Gucci Shoes

Why We Love Gucci Shoes

Gucci shoes epitomize style and class. They certainly don't come cheap, but for those of us who love them, they're a true style investment.

While Gucci shoes don't have the same cult following as Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choos, they're still in a league all of their own. Paired with a fabulous Gucci handbag, they're guaranteed to add a touch of class to anything you wear.

A Short History

Ever wonder where that famous horse-bit logo came from? It’s not just a random design. The house of Gucci began as a saddlery, founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1906. As the automobile replaced the horse as the preferred mode of transport, Guccio started to concentrate his efforts on the luxury luggage market.

Gucci now makes clothes, luggage, and perfume. For shoe lovers, though, it's Gucci's footwear which really makes the fashion house stand out from the crowd.

This Season's Gucci Shoes

Gucci spring 2006 collection bamboo sandal in blue leather

For the spring season, Gucci is into platform soles. Their fabulous peep-toed sandal comes in everything from luscious green suede to canvas print, with the kind of platform you'll need training to walk on.

If you can drag your eyes away from those, there's an impressive line of summer sandals to choose from in Gucci's spring/summer collection. Browns, golds, and ivories dominate the collection, although the famous Gucci horse bit design gets a showing in court shoes, sandals, and flats.

The horse bit appears again, this time in metal and bamboo, and stretched across the bridge of wooden-heeled mules, kitten-heeled sandals, and classic courts. This is Gucci's trademark design, and it's easy to see why it has become one of the most recognizable brands of the 21st century.

The Gucci collection for men includes white lizard skin lace-ups and casual canvas espadrilles. That horse bit design crops up in the men's collection too, and there's even a choice of Gucci sneakers for casual chic.

Finally, if your kids are as fashion-forward as you are, check out Gucci's children's shoes.

Know Your Gucci

Gucci loafers

Unfortunately, the popularity of Gucci shoes and their high price-tags means these shoes are often counterfeited. If you're buying Gucci online, particularly from venues such as eBay or BizRate, it’s important to make sure you know you're getting the real thing. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do when you can't see the goods in person.

Price is often a good indicator of authenticity. It's highly unlikely that someone would sell a genuine pair of Gucci shoes for much less than a couple of hundred dollars. If you find a pair going for an unusually low price, you should approach with caution.

While only an official Gucci reseller will be able to authentic a pair of shoes for you, watch for tell-tale signs such as sellers with poor feedback or people who won't tell you where they acquired the shoes in the first place. If you do decide to buy online, check the workmanship of your shoes carefully. Gucci shoes are known for their high-quality craftsmanship. If yours don't match your expectations, they may not be the real thing.