Suede Shoes: How to style the classic shoes
Suede Loafers are simple, lace-free, slip-on shoes usually made of Suede Loafers. They have a narrow sole, a curved toe, and an open ankle. Depending on the style and colour, loafers can fall into the “casual” or “formal” category, but they are more commonly considered casual shoes.
They represent uncomplicated style and class and can be easily combined with many men’s outfits.
What is a loafer?
Just slip them on – done. It’s no wonder that loafers have become so popular in men’s fashion due to their uncomplicated comfort. Here you can find the most striking design features at a glance:
- Low shoe
- Narrow shape
- Curved toe
- No closure or laces
- Small paragraph
- Solid sole
- Traditionally made of smooth leather or Suede.
You Should Wear Suede Shoes!
There is a common misconception that Suede Leather is hard to maintain, less durable than a smooth calf, and stains easily or performs poorly in rainy conditions.
However, with proper care and high-quality leather, Suede can be easier to maintain and more durable than calfskin. The key here is the type of Suede and its quality, which varies wildly and gets a bad reputation from low-quality brands. Good Suede takes water very well, and with some brushing and suede shampoo, it will continue looking as good as new.
Let’s quickly examine what makes Suede Leather great for your next shoes.
1. Stylish, Elegant & Contemporary
A nice pair of Suede Shoes or Boots is simply elegant and stylish. As a more casual leather than a smooth calf, Suede will thrive in 2025, when casual is becoming the norm. It also shows that as a man, you care about your image, are confident, and put some effort into your outfits.
2. Easy To Maintain & Clean
Good quality suede is easy to maintain. All you need is a suede brush and suede shampoo for deeper cleaning. You could also keep a Suede Protector, which you spray 1-2 times yearly as extra protection. There are two main types of black suede leather: Full-grain suede and split suede. Both are similar in appearance but have a few differences in properties. Full Grain Suede costs more but takes water well; even a good Split-Suede will fare well. If you buy from a reputable brand, they will use good quality suede, and you should not worry.
Styling a men’s outfit with Black Suede Loafers
It doesn’t get more classic than this. A good choice is a summer linen suit or a cotton blazer with slim-fit trousers. You should prefer dark colours, simple details and high-quality fabrics for the loafers and the suit. Also, make sure that the trousers reach the ankles. Worn Leather or water stains will ruin the elegant look.
Combining black boots: styling options for the perfect fall look
Whether chic for the office or casual for everyday wear, black boots can be combined and styled in various ways. We’ll tell you the most popular styling options for fall 2025 in the following section:
- The chic office outfit: Do you want your office outfit to look modern but still elegant? Then, combine black suede shoes with a fitted knit dress and a blazer in a loose, oversized cut. The boots also become a real eye-catcher when combined with a pantsuit.
- Shoes for a grey or black suit: For a dark grey or black suit, only one shoe colour is suitable for the classic outfit: black. Brown shoes with a black suit are frowned upon in a classic outfit. Which lacing for the suit shoes – open, closed, or buckled – depends on the wearer’s preferences. If you want a fashionable outfit, you can show off your colour. You can’t get more colour on your feet. But be careful; this appearance is reserved for men who love fashion!
- Shoes for a patterned suit: Fashion never stands still; the spiral keeps turning. Suits are getting patterns and colours again, whether subtle or classic. If you want to take it to the extreme in fashion, suede loafers are recommended. These go against the colour scheme but still lighten the overall look. Fresh from the street, look to the gentleman who can afford this with a charming and sophisticated demeanour.
A little tip at the end: In autumn 2025, tough combat boots are also particularly popular with a masculine tie and, in a style clash, with feminine dresses.
Cleaning light suede shoes
- Suede brush
- (news)paper
- Shoe trees
- Clean towel
- Eraser
- Cloth bag
Preparation
- Whether smooth leather or Suede, cleaning shoes works according to the same principle: first, remove coarse dirt by brushing the material. With Suede, you should proceed carefully and only apply light pressure in the direction of the grain. Our tip: use a separate brush for light and dark shoes. This way, you can ensure no unwanted discolouration when cleaning suede shoes.
- Good preparation is key: stuff the shoe with paper. You can use a newspaper for this. If your shoes are very light on the inside, the printer’s ink may rub off. In this case, it’s better to use pure white paper.
Suede in the stain check
- Cleaning suede shoes works best without soap and water. Instead, mix a quarter litre of vinegar essence with three-quarters of water and rub the mixture onto the shoe with a clean towel. Make sure that the Leather is not entirely wet but only slightly moistened. This method is particularly suitable for stains on light Suede. A drop of mild detergent added to the mixture helps with more stubborn stains. It is important not to treat stains on the Suede in specific spots but always on the entire shoe surface. This way, watermarks don’t stand a chance!
Let the shoe air dry and roughen the Leather evenly with a brush.
Our tip: Light dirt on suede shoes can sometimes be erased quickly with an eraser. Just try it out before you move on to wet cleaning. Rubbing a halved onion over stains also helps to remove stains from the Leather.
