A suede skirt is the fall piece with the longest backstory, and this edit sorts twenty of them by length and shade. You get minis, midis, chocolate browns, wraps, buttons and maxis, with one styling tip for each group.
Suede Skirt: Why the Soft Leather Is Named for Gloves From Sweden
The word suede comes from the French gants de Suède, which literally means "gloves from Sweden." So the leather was named after a pair of gloves, and every suede skirt you see now is a small promotion, from hands to hips (I find that delightful).
That origin explains why suede still feels intimate. It comes from the underside of the skin, which is softer and more pliable than the outer layer, and the skirts here use it in different ways: lambskin, goat suede and lamb leather, cut as micro-minis, flared midis, column maxis and wraps. A few are faux suede, and I say so each time, because the polyester ones behave differently from the real thing.
Here is a test to try today. Run your palm across any suede piece you own, then back the other way. If the color shifts darker and lighter, that is the nap, and it tells you the skirt will always look a little different in each light.
Suede Minis in Warm Tans
Start short. Khaite's Jett Suede Mini Skirt is tan lambskin with a mid-rise waist and a very clean cut, so the leather does all the talking. Retrofete's Juana Suede Skirt is cognac goat suede with braided detailing and a side zip, and AEXAE's Lamb Leather Suede Mini Skirt is caramel lambskin with a zip fly, a snap button and an elastic back band. Rick Owens' Fog Suede Mini Skirt is the cool one: gray-taupe suede, side slits and a flash of white lining. Tip: keep the top simple, a fitted knit or a plain tee, and let the hem sit above a tall boot. What I would skip: a sparkly top. Suede already has texture, and glitter fights it.
Midis That Swing
A midi is where suede gets practical. Joseph's Helius Paneled Suede Midi Skirt is taupe goat suede in an A-line with vertical seams that make it hang long and narrow. Vince's Suede Midi Skirt is a moss ochre flare, velvety and lined, and Cartolina's Presley Genuine Suede Midi Skirt is chestnut goat suede with tailored seaming and a perforated detail. Jenni Kayne's Suede Wolfe Skirt is olive, mid-weight and non-stretch, falling to mid-calf with a hook-and-eye and a hidden back zip. Tip: with a flared midi, pick a slim sweater and a low boot, so the skirt is the only thing with volume.
Chocolate Brown, Mini to Midi
Chocolate is the deepest suede color, and it looks richer than black in daylight. Arma's Melody Suede Mini Skirt is a deep chocolate A-line with a center seam. Rotate's Suede Mini Skirt, in a shade called ganache, is dark brown goat suede with a back zip and a full lining. AEXAE's Lamb Leather Suede Mini Skirt comes here in espresso, a micro-mini with a hidden side zip, and 'S Max Mara's Suede Midi Skirt is dark brown lamb suede, flared, with a concealed back zip and a cupro lining. Tip: pair chocolate with cream or soft gray instead of black, and the brown reads warm instead of heavy.
Wraps and Button Fronts
These four open in interesting ways. Nour Hammour's Suede Wrap Skirt is a mocha maxi with a self-tie waist, and EAVES' Bette Suede Mini Skirt is toffee goat suede that wraps and closes with a snap. Veronica Beard's Callisian Suede Midi Skirt is bark beige with a decorative front button placket and paneled seams. Bernardo's Faux Suede Button Up Miniskirt is cognac faux suede, an A-line with tonal covered buttons, made of polyester and spandex. Tip: leave the bottom button or the wrap's edge slightly open when you walk, and wear shorts or tights under the minis if the day is windy.
Maxi Lengths for Cold Days
Long suede is the dramatic option. Khaite's Loxley Suede Maxi Skirt is toffee lamb suede in a column shape with a darted waist and a long back vent, lined in a silk blend and made in Italy. Altuzarra's Varda Suede Maxi Skirt is moonlight beige goat suede with a flowing, paneled A-line. AEXAE's Leather Suede Maxi Skirt is caramel lambskin with side pockets and a back vent, and Karen Kane's Faux Suede A-Line Maxi Skirt is brown faux suede in a stretch knit with a high waist. Tip: with a maxi, show a little ankle or a pointed boot so the length does not swallow you. What I would skip: a chunky long coat over a column maxi, because the two shapes cancel out.
Brush It, Then Wear It
Treat suede like the glove leather it was named for: gently. Check the sky before you leave, keep it away from rain and perfume, and brush the nap the same direction when it flattens. Choose the color you will actually pair with things you own, whether that is chocolate, tan or olive, and wear the skirt more often than you save it. A suede skirt looks best a little lived in. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Brown Suede Boots and Gloves Are the Accessory Everyone Forgets to Upgrade.
