Why a Brown Suede Jacket is a Wardrobe Must Have | Curated Mint

Many designers have used suede for its aesthetics and texture. Wearing suede can be considered a luxury, but don’t worry, it’s a luxury we’re making sure you can afford. Check out our complete guide on how to wear a suede jacket, or more specifically, how to wear a brown suede jacket for men, and learn some handy tips and tricks on pulling one off.

How To Wear Suede

Thanks to suede’s versatility, there’s a number of ways you could incorporate the fabric into your outfits. However, the best looks tend to be the most simple. Suede hit its popularity in 1960s and 1970s when it would be found on almost every surface. Nowadays, modernity plays a key role with contemporary takes on suede, in both cut and colour.

How To Wear A Brown Suede Jacket

The great thing about good suede jackets is that they can be worn with a variety of outfits, and work with the most casual or more formal looks. Focus on the cut and shape of your jacket, opting for closer fitting, more tailored styles for smarter finishes, and bolder, boxier shapes for casual looks.

Suede Jackets and Tailoring

The contrast between sharp lines of tailoring and a loose silhouette of oversized suede jackets is a stylish alternative to an overcoat. Tailoring worn with a suede jacket is an unusual combination, and therefore, it’s all about you using the contrast to your advantage. You should keep in mind that nice clothes and good colour combinations aren’t always enough to make you stand out. Your attitude will always be the final touch to your outfit.

Suede Jackets and Jeans

A simple yet eye-catching combination can be created by wearing a men’s brown suede jacket with a good pair of jeans. You should try to make your brown suede jacket the focal point of your look, and not combine it with pieces that are going to compete with it. Something as basic as a white T-shirt can be enough to create a clean, everyday look. Pieces like denim shirts and ripped jeans can help to bring some extra personality to your outfit if you want to go for something a bit more out there.

Suede Jackets and Camouflage Trousers

Good suede jackets and coats can add some extra style points to your casual and smart outfits. So what about wearing your brown suede coat with camouflage trousers? This combination is all about muted colours and how well they can work if put together properly.

Brown trench coats are one of the most classic pieces in men’s fashion. We’ve previously highlighted the importance of contemporary take on suede and we’re going to stress it again. A modern feel can easily be given to your classy brown suede coat or jacket by wearing it with camouflage trousers. It combines a classic piece with something a little more street style.

Wearing Suede To Work

If you’re a fan of monochrome outfits but want to spice things up a bit, try wearing a men’s brown suede jacket over your black shirt next time you go to work? It’s a good mix of smart casual, so if you’re struggling for a new dress down Friday outfit, this could be the solution.

We believe that suede jackets can be incorporated into work wear. Tone down the rest of your outfit to make your brown suede jacket stand out and be centre of attention. Keep the colours underneath minimal, blacks, dark greys and occasionally navy will work best. If you’re wearing this ensemble to work then chino’s are your better bet but if you do want to go slightly more casual, straight cut jeans will work well.

Suede F.A.Q’s

Can You Wear Suede In The Summer?

A suede jacket is an investment piece and it’ll carry you through to the summer as well as the winter. Suede is one of the most versatile fabrics and can definitely be worn any time of year. However, keep in mind that suede shouldn’t be left out in the sun too long as the fabric could fade and warp the leather. You should store your suede jacket in a cool dry place.

Can You Wear Suede In The Rain?

Even though we don’t recommend wearing suede jackets when it’s raining, we realise that sometimes it can start raining unexpectedly. How well the jacket will withstand the rain will depend on the quality of the suede. There are a few steps you should follow when your suede jacket ends up soaking wet.

1. First of all, let the jacket dry off naturally at room temperature. Be aware that this can take up to 24 hours.
2. You should then use a suede eraser or brush to remove any marks. Be gentle and only apply more pressure if necessary.
3. Once you’ve got rid of the marks, use the suede eraser again, or alternatively, you could use lightly damp cloth to restore the nap.

What Is Suede?

Suede is a type of leather with a napped finish. Thanks to its softness, thinness, and pliability, suede was originally used for the inside of women’s gloves (with the base of the leather being the outside). However, a lot has happened since the “inside out” type of leather was first used in 1960s as suede is now commonly used for jackets, shoes, shirts, furniture and many other items. Suede can be draped, pleated, gathered, and fluted so it is a major versatile fabric. Cowhide is the most frequently used source of suede, however, sheepskin, goatskin, pigskin and deerskin can also be used.

Difference Between Leather and Suede

Leather is an animal skin that has been processed in ways to preserve and soften it for use in clothing, accessories, and other applications. Suede is a special type of leather in which the inner surface of the skin is processed to produce a pleasing texture. Since suede jackets don’t include the tough exterior skin layer, they’re softer but less durable than standard brown mens leather jacket.

Alternatives To Suede

Let’s face it; Suede looks great and feels nice but it’s difficult to clean, plus it’s not really rain proof. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised to find out that there are a few fabrics manufactured with a brushed or napped finish to provide a similar look and feel to suede, but have advantages such as increased liquid or stain resistance.

• If you’re looking for something between suede and leather, let us introduce you to nubuck. Nubuck is cowhide leather that has been rubbed on the outer side of the hide to produce a velvet-like surface. Nubuck should provide you with both suede’s smoothness and leather’s resilience.
• Have you heard of ultrasuede? It’s an artificial substitute for suede leather. This synthetic microfiber fabric was invented in 1970 and it’s used in fashion, automotive industry and interior decorating. Ultrasuede has a feel like natural suede, but it’s resistant to stains and discoloration.

There’s also leather, which has a more striking look than suede and is generally a lot tougher. Men’s brown leather jackets can still provide the same rugged finish as its suede counterpart, plus they’re just as versatile.

How To Clean Suede

If you think that clothing made of leather is hard to clean, think again. Jackets, brown shoes and other clothing made of suede are much more fragile and difficult to clean than non-suede leathers. If you’re wondering why your brown suede jacket gets dirtier faster than other jackets in your wardrobe, it’s because that suede tends to absorb stains.

We don’t want the fact that suede is a bit harder to clean discourage you from buying a perfect brown suede jacket, as suede is a material that’s worth investing in.

Cleaning Suede

• Check The Label: Since suede is very versatile, not all jackets made from suede have the same composition. Always check the label on your brown suede jacket for cleaning instructions first.
• Use Suede Protector Spray: Suede protector sprays can be purchased at leather stores or other places that sell suede items. They’ll protect your suede from elements that could cause stains. Make sure that your jacket is evenly sprayed. We recommend using suede protector at least once a year to keep your suede in good condition.
• Use Special Suede Brushes: Suede brushes are relatively inexpensive. Remember to let the stains dry before using brush on them.
• Use Paper Towel: We recommend using a paper towel to remove coffee, juice, and tea stains. You should place a paper towel directly over the stain and then place another towel on top of the first one. You should apply pressure to the stain using your hands or by placing flat object on the towel. You can also try rubbing off the coffee/ tea stain using a wet towel dipped in white vinegar.
• Use Baking Soda: In addition, you can also try removing oil or grease stains with baking soda.
• Have Your Suede Professionally Cleaned: Consider having your suede jacket professionally cleaned if you weren’t able to get rid of a big stain yourself. This is the most expensive option to clean your suede, however, it’s also the safest and usually most effective. Take your suede jacket to a dry cleaner and double check whether they work with suede.

How To Wear A Brown Suede Jacket

• A suede jacket is a versatile piece that should have a firm place in every mans wardrobe, suitable for both the summer and colder months.
• Wear suede over your formal attire and you can get away with wearing it to the office. Choose a smart styled jacket and keep the colours neutral.
• Brown suede jackets can be worn with either jeans or trousers, but can always be paired with a plain T-shirt for an extra casual touch.
• Cleaning suede may be difficult but if you protect it properly before you wear it, and of course don’t wear it in the pouring rain, you should be fine.
• Restore the nap by using special suede brushes, paper towel or baking soda. The jacket will then be able to be kept looking as good as new.

On That Note

Make your new brown suede jacket the focal point of your outfit and you’ll be sure to hit all the right style notes. Wear with neutral colours and you’ll have the looked nailed. Always remember to look after your suede and if it looks like it’s going to pour down, find some shelter ASAP!

Feature image from Pinterest