Gucci Leather Horsebit Loafers
The evolution of personal style is a topic that I never get bored of contemplating. In my late teens and early twenties, I worked in retail, so I lived in flats – anything else would have been impractical for all the running around I needed to do between school and work. I was ballet flats obsessed, collecting pairs from brands like London Sole with an enthusiasm that bordered on obsession. But the minute I graduated and got an office job, I left my flats behind in favour of heels. Office work rarely demands walking further than the coffee machine or photocopier, usually on carpet, which makes heels more comfortable. (I say more comfortable, because my feet, having suffered through over a decade of gymnastics and ballet, are never truly comfortable in any shoes.) But when work started asking me to travel regularly, four inch heels suddenly made way less sense…
…so, pre-pandemic, I scaled it back a bit. Kitten heels became my go-to shoes. That lasted until life shut down in March 2020. Since returning to real life, which means leaving the house and walking different places, I’ve been in flats. The idea of retraining my feet to regularly wear heels is a task I simply can’t muster up interest in taking on. That doesn’t mean I won’t keep collecting car-to-bar shoes. I still own most of my old favourite pairs, and they’ll still get worn when walking isn’t required. But for everyday, even for work, I’m mostly in flats. Which is why I added a Chanel pair to my wardrobe last fall. And why I couldn’t resist a pair of Gucci leather horsebit loafers while we were in Rome.
The Gucci leather horsebit loafers have long been on my wishlist. Years ago, in Paris, I bought a similar style of mules from Jonak that I’ve worn often. But since I already owned those, and I wasn’t much of a flats girl, investing in the Gucci pair didn’t seem like a wise choice until recently…
So what makes these shoes so special? The answer to that question is different for everyone, but for me, it’s the history. The style, designed by Aldo Gucci, debuted in 1953. The classic but uniquely Gucci style was an immediate hit, and is considered a timeless classic today, making the shoes an excellent investment (not to mention a solid addition to a wardrobe of versatile pieces meant to be worn on repeat.) While its overt popularity waxes and wanes with the seasons, you can never consider the Gucci leather horsebit loafer truly out of style. Dress them up or down, it doesn’t matter. You’ll always look chic, and feel comfortable, too.
We need to spend a moment on the comfort factor of these shoes. There is no break-in period. The leather is soft but durable. You can take them straight out of the box, put them on and walk, walk, walk, without fear of blisters, which is no small thing.
So you’re contemplating adding a pair of Gucci horsebit leather loafers to your shoe collection? Here’s what you need to know…
Fabrics: Leather
Colours: Selection varies by season and store. The classic black version is almost always available. White is available this season, as well.
Heel height: Flat
Sizes: 34 to 42 EU
Price: $1205 CAD from gucci.com. Prices can vary by country and retailer.
