Shoe Spotlight

You know, from time to time I question my street cred. I am, after all, the Jewish Girl in Wasp's Clothing. Shouldn't we (I) be talking about fashion pertaining to my namesake just a bit more?

There are things in this world that fall right on the line that I tiptoe across every day - things that are equally Jewish and Waspy. The Hamptons are a perfect example. Sure, you have the Jews in East Hampton while the Wasps are in Southampton, but everyone plays quite nicely in the metaphorical sandbox (Newton Lane).

Anyway, back to my point. (I go off on tangents a lot. Sometimes I feel like a walking episode of Family Guy.) Some people consider the consummate preppy shoe to be the Sperry. Others, the Belgian slip-on. For me, it has always been and will always be the Gucci loafer.




I actually own this exact pair. Bought them with mad money on my 21st birthday at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. But, these weren't my first. My Godmother gave me a hunter green pony haired pair when I was in the 7th grade. It kills me that I have absolutely NO idea as to what happened to these. I think they got lost in the shuffle from Miami to Dallas. I also have a black pair with a gold horse bit, a blue suede pair (I think these may be my favorite), and black pony hair stilettos with the silver horse bit. (Technically, these aren't loafers but they have the look of them with a sassy heel. Great combo. Someday, I'll wear these alongside my handsome husband in his black and silver horse bit pair. KISMET.)

Men who wear these are classic and women who wear these are daring - because they are a masculine shoe and it takes confidence to pull these babies off. I find few things sexier than a man in Gucci loafers. This to me says three things: his mother raised him right, he appreciates the finer things in life, and he's not afraid to shell out the big bucks for luxury. Gucci loafers dress up denim and look sleek with a suit. Any Mensch in Madras worth his grits owns at least one pair.

I don't get as much use out of mine as I'd like because I refuse to wear them with socks, which cuts out a big chunk of the year here in NYC. Come Spring, I look forward to once again sporting them with jeans and cable knits. Perhaps by then I will have lassoed a lad with the same affinity for the classic Gucci horse bit as I.