Brown suede bags: dark choco or light caramel, and how to wear suede in winter
Brown suede comes in two directions. Dark chocolate brown wears almost like black and goes with gray, navy and cream. Lighter caramel warms up camel, denim and white. Suede is fine on cold, dry winter days; rain and wet snow are what it does not like, so spray it before the season and keep a smooth leather bag for wet days. Care is simple: a soft brush, and patience when it gets wet.
Choco, caramel and brown: three browns, two materials
Choco is our dark chocolate brown in suede. The nap catches the light, so the color moves between almost black and warm brown as you walk.
Caramel is a lighter, golden brown suede. It looks warm in daylight and stays soft against a dark coat.
Brown is our name for smooth brown calfskin. It is not suede: the surface is even, with a slight sheen, and it copes with a wet day better. Many models come in both, so you can choose the shape first and the surface second. Josefine, for example, comes in Brown smooth leather and in Choco suede.
Which brown for which wardrobe
Choco works as a softer black. It sits well with gray wool, navy, cream and ivory, and with black itself: the matte nap does not compete with black cloth. If most of your clothes are dark, start here.
Caramel is a warmer accent. It belongs with a camel or cream coat, blue denim, white shirts, olive and khaki. With black it gives more contrast, which can be exactly the point of a winter outfit.
Smooth Brown is for the days and cities where it rains often. It goes with the same colors as Choco and asks for less care.
For a dark brown bag next to burgundy, see our guide to chocolate and burgundy bags.
Our brown suede bags, measured
| Bag | Size (W × H × D) | Weight | Shade | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleo | 25 × 10.5 × 7 cm (9.8 × 4.1 × 2.8 in) | 350 g (12.3 oz) | Caramel | $290 |
| Josy | 23 × 15 × 9 cm (9.1 × 5.9 × 3.5 in) | 400 g (14.1 oz) | Choco | $340 |
| Britni | 28 × 12 × 5 cm (11 × 4.7 × 2 in) | 400 g (14.1 oz) | Choco suede body, smooth strap | $380 |
| Josefine | 30 × 20 × 10 cm (11.8 × 7.9 × 3.9 in) | 600 g (1.3 lb) | Choco | $390 |
| Cecilie | 33 × 14 × 9 cm (13 × 5.5 × 3.5 in) | 650 g (1.4 lb) | Choco, Caramel | $480 |
| Object №03 Small | 22.5 × 15 × 10.5 cm (8.9 × 5.9 × 4.1 in) | 550 g (1.2 lb) | Caramel | $560 |
| Jane Tote | 48 × 27 × 15 cm (18.9 × 10.6 × 5.9 in) | 700 g (1.5 lb) | Caramel suede body, smooth handles | $590 |
| Carolyn Medium | 40 × 26 × 14 cm (15.7 × 10.2 × 5.5 in) | 1250 g (2.8 lb) | Choco | $600 |
There is more in suede than the table holds: Untitled Small, Prima and Debut in Choco, Sophie, Object №03 Medium and Large and the Elza clutch in Caramel. All of them are in our suede bags; for smooth and suede browns together, see brown bags.
A brown suede tote for every day
A suede tote is the most practical way to wear suede often, because it is the bag you carry daily. Three of ours carry a laptop.
Jane Tote in Caramel takes a laptop up to 14 inches. The body is suede and the handles are smooth calfskin, so the part your hands touch most is the part that is easiest to care for. At 700 g (1.5 lb) it is light for a leather tote of its size.
Carolyn Medium in Choco takes a laptop up to 13 inches. An eco-leather lining keeps its sides straight even when the bag is half empty.
Object №03 Large in Caramel, 44 × 27 × 12 cm (17.3 × 10.6 × 4.7 in), takes a 16-inch laptop and has a magnetic closure. It costs $710.
Wearing suede in winter
Cold itself does not hurt suede. A dry, frosty day is a good day for it. What suede dislikes is water, and in winter water comes as rain, wet snow and slush from the road.
- Before the season, use a water-repellent spray made for suede. Test it on a hidden spot first.
- Dry snow can be shaken or brushed off at once, before it melts.
- If the bag gets wet, do nothing at first. Let it dry at room temperature, away from radiators, then brush the nap back up.
- On wet days, carry it on the shoulder rather than in the hand, away from splashes, or take a smooth leather bag instead.
- Next to a light coat, a dark suede bag can mark the fabric when both are damp. A cream coat and a Choco bag are a good pair on dry days.
How to care for brown suede
Brush with a soft suede brush, always in one direction, after a few wears. A dry suede eraser lifts small marks. Do not use water or creams, and do not rub a stain. Store the bag in its dust bag with tissue paper inside, never in plastic, and away from direct sun: light fades caramel faster than dark choco. Our guide to leather or suede compares the care of both materials side by side.
Questions
What colors go with a brown suede bag?
Dark choco goes with gray, navy, cream, ivory and black. Lighter caramel goes with camel, cream, denim, white, olive and khaki.
Can you wear a suede bag in the rain?
Light, short rain after a protective spray, yes. Heavy rain and wet snow, better not. If it gets wet, let it dry on its own and then brush the nap.
Choco or caramel: which is easier to wear?
Choco, if your wardrobe is mostly dark: it works almost like black. Caramel, if you wear a lot of camel, cream and denim.
Is a suede tote practical for work?
Yes, with care on wet days. Jane Tote in Caramel takes a 14-inch laptop, Carolyn Medium in Choco a 13-inch one, Object №03 Large in Caramel a 16-inch one.
