Hey not suggesting that you were going to add your personal opinion just wanted to back up the previous posters that it is done and done quite often I can t even speculate as to the origin Docksiders are worn without socks primarily because when used for their original purpose i e sailing one wouldn t want to wear socks you re just going to get them wet Loafers probably were just a continuation of that trend I d like to find out for sure and find some sources for that I agree it is definitely a US trend I probably would find it strange if it hadn t been a tradition since I was very young If you want to read more about the eccentricities of American dress at least the conservative preppy kind I d recommend flipping through The Preppy Handbook by Lisa Birnbach originally written as quite tounge in cheek it has been taken seriously partially because although a parody it s quite true i most respects