Chicago Event: Gucci Cocktail Party To Celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of The Horsebit Loafer

On Thursday March 7, 2013 a private cocktail party for over 175 guests was held at Gucci at 900 North Michigan Avenue to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the horsebit loafer and the 1953 collection for men and women. Hosted by Nicole Gable and Matt Dudek, Whitney and Jerry Lasky, and Traci and Mario M. Tricoci, guests included Gucci North America President Christophe de Pous as well as Marc Brooks, James Goeke, Luca Lanzetta, Cheryl and Mario Tricoci, and Kelli Zink, among others. The store looked incredible that night with bright crayon colored shoes and handbags decorating the space.

In celebration of this classic shoe, Gucci launched the Made to Order program offering guests the exclusive opportunity to create a customized version of the legendary loafer, by choosing from a selection of materials, colors, linings, and horsebit finishings. The store showcased archival images of celebrities including Sophia Loren and Jodie Foster wearing the iconic loafer during the event. In celebration of the legendary horsebit loafer’s sixtieth anniversary, Gucci presented the 1953 collection for men and women. Creative Director Frida Giannini envisions a bold combination of colors and materials and a new shape bearing the hardware that has inspired a legacy. It was 1953 when the double ring and bar motif from the equestrian world debuted on the men’s loafer. Within a few short years, these shoes graced the feet of Hollywood’s leading men including Clark Gable, John Wayne and Fred Astair, and in 1985 the horsebit loafer became part of the permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art – propelling this style to become the most iconic Gucci shoe ever made.

For decades Gucci’s artisans have employed this tradition and passed it down across generations. The 1953 loafer is available in a wide selection of shades and materials: from patent leather and suede, exotic crocodile and python, and canvas printed with the House’s Flora pattern. Inside each shoe, a special label with the “Gucci 1953 Made in Italy” script recalls the introduction of this design into the House’s vocabulary sixty years ago.

Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands with a renowned reputation for quality and Italian craftsmanship. Any you chose will make a great addition to your wardrobe this spring. Visit gucci.com – Carol Calacci Photos: Jeff Schear