It’s widely known that the Gucci loafer is a timeless piece of polished elegance and remains an emblem of the house’s legacy since its conception dating back to 1953. The shoe’s newest campaign, realized by Gucci’s Creative Director Sabato De Sarno, stars Italian actor, screenwriter, and director Pietro Castellitto. Amidst a creative space encompassed by books, art, and music, the loafer dazzles as an essential component of the menswear wardrobe, as designed by De Sarno. 

The evolution of the Gucci Horsebit has established the piece as a signature style of the House’s repertoire. Since the year of its creation, the loafer has sustained a number of iterations, each an attestation to its originality and contemporary elegance. For its most recent transformation, the Gucci loafer grounds a range of looks modeled by Castellitto, from casual to refined, in a relaxed representation of the Italian film star. Sporting first a black leather loafer before donning a monogrammed brown version, Castellitto’s laid-back composure delightfully contrasts with the shoe’s elevated style. Past campaigns have featured actors Paul Mescal and Kinglsey Ben-Adir and Global Brand Ambassador Xiao Zhan. 

Today, the Gucci loafer has become a fashion favorite, often spotted on icons like Francis Ford Coppola, Jodie Foster, Mark Ronson, and Kirsten Dunst. However, the history of the Horsebit dates back to 1953, the same year the House launched its first footwear collection. Horseback riding being all the rage at the time, the loafer emerged as a new interpretation of equestrian elegance, combining sporty with casual and dabbling in the sensual. In fact, the double ring and bar, an emblematic motif of Gucci’s heritage, is inspired by the hardware of a horse’s bridle, mimicking the bridle’s bit. While Gucci’s influence has expanded far beyond its original equestrian clientele, the House remains true to the craftsmanship of its original 1953 Horsebit.