I’m a recent convert to wearing suede. For years I avoided the luxurious material, but this past January I had a change of heart when I got my first suede bag, a beautiful Chloé Faye. My Faye has a suede flap, and despite being nervous about the delicate nature of it, that bag needed to be mine. I happily carried my Faye all winter long with no issues, but when spring rolled around I put her in her dust bag with the intention of patiently waiting out the April shower season. Unfortunately for me, it’s now nearing the end of July and I haven’t had the courage to pull my Faye out of her dust bag since April. I’m not someone who follows fashion “rules” very closely (I strongly believe white is a year-round color), but for some reason, I just do not associate suede with summer fashion. This is my first summer as a suede owner, and I know it’s old school, but there’s something to be said about my aversion to carrying the thick, heavy material of suede on a 100-degree day with high humidity. I want to be as light and airy as humanly possible on a hot day, and suede definitely has a weight to it that I’m not sure I can commit to during this time of year.
I was in Paris a few weeks ago at the tail end of their record-breaking heatwave (thankfully I arrived on the very last day of it). Although the humidity levels were way lower than DC’s, it was still extremely hot throughout the duration of my trip to the City of Lights. One afternoon I was browsing for bags in the luxury shops on Rue Saint-Honoré when I spotted my Parisian bag twin, a woman carrying a motty grey Chloé Faye. I honestly was so excited to see the bag in the wild, as I haven’t used mine in months! But it really got me thinking…is a grey suede bag okay to use in summer? It certainly looked fantastic on this woman, but can I pull it off? Not only is suede a thick texture, but grey doesn’t exactly scream summer to me either. I’m wondering if I had a suede bag in a brighter color, would I be more prone to wearing it in summer? Is it the color of my Faye or the material that has me hesitating to carry this bag in July?
Aesthetics and style aside, suede can be ruined when it gets wet. Summers often result in unexpected afternoon thunderstorms, which is another reason I am wary of wearing my suede during the hottest season of the year. Not only do you run the risk of water stains, but suede will become warped and stiff after being saturated. Getting stuck in an unexpected thunderstorm would break my Faye-loving heart. So I’ve got to know suede lovers…Do you wear suede in the summer or should I hold out a few more months?
Hmmm… after reading the comments I can see a camel colored bohemian type suede bag bring summery. Other than that, fall!
Why not light grey or white? Pink or light blue? I don’t get why not. I personally even wear a black or dark brown one in summer, and burgundy and dark blue .. I don’t understand why some colors, or materials, would not be suitable for summer! 🙂 I guess that is one more of all these weird American fashion rules that we Europeans just shake our heads at… Why limit yourself that way!? Let loose! 🙂
I live in a region where it rains and snows a lot, so suede is only wearable in the summer months and early fall.
How fun to read your thoughts about suede! To me suede is a casual, “summery” and even bohemian looking material and both of my suede bags (a motty grey suede Chloé Hudson and a large white Bonsai bag from Simon Miller with a black acrylic handle) are “summer only”. I cannot phantom wearing them with automatic/winter outfits. I love them with airy summer dresses and skirts!
With all due respect, I think you meant to say you “could not fathom”. That darn auto correct!
Haha, yes, thank you! ?
+1. This is how I feel about suede too
I should add, I live in Sweden so the suede bags would be at risk all year around, if it’s not rain then it’s snow…
Automatic = autumn
I have an olive green suede bag and I am not sure if it’s the material or the color, but I only wear it in the fall and winter. By the spring I am looking for something lighter to reflect the change in the New York weather.
Personally, I don’t like suede at all. I find it too high maintenance. I carry canvas Madewell bags during the summer, or straw bags.
If the weather is dry, rock it. Check the forecast and enjoy your purchase!
Yes, I see the only reason to not wear suede (unless one simply doesn’t like the texture) is if it might get wet (since suede cannot be cleaned- those brushes can only do so much). I live in a desert climate, so I could pretty much wear suede year-round (my wallabees are well worn)
I’d carry part-suede or suede trimmed bags, but not a bag that was entirely suede. An all-suede bag in summer just feels off to me. An example of a part-suede bag that I’ve been carrying this month is this Numéro Deux from Polène. https://polene-paris.com/products/numero-2-noir-croco
what a gorgeous bag. Thanks for sharing !
I always thought of suede as fall/winter choice. So odd. I have no reason why. Changing my tune…
http://www.snobaddict.com
I wear suede year round. I have a pair of suede sandals. Just last week I wore a pair of suede sneakers, and I have a suede hot pink bag. So, I guess that my answer would be yes. Why not?
Those are the only suede items that I own. Suede is too easy to ruin, and I’m not one to baby my handbags.
I’m so lost, which are new and old articles.
No suede. Ever.
Why? 🙂
Gets dirty instantly, looks dirty even when clean. Texture sticks to your clothing. There’s a LOT of color transfer. Most of all I don’t like the feel of it. Feels greasy to the touch.
Hmmmmm, I didn’t consider color transfer- yes the texture does cause more friction against clothing
I absolutely would and I do. Fashion and life are better and more fun when you don’t follow arbitrary rules.
Yes! Rock your suede bag all seasons, but store a plastic bag in your beloved bag incase of downpours. A suede bag in gray would look cute with pastel clothing, and a great little scarf tied just so could add a sense of softness to the bag as well.
I have a Gucci Dionysus Blooms in Small size which I think is more suitable to use during spring / summer due to the floral prints and its color. It has a suede interior and exterior and don’t mind the fact that suede is usually used during fall/winter. It’s a huge bummer though when I plan to use it and then when I wake up on that day to find that it’s raining!