The fashion staple from the 1970s making an unlikely comeback this fall

A fabric most associated with fashion in the 1970s is making a surprise comeback. 

Fall has seen suede hit the runways of the big fashion houses as well as mainstream clothes shops. 

Celebrities such as Gigi Hadid, Sienna Miller and Hayley Williams have all been spotted sporting the latest must-have suede items from boots, to hats and jackets. 

Designers such as Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Miu Miu have all incorporated the fabric, once loved by icons such as Twiggy and Jane Fonda, into their latest skirts, dresses and jackets. 

High Street brands such as Zara and Massimo Dutti have followed suit with their own suede offerings. 

Sezane’s suede jacket has been a best-seller and has been worn by the likes of influencer Sofia Richie and the Princess of Wales‘ sister-in-law Alizee Thevenet. 

‘Aside from its soft and tactile appearance I love the versatility of suede,’ vintage expert Clare Lewis, founder of Retold Vintage, told The Telegraph. 

‘It can so easily be dressed down with denim or elevated for a more luxe look teamed with tailoring. As a naturally breathable fabric this also makes it a much lighter alternative to leather meaning it’s a beautiful transitional piece in your wardrobe,’ she explained. 

Suede is a heavy-duty durable fabric which means there is plenty of vintage pieces available online on sites such as Vinted or in vintage shops. 

eBay searches for ‘suede jacket’ have increased by over 260 percent since July. 

‘There is so much suede still out there waiting to be found,’ Lewis said.

‘Definitely explore your local charity shop, vintage store or online reseller for options.’

Rixo has also got a popular suede jacket decorated with a floral design in its Autumn-Winter line-up.

‘Suede has a softer, more feminine feel than leather, and Rixo leans to that aesthetic every season,’ Orlagh McCloskey, Co-Founder and Creative Director of the brand told the Telegraph.

Sienna Miller and Juliette Lewis on the front row of the Chloe show on September 26 for Paris fashion week – where clothes for Spring Summer 2025 using suede were unveiled

Alix Earle leant into the Suede trend during New York Fashion Week in September 

‘It’s such a good transitional staple, and the brown hues of suede are our go-to for layering from winter all the way through to summer.’ 

‘A way of adding suede into your wardrobe without fully committing to a jacket, a skirt or dress can give life to pieces you already own,’ stylist Julia Brennard told the publication. 

‘A suede midi skirt can be an autumnal staple. Wear with a t-shirt and kitten heels for warmer days or a chunky jumper and knee high boots for colder weather.’