Suede smarts: how to wear the season's shades in the soaking rain

It’s not that we can’t wear what we want. We just need to be craftier in how we approach it. Here’s a quick primer.

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 - 01:00

Annmarie O'Connor - @aocdotme

Here’s the thing about suede: it’s the fabric everyone loves but nobody quite trusts.

Sumptuous texture, rich colour, that instant ‘I tried without trying’ vibe.

One aggressively cloudy day, though, you’re questioning why you live in a country where sideways rain is a thing.

And yet AW25 is making suede hard to ignore. From tailored blazers to louche trousers, the temptation is real.

It’s not that we can’t wear what we want. We just need to be craftier in how we approach it. Here’s a quick primer.

First things first: invest in suede protector spray, a specialist brush and a decent umbrella.

Next, pick pieces that won’t spend all day exposed. Instead, keep that Whistles suede midi skirt or classic BASH jacket under a trench coat that does bouncer duty when the sky get scrappy.

Speaking of prevention, look to stalwart colours like navy and chocolate brown that can handle errant precipitation without obvious wear and tear.

As for the trending COS trainers and baseball caps? Keep those for dry-day commutes or weekends.

Should caution be something you prefer to throw at the wind, ignore my advice and invest in Arket’s covetable tobacco-hued trousers.

Slightly loose, their insouciant ease is a world away from skin-tight iterations of the early aughts.

Wear with a layered shirt and polo neck. Add brogues, cowboy boots, suede sneakers - your call. Just make it relaxed.

And if you’re going out, please take a cab. Remember: layer smart, mix textures and enjoy the season’s tactile signature.

Wet weather happens but suede is always worth the strategy.

GET THE LOOK:

A model presents a creation by Prada for the Womenswear Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 collection as part of the Milan Fashion Week, at Fondazione Prada, in Milan on February 27, 2025.

1. A model presents a creation by Prada for the Womenswear Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 collection as part of the Milan Fashion Week, at Fondazione Prada, in Milan on February 27, 2025.