Quality of Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana footware?

[Brigden]

With spring around the corner, I'm going to be on the hunt for a new pair of kicks. I prefer slip-ons or boots, but I'm not against lace-ups. I always wear "trendy" or "fashion-y" styles; elongated and pointy toes. There are few designers who fit the bill, but I've seen a few pairs by Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci that appeal.

What's can I expect from the quality?

Any other designers I should consider?

Price isn't an issue.

Cheers.

 

[ghulkhan]

theres shoes out there with better quality
if you want something fashiony and not normal..
then barker black is pretty sweet
there construction and quality is pretty damn good much better then dg and gucci

 

[ChicagoRon]

Question.....perhaps this is my inexperience speaking but........

If you are buying something very trendy, then how important would a difference between B+ and A quality really be?

Presumably, it they are "okay" quality, they will last longer than they are in style. And I can't imagine that these brands aren't sub-contracting their construction to a fairly well-known italian factory.

 

[DGP]

I like Dolce better than Gucci. I have one pair that I bought at their outlet for like $150, and I think they are great, they go equally well with my suits and jeans. Just buy the mainline ones, not the D&G, that stuff is crap. I also think that the Dolces are noticed more for their style than their overt branding. It's impossible to find Guccis that don't have either the logo or the red and green stripes on them somewhere. It's just gaudy, and not particularly stylish.

I would also say that Dolces are a little edgier in their style than Gucci. Guccis also tend to come with rubber soles, which are not as good quality, harder to repair, and won't last as long. All that being said, my favorite Italian designer shoes are Ferragamos, and they sometimes have some more fashion forward designs. Just stay away from the stuff with the Omegas on it. I saw an amazing pair of their boots, but just couldn't justify $600 for footware. If you can justify it, you'll be better dressed than me

.

 

[Brigden]

I'm not interested in keeping a pair for ten years, but I would like something that's going to hold together for the short time I wear them. I seldom keep footware more than two years and I always wear the Hell out of them.

So often I'm disappointed in the quality of mainstream designer brands, but the labels known for their quality produce boring styles that don't appeal to me.

Holt Renfrew are finally getting their own in-house shoe boutique (previously run by an outside company within the stores) and I see Barker Black is listed as a label that will be available. I'm interested from what I've read about, but I haven't seen too many examples.

Anything online?

 

[Get Smart]

I know Dolce & Gabbanna has no amount of respect on this board, but I have a pair of mainline shoes I bought back in 1995 that still look like new and have lasted a really long time despite tons of wear. They are a black full brogue that always elicits comments of how well they are made from the 2 cobblers (old school type eastern europeans) that I've used to keep the heel taps fresh on them. I even have a pair of D&G brogues that are going on 5+ years and have held up well, despite my abusing them with countless hours of jitterbugging in em

 

[chobochobo]

I have a pair of Gucci Oxfords - no logos/ribbons. Nice soft leather and a nice slightly pointy toe which gives it a bit of an edge.

Overall I agree that the Ferragamos (Tramezzas) can give you a good mixture of 'trendiness' and quality if you get them at ebay/outlet prices.

 

[LabelKing]

I feel Gucci--whose shoes are made by Gucci Group firm, Sergio Rossi--offers an higher quality than Dolce & Gabbana.

The leather seems better and the styling of Gucci is usually more tasteful than the sometimes dubious Dolce & Gabbana stuff.