Sumptuous suede is the fabric to look out for this autumn. Designers including Miu Miu and Prada have used it on the autumn/winter 2024 catwalks, while new autumn High Street collections are using it for everything from bags to skirts.
Of course, suede items fall firmly into the category that fashion editors describe as “an investment buy,” but there are more affordable options than ever this season that are both durable and high-quality.
Or, for a cheaper way to buy authentic suede, look on second-hand websites like Vinted.
That being said, how long your chamois lasts depends on how you care for it, especially this time of year when we live with the ever-present threat of a sudden rain shower.
Get a spray protector, such as Scotchgard (£10.99, amazon.co.uk), and spray the entire garment to give it a protective armour against water and dust.
Jacket, £250, monsoon.co.uk; dress, £240, hillhousehome.co.uk; boots, £549, lkbennett.com
Knitwear, £140, cefinn.com; jeans, £29.99, newlook.com; boots, £250, nobodyschild.com; earrings, £220, sorujewellery.com
Jacket, £319.20, whistles.com; jeans, £65, frenchconnection.com; bag, £120, isladegar.com
Wet suede should be allowed to dry naturally and then brushed with a special suede brush, in the direction of the grain of the leather.
If you’re going to try a suede piece, make it a playful jacket: this season’s are slightly cropped and boxy or biker-style.
Monsoon has a caramel version that echoes the embroidered Miu Miu jacket seen on the catwalk, while Sezane’s comes with gold button embellishments (£330, sezane.com).
Get some style inspiration from Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who convincingly demonstrated the importance of pairing a suede jacket with a flowing dress at the Gucci show in Milan last week.
The classic trench coat has been given a stylish update this season, thanks to John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, who are offering full-length taupe suede trench coats as part of their new collections.
The M&S version has become a viral sensation and has already sold out twice – insiders tell me it will be back in stock this week, so hurry if you want to get your hands on it.
Suede trousers are certainly more eye-catching. This slightly flared pair from Mango has a western vibe and, at £199, while not cheap, is a decent price for genuine suede.
However, don’t choose a larger size, even if you normally would: like any natural fabric, suede tends to give after being worn several times.
Lace sleeve blouse, £150, meandem.com; dress, £70, monsoon.co.uk; shoes, £140, apiedi.co.uk
Cardigan, £69, monsoon.co.uk; belt, £45, stories.com; trousers, £199, mango.com; loafers, £299, lkbennett.com
Jacket, £199, nrby.com; shirt, £85, skirt, £260 and shoes, £130, all from boden.co.uk
Trench coat, £350, marksandspencer.com; turtleneck, £350, beulahlondon.com; boots, £549, lkbennett.com
When it comes to suede accessories, there are none more covetable than the woven bags from Bottega Veneta seen on the runway.
These will set you back upwards of £3,000, but there are plenty of convincing imitations on the High Street, such as Mint Velvet’s dark brown knot-detail bag (£149, mintvelvet.co.uk).
Or if saddle bags are more your thing, look no further than Penelope Chilvers’ intricately detailed taupe bag (£269).
Meanwhile, Boden’s wearable suede skirt has a front slit that lets you move easily and not wiggle.
If you’d rather save money, there are some nice faux suede styles available – just be sure to shop in person to feel the fabric for yourself before buying.
This dress from Monsoon, which costs £70, is a convincing take on the original and has a little more stretch. Plus, it’s machine washable – a definite plus.
Wear it over a crisp white shirt for fall chic, then swap it for a black polo neck for the winter months.