black suede: will I be sorry? eta how about nubuck?

Adelfa

Hi fabbers, I really could use your help! I am shopping for a black bootie and three of my favorite styles only come in black suede. I have always thought it was a bad idea to buy suede for the fall/winter, though I know waterproofing sprays help.

It's usually not that rainy here. The average annual rainfall is 12" but it can range up to 25".

I am going to want my bootie to last several seasons.

What do you think? Should I stick to my rule of no suede for the winter? Or could it work if I brush and waterproof faithfully?

Thank you so much!

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12 years ago

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Caro in Oz

Makrame

Veteran

I don't know the answer to this but I have been in the same situation before. I have asked for advice here and ended up staying away from suede. These are gorgeous, though, so I feel your pain!

12 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I generally take the approach of not tweaking some self-imposed rules, because they are a result of the strategy developed to make my life easier.

Generally = approx 95%.

The other 5% are left to allow myself some flexibility if something is too good to miss or is a good candidate to push me out of my comfort zone. Never say never, right?

Would these be the main booties? If not, then with your dry climate in mind they are worth trying. The second pair looks particularly beautiful to me.

12 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

In my experience & all else being equal, leather lasts longer than suede. It also looks better for longer. I love the feel of suede but as a second pair not as the throw on, wear with anything, in any weather pair.

12 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I 100% agree with Caro. Suede is fine if you watch the weather forecast and don't wear it if rain is threatened or if it is actually raining. A little rain won't hurt of course, but suede won't withstand the abuse that leather can. It can be more beautiful, however. . . .

12 years ago

deb

Veteran

I love my black suede Aquatalias I got last year. I wore them in all kinds of weather and when they got mud spattered, it brushed right off. I do not know if this is because of the brand or the suede.

12 years ago

always trying

Veteran

I am in the same situation as you, looking for leather. I have a pair of suede pumps I just took out for the first time since last December--rainy season here..Just remembering that most of the time I wear them it has been in rain. They need replacing as they look a little beat up. Also have suede booties that are about 2/3 years old..So I am looking for leather ones to replace both, although I will keep the suede booties, just have to get leather ones for the rainy season. As like you the styles I am wanting are either only suede, or not my size. HOWEVER, it is early in the season so hopefully for both of us there will be more we like in leather out soon.

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

You know, I have found that all suede is not created equal. I have a pair of tall black suede boots that are a bit more like nubuck. I've had them for years and they have stood up to everything. But then, there are other suede items that seem much more delicate. I'm not sure whether this is a result of the way the hide is processed, but it's just an observation I thought I'd throw out there.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Janet is right, all suede is not created equal. There is a type that is meant to look almost a little distressed (like Janet says, it starts out looking more like nubuck or uncoated regular leather) so a little more distressing just adds to the look. I have found that the very luxurious looking brushed suede, the type that looks velvety and very black, is the type that tends to look bad when it gets beat up.

It's hard to explain, but the first type seems to distress in a way where the suede smoothes out and gets a little shiny almost, whereas the second type seems to distress by getting almost ruggy or pilly.

ETA: It's hard to tell for sure from the photos, but I'd guess #1 is more like the first type and #2 is the second type.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aquatalias are weather proof, which may be why Deb had good luck with those.

I agree that all suede is not created equal. I try not to wear it in wet weather unless is it specifically designed for that.

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Okay, ladies, this is helpful and it's starting to look like I need to keep looking. I do want these to be workhorses. It's not always possible to tell for sure if it will rain and I know from experience that this can mean a fragile pair of shoes gets worn not very often.

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Diana -- it's hard to tell from photos, but #1 does look like the texture of my boots. #2 looks softer.

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Diana and Janet, I think you might be right! I poked around online and on some sites the same shoe (I think) seems to be called nubuck! This explains why the Zappos site puzzlingly called them "Black" when the tan ones had "suede" in the color name--puzzling because clearly there was some texture going on there!

Is nubuck better?

12 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Nubuck is sturdier. It looks a little more RATE/distressed than suede but wears much better.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Yes, I think nubuck is not brushed, but more just like untreated leather. In my experience it becomes shinier/flatter as it gets distressed but doesn't get ratty the way suede can.

12 years ago

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Adelfa, nubuck is leather that is roughed up, whereas suede is leather inside out, if that makes sense. Nubuck is more durable than suede, but not as durable as smooth leather. Waterproofing spray works great on nubuck too!

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

DJ, I never knew that! In fact the name "nubuck" always sounded vaguely synthetic to me!

Janet and Diana, thanks for sticking with this thread and giving me the benefit of your experience! And thanks to all who cautioned me about suede--I really appreciate it!

I wonder if the Aquatalias were nubuck?

12 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Late to the party and I may need a suede intervention! Adelfa, I own 2 x black tall suede boots, 1 x tall taupe suede boots, 1 x red suede booties and 1 x cobalt suede booties and I love and wear them through winter. (for the record I have quite a bit of other footwear in suede also) I would suggest that lifestyle may play a part in how they wear. I have an office job where I walk on carpet all day, and I drive to work. So perhaps that minimises wear? I choose not to wear them on wet days although I have been caught out one or twice. Once of my tall pairs are now about 6 years old and are just showing signs of wear.

12 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Suede isn't the same as nubuck. Suede is produced by sanding the inner layer of the skin and nubuck is produced by sanding the exterior skin. The outside layer of a skin is tougher

12 years ago

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