We just finished making the rounds at London Collections: Men SS17, and it looks like the street style circus hasn’t changed much since the FW16 shows back in January. High fashion/streetwear mashups are all the rage, Vetements pieces can still be seen all over the place and sneakers remain most attendees’ footwear of choice.
In among all the Nikes and Common Projects, though, we’ve noticed the Gucci Horsebit loafer making a resurgence. Whether it’s the classic moc-toe version, the slimmed-down silhouette introduced by Tom Ford or Alessandro Michele’s outrageous kangaroo fur-lined joints, the luxury icon has popped up again and again on the feet of industry veterans and street style celebrities alike.
This comeback is hardly surprising, given the buzz around Gucci and its new director these days. Alessandro Michele has rejuvenated the once-floundering house, delighting customers and industry insiders alike with his whimsical, grandiose interpretation of the Gucci legacy.
The horsebit detailing seen on the loafer’s upper, first introduced in 1966, harks back to the house’s equestrian origins. It’s long been a signifier of jet-set glamor and the heady lifestyle lived by the 1%, most commonly worn by suited tycoons and off-duty ballers. Although in 2016, there’s nothing stopping you from wearing them with shorts or slim track pants.
Don’t expect this trend to take over the world — at $700, the loafer is priced way beyond what most people would consider reasonable for a pair of shoes — but our gut instinct is telling us that you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of Gucci’s legendary loafer in seasons to come.
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Lead Image:
Adam Katz Sinding