6 years in the life of my most comfortable loafers

Lots of outfits. Zero blisters.

In the summer of 2019, back when I was still working as an editor at Man Repeller, I wrote a story for the site about a new pair of shoes I was obsessed with: the Sacca Donna loafers from a small brand called M.Gemi. They were, and still are, the most comfortable loafers I’ve ever owned. No break-in period. No blisters. Just buttery soft suede that molded to my feet from the get-go. Six years, several style evolutions, two pregnancies, and many outfits later, they’re still the shoes I reach for whenever I need to walk a long distance while simultaneously looking put-together—and still the pair I recommend every time someone asks me for a loafer rec. Needless to say, it feels like a real full-circle moment to partner with M.Gemi on today’s letter.

As you might expect, shoes this comfortable don’t happen by accident. The Sacca Donnas are handcrafted in Pisa by a third-generation shoemaker named Daniele, who inherited his small workshop from his father and is now training his sons to carry it on. Every pair is made start to finish by hand, from pattern to final stitch, using genuine Italian leather.

Below, I’m taking you on a little walk down memory lane—a look at some of the outfits these loafers have carried me through over the years, and some observations about how I think my personal style has evolved along the way. If you end up eyeing a pair for yourself, M.Gemi is offering a special code just for Gumshoe readers: Use HARLING60 for $60 off any full-price pair of shoes on their site.

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2019 - 2021

Looking at this era of outfits is such a nostalgia hit: My old apartment! My old office! Fashion week! I see just as much continuity with my style now as I do change—plenty of choices I’d repeat today, and a few that make me wince.

Holding aside the nightgown outfit, which I love and would still wear with zero edits, the main theme here is trying a little bit too hard. These days, I’d trade the silk top for a white tee and the statement shorts for gym shorts and still feel just as considered. I’ve also gotten better at editing my wardrobe, parting ways more decisively with anything that doesn’t fit quite right or feel like me (looking at you, jumpsuits).

I do, however, need to start brushing out my curls again on occasion. Just for the drama of it all.

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2021-2023

This batch feels more settled. I still own everything I’m wearing in these photos—a sign I was getting better at shopping like a collector and my closet was starting to reflect a clearer sense of what I actually liked—not just what trendy, or what I thought I should like.

Would I wear most of these looks again exactly as-is? Probably not. I still love the individual components, I’d just remix them in ways that feel right for where I am now. It’s a good reminder that my styling instincts can (and ideally, should) shift independently from the contents of my wardrobe, especially if I’m attempting to build one that lasts.

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2023-2025

These days, I’ve been trying to approach getting dressed with more restraint—not in a minimalist sense, necessarily, but in resisting the urge to reinvent the wheel every single time. I’ve realized that I often get more satisfaction out of rewearing a favorite outfit or template than from coming up with a brand-new one. I want my clothes to reflect something internal, not distract from it. Or at least, that’s the goal.

I’ve also tried to focus more on letting my styling set the tone, rather than a hero item or trend. Funnily enough, that shift has made me more open to wearing black. I used to write it off as boring, but in retrospect, I think I just didn’t trust myself to make it interesting.

I recently added a black pair of Saccas to my rotation, and they’ve quickly become just as indispensable as the tan-colored ones. Both pairs represent the kind of qualities I’m aiming to build my wardrobe around in general—comfortable, thoughtfully-made pieces that continue to earn their keep, no matter how my style changes.

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You can shop the Sacca Donna loafers here, and use code HARLING60 for $60 off any full-price pair of shoes. Thank you M.Gemi for sponsoring this post, which has literally (albeit unintentionally) been years in the making.

xo Harling