The best suede shoes to battle rain this autumn
Worried about the weather? Suede's tougher than you may think...
Words: Gentleman's Journal
There are certain materials and fabrics that we tend to lock away in our wardrobes once autumn rolls around. Linen, for one, is very much a summer staple, but gets neglected when the days start getting shorter. Suede is another; stylish napped leather we wear in summer but fear for once the rain hits.
But there’s no need to panic. With the number of treatments and sprays available to weatherproof your shoes, you can keep championing suede throughout the autumn and winter months without the worry that they’ll water stain or disintegrate altogether. So here are the best suede shoes – in every style – for you to adopt over the coming months.
There’s nothing more reliable for year-round wear than the trusty Chelsea Boot. As sleek with a suit as they are with jeans, this style also benefits from one smooth, continuous upper – meaning that any waterproofing you apply is almost guaranteed to evenly cover them. Our picks, the Grenson Declan and Tod’s Chelseas, both share tough soles and dark colours – perfect for the months to come.
You may think there’s no worse a shoe for winter than a suede sneaker, but we’d disagree. Correctly weather-proofed, you’ll carry your summer style across into autumn confidently and coolly, and our two choices – Oliver Spencer’s Amblesides and the Original Achilles from Common Projects – are the perfect combination of colourful and controlled, and offer both durability and comfort with their water-resistant rubber soles.
The workhorse of footwear, why shouldn’t the suede Derby make it through the tougher seasons? With their solid soles and honest, basic design, the Derby is the perfect candidate for smarter autumn wear – as long as you keep them in order with your trusty bristle brush. Hugo Boss’ Edens and AMI’s Derby shoes are both blessed with rugged crepe soles for superior traction and quality-crafted uppers ready to do battle with the rain.
Now we mean business. The high-ankled suede boot has a chunky sole, commendable coverage and a design so sturdy and serious that it’ll just laugh rain right off. Grenson’s Cap-Toe, Triple-Welted Suede boots even sound like they means business – and Amrando Cabral’s Suede boots are similarly well-crafted. The most sensible and reliable option if you’re looking to take suede past summer, these are our picks to boot up.
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