Gucci Princetown Loafer Mules Review

I'm back with another designer review and today I'm chatting about Gucci's Princetown Mules. So here are all of the questions you have asked with my answers...

Are they worth it?

I always say this, but 'worth' of any designer item is so subjective. Definitely check out my past designer reviews to read more about that (linked at the bottom of this post). But to be quite honest, no shoe is truly 'worth' $700++. And yet here I am about to tell you how much I love my Gucci Princetown Loafer Mules, ha! But I personally love them- they are a staple in my fall/winter wardrobe and have gotten SO much wear out of the past 3 years that I have had them. 

Do they go out of style or are they classic?

Gucci makes 3 styles of loafers for women that I would consider classic: Jordaan, Brixton, and the Princetown. I personally feel that the Jordaan style is the most classic and timeless... preppy, actually. The reason I ended up choosing the Princetown is that while I have tons of classic loafers in my shoe arsenal, I did not have a single pair of mules. So I went for the Princetown, which out of the three styles, I would consider the most 'trendy'. However, I use the word 'trendy' lightly because the shape and style of the shoe is classic as is the beautiful craftsmanship of the leather. and gold hardware details. I don't think you can go wrong in whichever style you choose. 

I will say the one thing I love about the Princetown mules that I love is that I can so quickly slip them on and off but the one thing that is annoying about the Princetown style is that because it's a mule, you really can't wear it when it is really cold outside. Having the entire back of my foot exposed in the winter is not ideal, so if it's really cold, I tend to choose other shoes. 

Are they durable?
Yes! After 3 years of continuous wear, they have held up so nicely. Much better than my Chanel ballet flats or Tod's loafers. In fact, I would say they hold up better than most designer shoes I have purchased. They are incredibly well-made. 

Do you like the version with fur?

I will also say, while I love the novelty styles like this embroidered pair or the fur styles, I would personally not be likely to purchase a pair like this. I typically only buy luxury goods if they are simple and classic. I don't like to spend a lot on items that are too remarkable or trendy. I like to make sure whatever I purchase will last for years to come. 

Does the leather feel stiff, how long do they take to break in?
They definitely start off stiff but most high-end leather items start off like that. The best is when they are worn in. I didn't think they took too long to break in... I would say a week or two of consistent wear and they were totally fine and then about a month or two until they were totally molded to my feet. They never gave me blisters or hurt my feet, but they were just a little stiff! 

Do they show wear? How do you care for them?

The sole is leather, so they definitely show wear on the sole. I have gotten my shoes resoled once in the past 3 years. I always prematurely resole my shoes to make sure they hold up for a long time. They do crease a bit but I think that gives them character and it's not really even that noticeable. They hold their shape well. I think in a lighter color- like white or blush would show wear quicker. Black was a really good choice because they don't get dirty! If you find the leather looking dull, you can have them polished, which I have done and is always a good idea to keep the leather looking beautiful. I always store my shoes and handbags in a dark closet (no windows) that is temperature-controlled. I keep the toes stuffed so that the shape holds up while being stored. I do this with most of my shoes- not just the Princetown loafer mules.

Are they comfortable? Do they fall off of your feet when walking?

They are SO comfortable. If you are trying them on in-store, you'll notice they are a tad stiff but after you break them in, they are like wearing slippers. The leather eventually molds to your foot (kind of like Jack Rogers sandals). They do not fall off of my feet at all. They are truly easy to walk in and I have traveled and walked a lot in these shoes with no problem. 

How is the sizing?

I normally wear a size 39 in designer shoes. I'm typically a size 8.5 in American shoes like J.Crew or Talbots. I am a size 39 in Gucci but I ended up getting a 39.5 and they were perfect. So I would suggest going up a half size in the mules because they are a little narrow.

How much do they cost? Where can I buy them?

The Princetown loafer mules in plain leather colors are currently $695. They've increased in price in the past few years. When I bought them in August 2016 from a Gucci store, they were $595. They were so popular in early 2016 that it was really hard for me to track down a pair in my size and I ended up having to wait a month or two because they were on backorder. Now, they are readily available at Gucci stores as well as major department stores, like Nordstrom. 

Do they go on sale? Can they be purchased second-hand?
I have never seen the classic Princetown mules or any classic style of Gucci loafer to go on sale. I have, however, seen novelty pairs like this orange lace Princetown style go on sale. You can find Gucci shoes second hand on The Real Real.

You can also find brands that are creating look-alike mules for a lot less! No need to spend on the designer if it's not in the budget or if you are just someone that doesn't like to spend on shoes- totally get that!

Would you buy them again? 
Yes, in a heartbeat. I get so much wear out of them. I've been eyeing the red pair.

More Designer Reviews:

- Chanel Ballet Flats

- Goyard St. Louis Tote (the most trafficked post in Summer Wind history)

- Hermes Sandals

- Louis Vuitton Favorite MM

- Ferragamo Vara and Varina