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Crafting a piece of fashion that remains relevant and cool for decades to come is a sartorial white whale. But in 1953, Mr. Aldo Gucci managed to do so with his creation of the Gucci horsebit loafer. The son of founder Guccio Gucci was inspired by the moccasin silhouettes that he noticed many wearing during a trip to New York City. Upon returning to Italy, Gucci crafted a leather design that was topped off with a golden horsebit—a nod to the label’s adoration of the equestrian lifestyle.
Since then, the timeless shoe has become a go-to for the most stylish men and women. They were a mainstay in Jane Birkin’s wardrobe, especially during her stylish getaways to the South of France in the ’70s.
Photo: ©Rue des Archives/ AGIP
Deal-making executives—like Jordan Belfort, who Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street—made them an unofficial part of their office uniform in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
