Vintage Suede Jackets

Suede is leather finished with a soft, velvety nap, usually raised on the flesh side of the skin. It is lighter and softer than smooth leather and takes colour in deep, matt tones: tobacco, cognac, sand and black.

Here are the suede pieces in the Vestiaire: bombers and field jackets, western-yoke and chore jackets, belted coats and shearling-lined coats. In October 2026 most were priced between about €100 and €250. Each piece is one of one.

Vintage suede, answered

How can you tell if a jacket is real suede?

Look inside first. Real suede is leather, so where a panel is unlined you see the other side of the hide, not a woven or knitted backing. Faux suede (microsuede) is usually a polyester fabric, and the weave or knit shows underneath. The nap of real suede is slightly uneven, with small natural marks; a synthetic nap is perfectly uniform. Then read the label: in the US, the FTC's leather guides say a material that looks like leather but isn't should be disclosed as such, for example "imitation leather" or "vinyl".

What's a good price for a vintage suede jacket?

The hide, the maker and the condition matter more than the age. In October 2026 the 21 pieces here ranged from about €70 to €300, and 18 of them were under €200. Pig suede pieces sit at the lower end; long coats and named makers such as Bally sit at the top.

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