Quick answer
Choose the Starling in Black Raffia if you want a breathable, textured loafer for warm days and casual tailoring. Choose the Starling in Burgundy Velvet if you want a richer, dressier pair for cooler months and evening outfits.
Texture changes when and how you wear them
Raffia and velvet send different signals. Raffia is woven and visually light, so it reads casual even when the shoe shape is tailored. Velvet has a dense pile that catches light, which makes the same loafer silhouette feel more formal and evening-ready.
That difference matters more than color alone. A black raffia loafer can look relaxed with linen or denim, while a burgundy velvet loafer pairs more naturally with darker trousers, dresses, and occasion wear.
Season is the clearest tiebreaker
The Black Raffia Starling is described as a warm-weather style with breathable texture, so it makes sense for spring and summer. The Burgundy Velvet Starling has no breathability claim in the catalog, so treat it as a cooler-weather and indoor option rather than a hot-day shoe.
If you live somewhere with long, humid summers, raffia will earn more wear. If your calendar is full of autumn and winter events, velvet will do more work.
Styling cues for each pair
For black raffia loafers, think weekend market outfits, patio dinners, and relaxed tailoring. Keep the rest of the outfit light in texture so the raffia does not compete. For burgundy velvet loafers, lean into richer fabrics and deeper tones; the velvet adds polish without needing a heel.
Both pairs share the Starling shape, so the decision is mostly about surface and season, not silhouette.
Decision rules for choosing your Starling
- If your calendar is mostly warm-weather: Pick the Black Raffia Starling. Its breathable raffia texture suits spring and summer outfits and casual tailoring.
- If you need a dressier evening shoe: Pick the Burgundy Velvet Starling. The velvet surface and slimmer toe read more formal than raffia.
- If you want one pair to cover both: Choose based on your dominant season, not a single event. Raffia will feel out of place in deep winter; velvet can feel heavy in high summer. Count how many months you would realistically wear each texture before deciding.
- If you are unsure about fit: Both Starlings are available in whole sizes only, so use the size guide and your usual loafer size as the starting point. The catalog does not list width options.
Product facts
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The Starling - New Burgundy Velvet: The New Starling in Burgundy Velvet has a slimmer, more feminine toe and is made from burgundy velvet with the signature 7 layers of cloud-like comfort. The resculpted toe gives a sleeker look, while the layered comfort construction supports longer wear.
The Starling - New Burgundy Velvet
The Starling - New Burgundy Velvet
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The Starling - Black Raffia: The Starling in Black Raffia uses raffia handcrafted by artisans in Italy’s Tuscan Hills and includes the same 7 layers of cloud-like comfort. The artisanal raffia adds breathable texture for warm days, and the shared comfort build keeps both pairs comparable underfoot.
The Starling - Black Raffia
Who should choose which
Best for
- Shoppers who want a breathable, textured loafer for warm days and casual outfits
- Anyone building a summer wardrobe around relaxed tailoring and weekend plans
Not for
- Shoppers who need a formal evening shoe for cooler months
- Anyone who wants a single pair to wear through winter