Designer Dupes: YSL Tribute Slides & Gucci Jordaan Loafers

One thing I always – always – say is that you can find good quality at every price. And, I’m usually on a mission to figure out how to make my budget stretch further; whether that be by shopping pre-loved, hanging out for a sale, or trying to get the “look” for less. Today, I wanted to focus on the latter of the three. Getting the look for less. More specifically so, the designer look of the YSL Tribute Slides and the Gucci Jordaan Loafers.

I own both pairs in my closet, so I thought it’d be useful to show you a side by side of the styles with their duped counterparts; two recent-ish additions to my closet from Boden (*pr gift). While not exactly similar, the influence of those two designer shoe styles is evident from the first look.

I’ll be running through a review of both styles now that I’ve had a chance to properly road test them. And I hope that this will be useful for those of you who are trying to be savvy with your budget, or aren’t in a position to spring for the designer pair right now. But still want to add something that’s good quality to your closet.

YSL Tribute Slides VS Boden Geometric Flat Slides

There’s still a few days left of summer yet, so I thought we’d kick off with summer slides first. At this point, I think winter is the only season where my YSL tribute slides don’t feature as a “most worn item”. For me, they’re my ideal summer shoe. Easy to slide on, modern with a vintage-style elements, and well-made.

I sized up to an EU41 as I have wide feet and this is a must for the patent, and more of a nice to have for the smooth leather (I just appreciate the extra length along the foot bed!). I wouldn’t walk 10km fast in them, but they’re comfortable as an all day shoe once broken in. Mine have some minor scratches to them, but nothing you wouldn’t expect from a shoe that’s been worn 100+ times.

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The Boden Geometric Flat Slides feel less like a direct descendent of the Tributes, and more like a long lost cousin. There’s similar elements. The squared-off toe, and multiple pieces of leather which cross and combine over the foot leaving small gaps exposed. Instead of curved edges, it’s a sharper look with a geometric design to the “twist”. I find Boden shoes tend to be more suited for a narrow foot, and these are little exception. I found them snug on my (wide) feet when slipping them on, and almost wished I’d personally gone up a size.

Having worn them in at this point, I can say that while the leather is thick and sturdy, it will give. You may find you get a little bit of rubbing the first time you wear them (I had this on my little toe), but this wasn’t an issue with subsequent wears. They’ve since given width-wise, and I feel much more comfortable with how my feet sit in the shoes. Similar to the tributes, I probably wouldn’t pick these to walk 10km fast. That said, the leather is softer than that used by YSL so you could in a pinch, and they’re a great option for regular day-to-day wear. Overall, very happy with this style and I’ve been reaching for them regularly.

Gucci Jordaan Loafers VS Boden Snaffle Detail Leather Loafers

I feel like I’ve been a little hard on my Gucci loafers since adding them to my wardrobe. When an item is so overhyped, I set impossibly high standards. They’re usually not met, meaning I’m left feeling deflated and disappointed with my purchase. Objectively speaking, the Gucci Jordaan Loafer is a great shoe. Ideal even for those with wide feet, there’s zero break in time. The style is iconic yet classic, and the horse bit embellishment across the toe is what really makes this design feel special. They also fit true to size (I got my usual EU40).

I opted for the dark brown, which in hindsight probably wasn’t the best choice for me; classic black would have made more sense. That said, my main gripe is with how precious they feel. The leather is smooth and easily scratched, and prone to bleaching even with leather protectant applied. Mine have a couple of minor bleached spots, and multiple scratches though I’ve probably worn them 10-15 times maximum. Ultimately you can manage this by using a shoe polish, but worth noting that they will require more care.

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The Boden Snaffle Loafers by comparison, have a very similar shape. The vamp comes up ever so slightly higher, but the flattering almond toe is replicated in the design. And, you can see above that the placement of the chain embellishment is almost identical. The thing that differs the most is the leather. Where the Gucci loafers have a structure and sturdiness to them, the Boden loafers are soft and supple. And having worn them in, I can attest to the leather very swiftly softening up even more.

The fit is narrow, though the leather choice means that these will still work even if you have a medium to wider foot. They’ll just feel a bit snug the first 2-3 times you wear them. I found that they fit true to size (in length); I opted for my usual size EU40. Having worn these many times now, I’m thrilled to say that I’ve not suffered a single blister on my heels. Genuinely one of the comfier pairs of shoes I’ve road-tested of late.