I regret to say...I am done with suede shoes

[devastitis]

How 'bout some pics of everyone's favorite suede shoes?

Here's an album of mine. I also have a pair of nubucks and reverse chamois.
Album
Nubucks
Reverse Chamois

[srlclark]

I'll be in London next month and am going to try on the Loake Pimlico and Kempton to see whether either would work for me. If I get one, it'll probably be in suede, although I'll consider the dark brown leather Pimlico, too.

[Tim Hardy]

Nothing beats full grain leather - end of

[Deke]

I feel like one day I'll finally try out some suede shoes, but nothing has really grabbed me yet. I'm getting about due to replace my beeswax DBs, so maybe I'll make the leap then.

[devastitis]

I'll be in London next month and am going to try on the Loake Pimlico and Kempton to see whether either would work for me. If I get one, it'll probably be in suede, although I'll consider the dark brown leather Pimlico, too.

For Loake, only the suede chukkas interested me.

[srlclark]

For Loake, only the suede chukkas interested me.

Why? I know that fans of the really expensive British shoemakers say that the leather quality isn't up to par, but wouldn't it be perfectly good enough for me, given that my most expensive shoes are Allen Edmonds?

[devastitis]

Why? I know that fans of the really expensive British shoemakers say that the leather quality isn't up to par, but wouldn't it be perfectly good enough for me, given that my most expensive shoes are Allen Edmonds?

Yup, they would be a perfectly good option for you, and for anyone that's open to different brands and looking to buy a full grain leather shoe at that price point. Me, personally, I was never drawn to their full-grain leather offerings. For those, I bought from AE. I was only drawn to Loake by a few people here posting their suede chukkas during a time when I was looking into buying a suede pair, and so those were the only offerings by Loake that piqued my interest. Not anymore though, as I have all the calf leather/suede leather shoes I "need."

[srlclark]

That makes sense. The only two shoes that I really need at this point are a chukka (chelsea would be fine, too; I basically mean a somewhat casual leather/suede boot) and a formal black balmoral, either a plain toe or a cap toe.

Which color do you prefer out of the dark brown suede of the Pimlico and the medium-brown suede of the Kempton? I can't decide. At least in the photos, I don't like the tan suede version of the Pimlico. Nothing against light-brown suede - I really like the sahara color in J. Crew's Kenton line and can never understand why Joe always recommends boulder instead. But the tan Pimlico doesn't seem very deep to me.

Yup, they would be a perfectly good option for you, and for anyone that's open to different brands and looking to buy a full grain leather shoe at that price point. Me, personally, I was never drawn to their full-grain leather offerings. For those, I bought from AE. I was only drawn to Loake by a few people here posting their suede chukkas during a time when I was looking into buying a suede pair, and so those were the only offerings by Loake that piqued my interest. Not anymore though, as I have all the calf leather/suede leather shoes I "need."

[devastitis]

That makes sense. The only two shoes that I really need at this point are a chukka (chelsea would be fine, too; I basically mean a somewhat casual leather/suede boot) and a formal black balmoral, either a plain toe or a cap toe.

Which color do you prefer out of the dark brown suede of the Pimlico and the medium-brown suede of the Kempton? I can't decide. At least in the photos, I don't like the tan suede version of the Pimlico. Nothing against light-brown suede - I really like the sahara color in J. Crew's Kenton line and can never understand why Joe always recommends boulder instead. But the tan Pimlico doesn't seem very deep to me.

I think it's just me, but I'm not fond of my medium tan suede boots, which are a mediumish brown, with darker suits, like navy or charcoal. Definitely prefer my dark brown suede double monks instead. But overall versatility, I definitely like the medium brown suede, as I prefer wearing lighter and brighter colors over darker colors.

Brooks Brothers Tan Suede
http://i.imgur.com/yd7GD4Z.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/VymWbex.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/mSHImLc.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/nz8640q.jpg?1

SuitSupply Dark Brown Suede
http://i.imgur.com/aYr7ZCm.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/AvEcOHQ.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/SexUDYB.jpg?1 (appears lighter than it is)

[srlclark]

They are both nice shoes! I definitely prefer the tan color, which is I think nearer to Loake's brown suede than to its tan suede. I agree that the dark brown - which is, I think, a bit darker even than Loake's dark brown suede, although some photos of the Loake make it seem equally dark - would be better with dark suits, but I'd probably not be looking to wear these chukkas with anything more formal than a blazer and dress pants. I wear a suit to work about once a week, but when I do I often wear a medium-grey suit or a light-grey suit, as I also prefer lighter colors and as I work in a university and so don't have a strict dress code. I usually match those grey suits with my walnut Strands/oxblood McGregors/brown Kenilworths and may start wearing them with the bourbon Daltons I got recently.

I don't wear either my navy suit or my charcoal suit all that often.

I think it's just me, but I'm not fond of my medium tan suede boots, which are a mediumish brown, with darker suits, like navy or charcoal. Definitely prefer my dark brown suede double monks instead. But overall versatility, I definitely like the medium brown suede, as I prefer wearing lighter and brighter colors over darker colors.

Brooks Brothers Tan Suede
http://i.imgur.com/yd7GD4Z.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/VymWbex.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/mSHImLc.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/nz8640q.jpg?1

SuitSupply Dark Brown Suede
http://i.imgur.com/aYr7ZCm.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/AvEcOHQ.jpg?1
http://i.imgur.com/SexUDYB.jpg?1 (appears lighter than it is)

[theplayerking]

Here's an album of mine.

That's quite a collection. Are those old photos? How often do wear them? Do you spend a lot of time on maintenance? They look almost brand new.

[devastitis]

That's quite a collection. Are those old photos? How often do wear them? Do you spend a lot of time on maintenance? They look almost brand new.

These are very new photos, except the SuitSupply double monk pic which is about 3 months old. 3 out of the 6 in the album are brand new, unworn, and shoe treed. The George Boots were worn once, so are basically new. The Brooks Brothers Tan Suede Boots were bought in December, and worn about 30 times since then, but I put it through a full suede clean a few months ago, so they look new. The SuitSupply double monks were worn about 10 times, and I need to put it through a full suede clean.

[srlclark]

You do seem to have a good collection. Would you mind either showing us a photo of the whole collection or, if it's easier, listing the whole of your leather and suede collection. You have six pairs of suede shoes, right? I'm going to guess you have a larger number of leather ones?

These are very new photos, except the SuitSupply double monk pic which is about 3 months old. 3 out of the 6 in the album are brand new, unworn, and shoe treed. The George Boots were worn once, so are basically new. The Brooks Brothers Tan Suede Boots were bought in December, and worn about 30 times since then, but I put it through a full suede clean a few months ago, so they look new. The SuitSupply double monks were worn about 10 times, and I need to put it through a full suede clean.

[devastitis]

You do seem to have a good collection. Would you mind either showing us a photo of the whole collection or, if it's easier, listing the whole of your leather and suede collection. You have six pairs of suede shoes, right? I'm going to guess you have a larger number of leather ones?

Sure, this is pretty much all the notable ones. I also have individual shots of these, so if you'd like a closeup of any of them, just ask.

Album: http://imgur.com/a/i7wF6

Right side top to bottom:
Alden George Boots in Hunting Green Suede
Alden for ePaulet Ironside Indys in Earth Chamois
Alden for Jcrew Wingtip Boot in Hunting Green Suede
Tricker's x Superdenim Cordovan Boot in Black
Alden for Jcrew Cap-Toe Cordovan Boot in Color #8
Viberg Service Boot in Natural Waxed Flesh
Viberg Service Boot in Black Horsehide
Viberg Service Boot in Color #8

Left side bottom to top:
Allen Edmonds Dalton Boot in Bourbon
Allen Edmonds Strand in Walnut
Allen Edmonds Park Avenue in Merlot
Allen Edmonds for Brooks Brothers Park Avenue in Black
Allen Edmonds Mora 2.0 in Bourbon
Alden for Brooks Brothers Tan Suede Boot
Alden for Jcrew Bluchers in Snuff Suede
Alden for Jcrew Flex-Toe Chukka in Snuff Suede
SuitSupply Dark Brown Double Monk Strap
Nike Lebron XIII
Nike for Jcrew Killshot 2
Gustin White-Green Lowtop

+ my bad weather beaters: http://i.imgur.com/GTr52I4.jpg?1
Red Wing for Jcrew 6" Classic Moc-Toe Boot

[drzenitram]

I think of suede as a casual leather in all ways - casual in appearance, casual in maintaining, casual in "acceptable" wear. I buy suede in styles that I like and I wear it casually. I spray them a couple times a year to help keep stains off, I brush them once a month or so, but I expect them to show signs of wear and I think that adds to their character. Similarly to the way a pair of RW Iron Rangers looks better after a few months or even years of wear, I expect and enjoy that suede has its own way of wearing. I guess I just think of it as "country leather". It's supposed to look like that(in my opinion!).