I have both brands (with the addition of doc martens and handmade boots, H and
Gucci shoes are all I've bought with few exceptions for 5 years. I don't have the Sydney (but then I'm not a man). I do have 4 pairs of 1953s though.
The Gucci 1953 is closer to the Nor
wegian indoor moccasin that the became the penny loafer Weegun. The Hermes Sydney are slightly more conventional/formal, they are more a direct comparison to Gucci's 1970s loafer (now called Jordaan).
Since you can get both resoled 'forever' price needn't be your sticking point. The classic is the Gucci, in this case Hermes is actually the 'wannabe'*.
Alain Delon wore Gucci 1953 loafers IRL and the films that counted. I mean, what other choice is there really?
*Incidentally there were also Cox loafers in the 1990s that were called Wannabe because they acknowledged wanting to be 1990s Guccis heeled version of their 1953 loafers (now called Vegas at Gucci).
They are both equestrian. The Gucci has a snaffle horse-bit, Hermes has a D-ring. They are 2 of the most common, simple horse-bits. Hermes is of course the only one of the two you can actually buy both full-size bits for your
horse whereas the Gucci snaffle is an affectation, used to emulate saddleries (like Hermes) when putting it on their shoes.