Suede is the one fabric that makes a jacket feel like it was made specifically for you. There is a softness to it, a slight give, a way it drapes at the shoulder that no other outerwear material quite replicates. It also has a reputation problem. People worry about rain, about upkeep, about spending serious money on something they’ll be afraid to actually wear. We think that worry is mostly misplaced if you buy well in the first place.

The jackets we’ve pulled together here are the ones worth the higher price tag. Not because they’re expensive and therefore impressive, but because the quality of the suede, the construction, and the cut mean they will genuinely last and genuinely get worn. We’ve included everything from classic western styles to cleaner, more minimal silhouettes that sit well over everything from tailored trousers to a simple white tee.

Suede works in autumn, in spring, on evenings when the temperature hasn’t decided what it’s doing. It is one of those rare materials where the more worn in it gets, the better it looks. Buy it once, buy it right.