I ordered some black suede boots (post is somewhere below in forum) and when I post about them, I keep getting "They'll get ruined" "They are really not good for winter" "They're a lot of work to keep in good condition"; Those types of responses.
Am I freaking out/getting paranoid for no reason? I'm not going to use them as snow boots, so I won't be tromping around in snow drifts. I'll be wearing them in the winter, but it's limited to sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. The most exposure they'll get from snow is maybe an inch or 2 (okay, could be a tiny bit more) of fresh snow before anything has been plowed or shoveled.
I'm not planning on wearing them while I shovel out my car from the snowplow in the morning either.
I also have Minnetonka moccs (also suede) that I wore last winter and they don't look damaged at all; I didn't treat them either.
I plan on waterproofing these boots for SOME protection, but am I getting uber-paranoid about major destruction to them for no reason?
Some people ruin their shoes quickly and some don't, so if your Minnetonkas survived, your boots probably will too. They don't look too "fragile" to me, and I think they'll be just fine. It seems you're really excited about them, so you should stop thinking about what other people say and just enjoy your boots! Well, I think they're cute! Anyway, the price is 60$, it's not supercheap but neither are those Louboutins, so if they get ruined, they get ruined, you know? HTH.
I don't live in a wet climate, but I have black suede flats that still look great after 2 years of regular use. I think if you're gonna get suede, black is the way to go.
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"We live in an age where unnecessary things are our only necessities." --Oscar Wilde
Do they use a lot of salt on the concrete where you live? I think salt is more damaging than water/snow. Any damage to my winter shoes has been from sidewalk salt. If you can avoid walking in salt with them you'll probably be ok.
Salt residue IS the main thing I am concerned with, so I will have to be careful with that. I figure I'll just make sure to clean them off as quickly as possible after I've been out in it.
PS Tri-Sarah-Tops: Is that you puppy in your avator? It's sooo cute!