Gucci Jordaan GG Blue Velvet Loafer Review

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Every once in a while, I will do reviews of other fashion products other than fragrances. Not too often, but it is something that I like to do, when I happen to purchase something that a lot of people are looking into. The Jordaan GG loafers by Gucci are one such designer product that I want to take a closer look at here. I purchased the blue velvet edition of these a few months back and will use this page to review and share my thoughts on them.

Reviewing Gucci Jordaan GG Blue Velvet Loafer

The Fit (Sizing)

Before, I get into anything else, I do want to talk sizing. With sneakers, I usually wear an 11.5-12, and there are many times that I’ll have to go with a wide version of a shoe.

So, I was pretty skeptical of Gucci’s sizing guide and initially ordered a Gucci 11 (11.5 US), despite their size guide telling me to get a 10.5 (11 US). They were correct.

I ended up having to return my initial pair in order to size down. These do run large, have an elongated toe, and no laces in order to tighten further. If it’s your first time ordering a pair (like it was for me), do stick to the Gucci sizing guide, as it is accurate.

Buy the Black GG Loafer at Saks: Black Gucci

Buy the Blue or Black from Gucci: Blue Gucci

It is confusing to wear a 10.5 Gucci, while it also says 11.5 for US sizing, but just go with it.

That being said, once I got the 10.5 size of the Jordaan’s on my feet, the fit was great. No sliding, but also not a complete pain to get on.

Unboxing GG Jordaan Loafers

Each loafer gets its own cloth covering and a canvas Gucci bag to store it in.

Here’s the individual cloth covering:

I do have a full unboxing video on my phone, but I cannot currently upload it to the site for some reason. I’ll try to sort that out and get it posted.

The Look

The main thing that attracted me to this version of the Jordaan was the Blue velvet. I loved the look matched with the beige GG monogram pattern.

It’s listed as beige, but actually does strike me more as a golden shade. The horsebit is gold and helps lend to that effect. Nonetheless, the beige GG looks like a pale gold or white gold.

The blue here is quite a deep and dark blue velvet.  The lighting in the pictures on Gucci’s website are also accurate. That’s exactly what I wanted, as many of the blue velvet shoes that I’ve come across, were always a much brighter shade.

On the back of the loafer there is a blue leather trim running vertically from the heel. The rest of the leather itself is a darker brown on the half inch heel and along the sides. While the bottom and interior of the shoe are a very light brown-orangish leather.

Pricing

The current price as of publishing is $920 per pair. This year’s price increase unfortunately happened, while I was waffling back and forth, as to whether I was going to buy a pair or not. I believe that the GG Jordaan’s had been about $840 before the increase.

The price for the black version is also the same. Though, that color is available from other stores which carry Gucci, while the blue is a Gucci exclusive. So, keep that in mind if you have any gift cards/discounts to other retailers.

Are Gucci loafers worth the price?

I’m not a Gucci fan boy. I don’t like a vast majority of their clothes and sneakers. However, I do seem to like a lot of the loafers. Obviously, you’re paying a premium for the brand name, but I don’t think it makes sense to buy unless you’re getting a unique style.

I wouldn’t pay the price for regular black or brown leather loafers, as their are plenty of other brands with the same look, for a fraction of the price.

The Jordaan loafers from Gucci, do seem to have unique patterns and colorways versus other designers. The blue velvet immediately jumped out to me and I wouldn’t mind having the black ones either.

That’s a lot of what I look for when jumping into a luxury designer purchase, long-term quality and something that has a pretty unique aesthetic. I don’t just want a giant logo plastered for full display, but I like the subtle GG pattern.

Cons of These Loafers

With blue velvet, there’s a time and a place to wear it. The color itself, presents more of a styling problem than the more ubiquitous black of the same style. Color coordination is a bit more limited with this blue.

Not a huge issue.

The velvet aspect does further limit the usability of the loafer. You need dry conditions, if you’re going to venture outside with them. Depending on where you live, that can be more of an issue.

Rain days, colder days, snow melt, wet walking areas, etc. Protecting the velvet takes more foresight than your average pair of shoes.

As such, these aren’t going to be daily wears for most of us. More of a statement piece. Is that statement piece in your collection worth $920? For me it was. I know I can make these last for as long as I want to

Coach Man Blue EDT

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Coach has come out with some pretty good fragrances releases for men over the past few years. None of them are amazing, but I tend to think that they’re all pretty good at least. As such, my expectations for Coach Blue weren’t too high when I got a hold of a sample sprayer recently. Does this 2020 cologne release exceed expectations? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Coach Blue for Men Smell Like?

Notes include: absinthe, lime, cedar, pepper, and amber

Click here to try: Coach For Men Blue 3.3oz EDT Spray

My Full Review

Coach for Men opens up with a blend of lime and the absinthe note. The absinthe actually tones down the sharpness or juiciness of the lime, but I frankly don’t find the note all that interesting here. 

I’m not even much of a fan of 212 VIP Black, but that absinthe note was better used, in that fragrance. Here, it is meh, as the cologne smells like a fresh blue body wash. Not that it’s bad, but it’s pretty standard. 

That’s a common theme with this Coach fragrance.

There’s a bit of peppery spice up top too, but I really start to get a solid dose of amber. Lime, absinthe, and amber in the beginning.

Then, it will shift to being more amber and cedar with some lime leftover and just a trace of absinthe. That’s about the extent of this one’s development. 

I do like the aroma. Simple, not anything that wows, but attractive enough. It’s a fairly standard issue ‘modern blue’ sort of scent. It has aspects that feel unique, but this is well tread ground.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Coach Blue projects itself fairly well. To me, 3-5 feet away from where I sprayed it. I did this both on my skin and on a hoodie I had laying around. It’s moderate and not really going to blow out a room. 

On my skin, it lasted around 7 hours, give or take. Again, not a powerhouse, but quite solid and usable overall. I wasn’t disappointed by Blue’s performance.

Though, it’s about the same as you’re going to get with basically every other Coach fragrance. Nothing that’s ever going to perform extremely well, but it’ll do better than average. 

Seasonally, I’d like this one in spring or summer. Really, anytime you have at least moderate temperatures. It’s your typical blue style fragrance. Fresh, clean, with a citrus note. 

I’d also say that this will be for the younger guys. Think teens through maybe 25 years old. I think there are better options in this style of scent out there, so, it wouldn’t be my first pick. However, if a younger guy got a good deal, it wouldn’t be terrible.

Within that framework, it is a fairly versatile wear. Mainly a daily wear or casual blend, but it could venture into other potential scenarios.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Coach Blue

Do I like this one? Somewhat. It smells like a fairly typical blue, with enough of its own style, to set itself apart. Though, it’s definitely not an amazing release. It’s all very forgettable, but not unpleasant to wear when you have it on.

It’s fresh, blue, and like a more well put together body wash. Definitely getting an Old Spice Swagger vibe here…but definitely better and more of a quality aroma. I had a travel size of that body wash on a trip and the two are pretty similar in smell. 

It’s got good enough performance if you happen to like the aroma. I wouldn’t pay full price, but it’s all in all not a terrible fragrance, just okay. 

I like the lime note, the absinthe is disappointing, and the ambroxan is more of the same that’s already on the market.

7 Best Smelling Tuberose Scented Perfumes

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Tuberose is one of the most popular white floral notes that is used in women’s perfumes. It’s sweet and what is often compared to a ‘bubble gum’ sort of smell is both distinct and lovely when done right. On this page, I want to keep a running list of the best tuberose based fragrances for ladies.

What are the Top Smelling Tuberose Fragrances?

Popular Spicy Designer Option

L’Interdit Rouge by Givenchy– The entire L’Interdit lineup features a tuberose note, for a sweeter floral experience, you might try the original: L’Interdit

With Rouge, you’re going to get a spicier take on the formulation, and the best of the lot in my mind. Blood orange, ginger, and orange blossom all have a large role early on in the wear. However, that orange blossom will fade in favor of our target tuberose note.

The end is a blend of the ginger, patchouli, tuberose, and sandalwood. The tuberose becomes much more dominant, as we move into the middle and final acts of this perfumes development. It’s a nice mix of earthy spice and creaminess.

A fairly bold sillage and L’Interdit Rouge lasted about 8 hours on my skin during testing. L’Interdit Rouge Review

An Armani Prive

Rouge Malachite– Armani has its Prive line of more high end fragrances. Rouge Malachite is a perfume from their Les Terres Precieuses series within the Prive lineup.

However, you also get a fresh sage top, benzoin and amber in the base, along with other floral notes like jasmine. In the opening, you get a sweetness with spice. Then benzoin and amber join the main tuberose thrust to give it a smoother fizzy creaminess.

It is a strong floral fragrance, but has a surprising amount of depth, which should keep one catching new facets of its aroma. Again, this is an expensive one, so you might want to find a sample before committing to a full bottle.

Green and Fresh

Joyeuse Tubereuse by Guerlain– This entry from Guerlain adds some greenish/dewy facets to the tuberose note. Also, there is a pretty substantial lily note in the mix, at times.

Joyeuse Tubereuse is lighter and fresher than some of the denser perfumes that are on this page. It gives you a really nice white floral dynamic with the lily note. Greener in the earlier stages, but more of the tuberose and sandalwood as you progress.

There is also vanilla, but it isn’t a high level of that note.  Sillage isn’t massive, but the longevity is pretty good, just don’t expect a complete beast.

That Gucci Ambrosia

Ambrosia di Fiori– This is similar to the original Bloom, but with more power and a greater use of our target note. Ambrosia di Fiori has a great opening honeysuckle and a big use of tuberose later on in the wear.

Ambrosia also has a rose note, which makes it distinct from the original, and does add something to an already familiar blend. The rose doesn’t completely overpower everything else, though. It has a nice balance.

If you want a bigger, bolder, and heavier version of Bloom with some slight differences, this is the one to get. Very solid performance to go along with everything else. Ambrosia di Fiori Review

top gucci bloom

Suede and Tuberose

Tubereuse Nue by Tom Ford– Like a lot of Tom Ford fragrances, Tubereuse Nue is a bold take on a tuberose-centered perfume. This one does have a lot of projection and the overall performance is fantastic.

However, this won’t be one that everyone enjoys, but can be the top pick for a smaller percentage of tuberose wearers. Our target note is joined by a big suede note, some oud, and a fuzzy blend of musk, styrax, and benzoin. Nice leathery touches.

Yet, outside of the suede, those notes don’t completely dominate throughout. You do indeed get a great white floral scent. Lily, jasmine, and that brilliant tuberose are a true delight here. I don’t find it to be super heavy and still one that is very much at home in the springtime.

Ylang-Ylang Tubereuse

Tubereuse Imperiale by BDK Perfumes– Tubereuse Imperial is a true floral which gives you that blend of sweetness with the buttery creaminess of ylang-ylang/vanilla, and an additional jasmine.

The opening does feel fresher and cleaner, with a geranium and pink pepper mix that helps to keep this one clean and with a livelier aroma in the top half of this perfume.

The tuberose does have that ‘bubblegum’ presence here, but it doesn’t completely take over or make it too sweet for some tastes. The ylang-ylang and vanilla notes give this the unique and beautiful signature that makes it such a joy to wear.

Spicy & Earthy

Tubereuse Indiana By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 Oz– Tuberose Indiana brings on a nice smelling bouquet of white floral notes highlighted by the tuberose, but not really dominated. In addition, one gets a hint of bergamot, and a creamy vanilla at the top.

Then, there is the ambergris and fairly heavy musk.  This is an older school type of scent. The citrus is a nice light addition in the opening and the vanilla gives it a further touch of sweet/creaminess to balance off the heavier aspects of the ambergris.

This one is smooth, but it has an underlying earthiness and much more of a spicy presence than some of the others on the list.

Notes include vanilla, ambergris, tuberose, white flowers, and bergamot. Captivating smell.

Tubereuse Indiana

Armani Code Eau de Parfum Pour Homme

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Armani Code keeps spinning off more and more flankers. Surprisingly, it took until 2021 for Armani to put out an eau de parfum version. Well, here it is. I was sent a mini bottle of this new fragrance when I bought a bottle of AdG Profumo recently. How does Code EDP smell?  How long does it last? When should it be worn? Is it worth a buy?

What does Armani Code EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, tonka bean, cedar, lemon, vanilla, suede 

Click here to try: Code EDP

My Full Wear Review

I would describe the opening of Code EDP as follows: take the citrus from the original Code and replace the leather with suede. Then, blend with Luna Rossa Sport by Prada and you have exactly what I smell here.

Most of the DNA at the start is a dead ringer for the Prada cologne. Lavender and tonka bean are dominant at first. Later, things will develop and I get a more vanilla based version of Armani Code.

The opening citrus isn’t that pronounced. It is more of the classic formulation of Code. The newer bottles of the EDT version, seem to have a slightly amped up citrus accord versus what it used to be. That’s good, I like that this one is going the older route.

Even though, lemon and bergamot are notes that can be absolutely enjoyable.

After 20-30 minutes, EDP becomes more distinctly a Code fragrance and less like the Prada.  The suede really starts to come through, joined by fresh cedar, and the tonka/lavender both take a step back.

Again, the final dry down is about that vanilla note. It takes over and gives me a refined and smooth aroma, greatly reminiscent of Code EDT, yet, with a slight distinction.

This is kind of where Code EDP loses me, the vanilla is so heightened, and it gets annoying with the level of suede and tonka bean that is in this formula.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty moderate. EDP doesn’t have the beast strength of either Absolu or Profumo. But, it does project itself better than the modern EDT and probably the classic, at least by my recollection.

The eau de parfum isn’t weak, you get a nice scent trail for a few hours, but it just doesn’t ever create a giant cloud of fragrances.

It lasts on my skin for 7-8 hours and doesn’t go beyond that. The performance here is above average, but nowhere near hitting elite status. Not really a problem for me, as I tend to get tired of this scent, but it at least goes a standard workday.

Seasonally, Code eau de parfum can venture into much of springtime, unlike the heavier versions of this line. Though, it is still mostly an autumn or winter wear. It just won’t completely melt when things get a little warmer.

However, I absolutely prefer it when it is cold versus the springtime. It just smells at its best when it is colder outside.

Outside of that, it has great versatility. Can be an evening wear or office wear. Also, it has enough modern style for younger men to wear it, while still being well put together for older men.

It’s classy and refined. Code EDP doesn’t scream for attention, but it will probably receive positive attention anyway.

Overall Impressions of Code EDP

Do I like this fragrance? Yes, I do. I would take this as a replacement for the original EDT. I happen to be a fan of Luna Rossa Sport, so, I enjoyed the similarities.

I don’t think that this is as good as Absolu or Profumo, but it is a less intense and more wearable version. Guys who want something that can perform, while still being fairly low key, will be well served to take a look at EDP.

I actually also like the newer Code Parfum more than this one. It’d probably be my pick outside of Absolu.

Just don’t expect anything too unique here. It’s a step up in terms of smell and performance versus what you get with Code EDT. Has a few different touches and is smoother. One negative, is the absence of the spices here, particularly the star anise. However, that’s not too big of a deal.

This one just wears on me, personally. So, it’s ultimately not one that I want to own.

Code Parfum by Giorgio Armani

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Code is the still and long-running series from Giorgio Armani. In 2022, the designer came out with Code Parfum for men to continue on the name. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a shot?

What does Code Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, sage, iris, tonka bean, cedar

Click here to try: Code Parfum by Armani

My Full Review

So, this is going to be a one wear review, at least until I update it in the future, after longer testing. I tried this out with 5 sprays from a tester bottle in a department store.

Here’s how Armani describes it: ARMANI CODE PARFUM rewrites the code of a timeless masculine fragrance – infusing the powerful and seductive signature Tonka Bean with fresh notes of iris, sage, and bergamot, to create a woody aromatic blend that is long-lasting and uniquely distinctive. ARMANI CODE PARFUM speaks to a man who rewrites the codes of masculinity – a new seduction that is charismatic, a confidence that is refined, and a self-expression that is authentic.

From the first spray of Code Parfum, I am reminded a lot of Luna Rossa Ocean. Sage, bergamot, and iris are all major players early on with both of these colognes. It’s as if you took the main idea of Ocean and combined it with elements of the original Code.

Parfum lacks the suede and caramel, but also includes the tonka bean note. So, it’s not as smooth as Ocean, nor does it have that ‘blue’ aroma. But, I think that this one has a great colder freshness.

The bergamot is awesome here. Sparkling, enough juiciness, and it actually lasts throughout the wear, on my skin. The citrus note tends to disappear, as it does in the Prada cologne. But, with this one you get a nice run.

The iris note, is sort of two fold. You get the sunny aldehyde version and then, the rich orris butter. The aldehydes give this one a colder feeling throughout. Sage and aldehydes together. Yes, the iris has a faint powdery smell, but honestly isn’t that heavy with it. This one actually leans more towards a light soapy/cream aroma.

The tonka bean here is much weaker than it is in Code EDP, for example. Which was heavy on that and vanilla, to the point of distraction. Still nice, just wasn’t great. Here, I like the light sweetness and smoothness that it adds to the mix.

The tonka bean does play more of a role in the dry down, as the bergamot fades somewhat. Yet, the end is headed up by the tonka bean and iris. With the bergamot and a bit of cedar playing support.

Clean, simple, and effortless to wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Parfum has an above average amount of projection and will probably leave a trail for around 2 hours, with proper sprays. For me, during this test run it felt like it radiated off of my skin well enough.

It’s not a heavy scent or a club beast, so that’s not what I’d expect.

Longevity here was in the 7-8 hour range. Maybe it’s capable of a little more, but I wouldn’t count on it, outside of heavy spraying.

Seasonally, I wouldn’t mind wearing this anytime outside of the summer. The freshness allows it to definitely venture outside of the winter months, also. Ideally, I’d like wearing this best here in autumn or the early spring.

This is a daily wear cologne. Super safe for the office. Attractive and not going to blow out the room. Code Parfum has plenty of versatility. It can be worn more formally, casually, or even on a date if need be.

Overall Impressions of Code Parfum

Overall, do I like Code Parfum? I do. Code Absolu is still my favorite from the series currently. But, I think this is better than the EDP and the modern version of the EDT.

Update: Coming back to this one a few years later, this one is great. It might be more enjoyable to me than Absolu, at least at times. Plus, they don’t make that one anymore, so I’d go with Parfum.

I was a fan of Luna Rossa Ocean’s opening act, so I really enjoy the similarities here. This one, is better over the duration of the wear, and doesn’t turn into a super boring cologne. Simple, yeah, but the aroma is very nice and kept my attention.

You’re still going to get plenty of the vibe of the original EDT, just in a fresher and cleaner form. It’s updated and modern, from an older formula which has been degraded over time.

Performance isn’t amazing, but it seems to be able to hit a standard work day. Versatile enough for multiple seasons, office or even night life.

One issue here, might be the pricing. As a Parfum version, the higher concentration is going to sell for a higher price. So, you might want to test it out before blind buying.

It’s probably not going to offend anyone, just you may want something different for the same price point. I don’t think the price is anything outlandish, however. Perhaps a bit elevated.

I was tempted to grab a full bottle for myself. I enjoyed wearing Code Parfum. As of now, it’s sort of borderline. Not something I definitely want, but may end up with at some point.