Can you actually wear suede shoes in winter?
Add a surprise material into your cold-weather-footwear rotation
With the UK weather having taken a rather brutal turn since the festive season, many out there have been rushing to find the appropriate outerwear and footwear that’ll stand up to the elements. When it comes to the latter, although we often default to creations made from durable leather, it does pay dividends to have a diverse selection of shoes and boots on regular rotation – and one material that is frequently overlooked at this time of year is suede.
What is suede?
Suede, as many will know, is a buttery fabric commonly used to make jackets and desert boots. It’s a type of leather, taken from the underside of an animal skin, and is loved for its soft, napped finish.
Crockett & Jones Suede Collection, crockettandjones.com
But isn’t suede a fabric for spring and summer?
Indeed, it is often synonymous with fair-weather styling – that’s most likely because suede not only appears delicate (and, therefore, is assumed not suitable for grey conditions), but it’s also commonly produced in light-brown and beige hues that complement sunny days.
However, with the right suede and the right care, it’s a material suitable for year-round wear.
Which suede shoes should you invest in?
In the footwear department, we cannot resist plumping for Northampton shoemaker Crockett & Jones, a company whose Goodyear-welted designs have become the stuff of sartorial legend. For its suede options, the brand uses suede that’s been tanned in Leeds, UK, at Charles F Stead, one of the world’s great tanneries.
“We only use the best suede for Mainline [Crockett & Jones’s principal collection],” says Steve Horne, the label’s leather buyer. “Cow’s leather can be up to an inch thick when it comes off the animal, so it is split into different pieces of varying quality. We use top-quality suede that has a dense, healthy fibre structure. These maintain their shape and strength over time – and make for shoes that are comfortable and durable.
“Today, our main repello suede colours (dark brown, snuff, black, navy and earth-green) are waterproofed during the tanning process to ensure a very high level of water- and oil-resistance.”
Protection, therefore, is already dealt with before you even slip on your Crockett & Jones footwear.
How to care for your suede footwear so it can be worn all year
When it comes to the upkeep, it’s fairly straightforward:
- When unboxing for the first time, spray on some Renovateur Suede Spray in order to give your new purchase an additional coat of protection
- If your suede shoes or boots have taken a bit of a beating in a downpour, then proceed to dry them (away from a direct heat source)
- Give them a thorough brush with a medium-bristled shoe brush once dry
- Every so often, apply a new spray of protector
Want more from the brand? Read about its collection of small leather goods…
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.
