Suede Shoes, in Actual Rain | JT | HowTo: Fashion

The first thing anyone tells you about suede is not to get it wet. It's advice that sounds like caution and works like fear. I've worn the same suede chukkas for five years, through three winters and more downpours than I can count. The trick isn't avoiding water. It's three things you do before the rain shows up, and one thing you do after. Protect it before it ever rains: spray them with a proper suede and nubuck protector before the first wear and again every couple of months. It does not waterproof them; it buys you time so water beads instead of soaking in. Keep a suede brush by the door: water and grit flatten the nap and the brush lifts it back up, thirty seconds when the shoes are dry. Dry them slow, never hot: off the radiator, room temperature, with cedar trees or crumpled paper inside to hold the shape and pull the moisture out, then brush. Water darkens suede while it's damp and lightens back as it dries; the things that genuinely kill suede are heat, salt, and being ignored. Winter is the real test, not rain: road salt leaves a permanent white tide line, so wipe it the moment you're inside with a damp cloth and a drop of white vinegar. A true all-day downpour or a formal night over salted streets — wear the rubber-soled leather. But a normal rainy day, wear the suede. Suede isn't delicate. It's honest — it shows you exactly what you do to it.