The late US President George W. Some wonder about the common denominator between Bush, Sixties-inspired singer Jane Burkin and rapper Wiz Khalifa. Despite their very different personal styles and careers, they all wore a pair of iconic Gucci shoes.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the iconic shoe, which has become such a part of fashion history that a pair entered the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1984.
In mid-June, in conjunction with the menswear shows at Milan Fashion Week, Gucci will host an exhibition celebrating the heritage of the iconic loafers.
Since its design in 1953, many have worn the shoe, with Bush wearing it in the White House, Birkin in Cannes Park in 1969, and Wiz on red carpets in 2016. Other notable wearers of the shoe include director Francis Ford Coppola of the movie “The Godfather,” French actress Sophia Loren, singer Madonna (who wore a version when she took the stage to accept the MTV VMA Award for Best Female Video in 1995), actress Jodie Foster and actor Brad Pitt. During a scene in the movie “Fight Club” in 1999 and more recently, actor Joe Kravitz and model Gigi Hadid.
In the late 1890s, the founder of the Italian fashion house, Guccio Gucci – began his career as a porter at The Savoy Hotel in London. Here, Gucci was able to closely observe the upper echelons of society. It was his window into the lives of the international elite: a priceless snapshot of what they valued and were willing to spend money on. Influenced by the lifestyles and hobbies of aristocrats, artists and other wealthy guests staying at The Savoy, Gucci’s own brand later took on a distinct aesthetic dimension.
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