trousers and a navy coat, where the pale leather looks like a decision instead of a holiday.

Let me start with the classics. The penny loafer is the shape most of us picture first, and an American shoe company says it made the original in 1936, inspired by slip-on shoes worn by Norwegian farmers and fishermen. The coin story is a legend, by the way, but a nice one. The rag & bone Lexi Penny Loafers in Antique White and the Scarosso Harper leather penny loafers are the straightforward versions. The 3.1 Phillip Lim Alexa leather penny loafers and the LILI CURIA Frances Penny loafers keep the strap but feel a little more modern.

For soft, flat and quiet, I would look at the A.P.C. White 'Les Mocassins Souples' Loafers, the Repetto White Michael Loafers and the Sam Edelman Loraine Almond Toe Loafers in White Leather. The Row Off-white Canal Loafers are the most minimal pair here, and they look good with a plain trench. The Tod's Gommino loafers, the City Gommino and the Gommino in leather are the driving style, with that rubber-nubbed sole, and they are the easiest to wear with a slip dress. The Ferragamo Nyx 30 and the Prada patent-leather loafers add shine. Try them on at the end of the day, when your feet are at their widest.

Now for the pairs with something going on at the toe. The horsebit is the big one: a metal double ring and bar that nods to equestrian heritage, and it turns a plain loafer into something with a point of view. The Madison Maison Square-toe horsebit loafers are the sharpest take in this group, and the Valentino Garavani VLogo Signature loafers swap the bit for a logo plaque in the same spot.

If you want hardware but less polish, buckles are friendlier. The Doucal's Double-buckle loafers look best with cropped trousers where the ankle shows. The Paul Smith buckle loafers and the Tod's leather loafers with the kiltie flap give you something to look at when you cross your legs. The Church's Tassels pointed loafers are the dressiest of the tassel idea, and I would wear them with a suit that does not try too hard.

Texture is the other route. The Chantal Woven leather loafers and the Santoni Luce woven-leather loafers get their interest from the weave itself, so they need nothing else going on. With a pale shoe, I like to keep the rest of the outfit quiet: straight jeans, a gray sweater, a good belt. The Ports 1961 Two-tone knot-detail loafers have a big, soft knot across the top, so I would let them lead.

The Versace Off-white Medusa Leather Loafers and the Tod's Metal dots Gommino loafers in leather sit toward the louder end, and the Ferragamo Viva bow-embellished loafers are the most playful. A small test before you buy: look at the hardware from above, standing up. If it is the first thing you see, build the outfit around it, and keep your bag simple.

The last group is where loafers get bolder. A thick sole adds height without a heel, and it makes a pale loafer look more street than country club. That works well with wide-leg trousers, since the hem has something to rest on. The Doucal's Chunky-sole leather loafers are the most straightforward pair, and the Senso Met I leather loafers are the same idea with a slightly softer line.

The CamperLab Vamonos family shows up three times here, and I like how it gives you options. There are the Vamonos leather loafers, the Vamonos penny leather loafers and the Vamonos double-buckle loafers. Same sole, three different faces: a plain one, a classic one, a buckled one. If you are not sure how much attitude you want, start with the plain pair.

The Off-white Lug Mary-Jane Loafers are a hybrid, a loafer with a strap across the foot and a lugged sole, which makes them steadier in rain or on cobblestones than a flat sole would be. The Marc O'Polo Block-heel loafers give you a little lift with a heel you can walk in all day, and I would wear them to the office with tailoring. The Madison Maison 55mm crystal-embellished loafers go the other way: they are for evenings, with a black dress or satin trousers.

What I would skip: pairing a chunky white sole with a skirt that is long and full and the same pale color, because the whole outfit loses its shape. I would also skip wearing the lightest pair in a downpour or through a muddy park, and instead I would keep them for dry days and the office. White leather looks best when you treat it as a pair for good days, not for every day.

Keeping white leather clean is mostly about not letting things sit. Wipe off dust and marks after you wear them, and tackle a stain early. One guide suggests rubbing tough stains gently with a soft-bristle brush or a fingertip dipped in baking soda and a little water, wiping with a wet cloth and letting the shoes air dry.

If they get wet, dry them at room temperature. Shoe makers warn that heat can dry leather and cause cracking, so skip the radiator and the hair dryer. Stuff the toes with paper, and give them a day off between wears.

To choose from forty pairs, pick the shape that suits the clothes you already own. If you live in jeans, go for a penny or a driving loafer. If your closet leans to tailoring, look at the tassels and horsebits. If you want height, take a lug sole. Then do the fitting room test: walk across the room, and make sure your heel does not slip. And ignore the old Labor Day rule. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Loafers For Every Day Of The Week and Prada Shoes for Women.