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When it comes to the chilly and harsh weather of winter, a good-looking and hard-wearing boot is a must. You can turn to classics, like the ultra-rugged Blundstone or L.L. Bean’s sturdy-as-it-gets duck boot. (It’s no accident that both shoes have earned GQ’s “Best Stuff” label in recent years.) Or you can go the trendier route. It’s risky—a boot’s meant to last forever—but sometimes, a designer boot comes around that checks all the right boxes for the season. Alessandro Michele and Gucci have delivered just that: a waterproof, warmed-up boot that delivers style—and a bit of cheekiness to boot.
Gucci’s “ankle boot” riffs on the brand’s horsebit loafer, perhaps its most iconic footwear style, reimagining it for the winter reason. That means an ankle-high, rubber-molded silhouette with a water-resistant finish. Then come the luxurious details we associate with Gucci footwear: gold- and silver-tone metal horsebit detailing, a fuzzy shearling interior lining, and a logo-debossed heel. It’s a glossy upgrade to your typical boot—and should you find yourself in a situation where bad weather and a need for semi-formal footwear meet, this one’s got you covered.
There is no shortage of stylish and winter-ready footwear options these days. From ultra-technical sneakers to high-design combat boots, dudes have plenty of vastly different styles to pick from. Gucci’s horsebit loafer is in a league of its own, though. (It is the only shoe in the permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, after all.) And now, you can wear a riff on the iconic style all winter long.
