Suede Booties

If ever there was a chic alternative to a pair of well-worn sneakers or the ballet flats you wear with abandon, it’s a pair of suede booties. Perhaps the greatest advantage of this timeless shoe is its sheer year-round versatility.

Though “suede” lends it a decidedly cool-weather connotation, the truth is that these shoes transcend seasons. They’re just as appropriate to wear to brunch on a brisk fall afternoon as they are to a music festival on a balmy summer day.

Of course, you can easily take style inspiration from the likes of Kendall Jenner, who’s been spotted wearing hers with denim cutoff shorts, a cropped white tee, and a fringed tan suede jacket, or take a more classic approach like Victoria Justice, who teamed hers with a fresh white dress and a saddle bag. Then there was Kate Bosworth, who treated them like the winter mainstays they are with skinny jeans and a fuzzy white sweater.

It’s this adaptability that makes suede booties such an integral part of your wardrobe. Once you decide how to wear them, you’ll want to go a step further and narrow down your color and style choices. There are, after all, thousands of options available.

Maybe you favor a lower-profile heel in a neutral shade to wear with your jeans and T-shirts. Perhaps it’s an edgy studded pair that recalls the early 1980s Brit punk scene that intrigues you. You may love a brazen jewel-toned suede to dress up your basics.

Then there are the details that factor into the mix. Could a little fringe be in your future, or perhaps a wide ankle buckle? A hint of slouch or a turned-down cuff transforms a basic suede bootie into something a bit more visually intriguing, yet still classic.

There’s room in every wardrobe for at least a couple of pairs of suede booties. Opt for one in a simple shade, like camel, brown, black, or gray. Then shake up your closet with one unexpected option, such as an animal-print, a lace-up, a faux-fur accent, or a vibrant color.