How to Spot Real Gucci Ace Sneakers
As Gucciphiles are well aware, when Alessandro Michele took the reins of the Florentine house in 2015, everything from ready-to-wear to home decor received a decadent, over-the-top overhaul. Gucci’s signature sneaker, the Ace, was no exception (and we’re not surprised it was our most-Obsessed sneaker for men last year). Applying his “more-is-more” approach to the Ace, Michele transformed it into a new, must-have classic. But as its popularity has surged, counterfeit versions of the coveted shoe are appearing left and right. Read on for our expert team’s tips on spotting the real thing.
Gucci Ace Sneaker Materials
Though there are nearly infinite variations of the Ace, many appear in classic white calfskin, colored leathers and GG Supreme coated canvas, with a rubber sole and contrasting accent at the heel. Many Gucci Ace heel accents are made of snakeskin or crocodile, which adds a luxury component to an otherwise minimal sneaker. Shearling trim will also accompany select styles. Aces feature uncoated flat cotton shoelaces with plastic aglets, though if you’re looking for a pair in the resale market, the shoelaces may have been replaced. While this could affect the value, it does not impact the authenticity of the shoe itself.
Gucci Ace Sneaker Construction
Real Gucci Ace sneakers possess a clean, streamlined appearance, with a stitched line delineating the padded ankle from the shoe’s heel. The insole should fit snugly within the shoe’s interior, without any gaps or buckling. Perhaps the most notable feature of the shoe is its beloved woven Web accent. The traditional green and red colorway is a fan favorite, though color combinations abound. The Web should be stitched down — and never glued — with tonal stitching. The Web often features decorations such as embroidery, appliqués, studs and crystals, and these should always possess consistent, quality craftsmanship.
The shoe’s rubber sole should be smooth at the front, with a textured accent that wraps around from midsole to midsole. The grip at the bottom should also feature Gucci’s signature wave pattern, with the embossed Gucci knight symbol at the center. Gucci’s standard logo and “made in italy” should also be included near the ball of the foot. Counterfeit Aces may be blank, or feature a sticker. The rubber sole should also be attached to the leather or coated canvas upper with perfect, evenly spaced stitching, without any visible glue or doubled stitches.
Gucci Ace Sneaker Hardware
Gucci Ace sneaker embellishments should be of the utmost quality. If an Ace has the Marmont feline head, it should be detailed and well-cast. Pearls should be perfectly halved and round, with a clean, even finish, and studs should be well-affixed and in the proper tone — brushed nickel, antique brass or polished brass. At the sneaker’s laces, eyelets should always be two perfectly matched rings at the interior and exterior. If the interior eyelet is flayed or split metal instead of a perfect circle, that’s a red flag. The eyelets should also match the shoe — white eyelets for white leather versions, antique brass for coated canvas versions, et cetera.
Gucci Ace Sneaker Brand Identifiers
In addition to markings at the rubber sole, authentic Gucci Aces should include “GUCCI” stamped or printed at the contrasting accent at the heel. Crocodile versions of the accent may have it debossed. The shoe’s inner sole should also be debossed with “GUCCI / made in italy.”
A style number and the shoe’s size should also be present. While this information is typically debossed on the sneaker’s tongue, in some cases it will be included on an interior side panel.
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Please note: Brand standards, logos and other identifying features may have changed since the time of publication.
