Fashion has long had a love affair with impractical shoes. From Vivienne Westwood's 1993 Naomi Campbell-defeating Gillie Platforms to 2024's dangerously delicate mesh shoe trend, shoes that are barely made for walking keep us coming back for more.
And we think we've sussed 2025's status symbol shoe trend just one month into Q2, one that will have you dodging puddles and hailing cabs all in the name of the perfect footwear: suede flats.
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You'll be aware M&S has broken the internet a few times over with blink-and-you'll-miss-it drops of their suede loafers. Most of the ELLE UK team has copped a pair, and for good reason: coming in at a cool £55 these chocolate brown slim toe silhouette loafers seem more The Row than the Great British high street.
But it's not just loafers that have been given the suede treatment, in fact, every major shoe trend seems to just look better in a deliciously earthy brown, and even bright, punchy-hued suede.
Shop Suede Flats Now
Russell and Bromley Refined Suede Boat Shoe
Augusta The Brand Ava Ballet Flats in Blue Suede
Arket Slim Suede Loafers
Dries Van Noten Suede Sneakers
M&S Suede Flat Mary Jane Ballet Pumps
M&S Suede Loafer Mules
Boat shoes lean a little less nautical when swathed in the famously hydrophobic material, while ballet flats look a lot more grown up. Our favourite style has to be suede trainers — there's something about the combination of the athletic, practical shoe paired with the delicate underside of leather that feels particularly fresh.
To lean into the elevated vibe of the fabric, we'll be pairing our suede trainers with oversized suiting, our suede ballet flats with a Chemena Kamali for Chloé-style silk maxi dress, and suede boat shoes with lashings of denim.
While suede looks great with silk, denim and patent leather, it works less well with water and dirt, so preparing and caring for suede shoes is a must. Spraying with a suede protector spray ahead of use is crucial, as is regular brushing (with a suede brush...really) and spot cleaning (with suede cleaner), to keep your shoes pristine.
We never said looking good came easy.
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Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
