This combination makes owning a beautiful suede jacket a bit like owning a silk shirt: take good care of it and it’ll look spectacular for years to come; neglect it and it’ll start looking shabby in a hurry. If you opt for roughout suede, the toughest and heaviest form of cowhide suede, you can treat it much the same as you would a denim jacket, letting the fabric take on its own patina as it moulds to your body over time. If, however, you’re going for something more refined (like, say, goatskin or calfskin suede) you’re going to want to give it a regular once-over with a suede brush and an annual all-over spritz with a good-quality protective spray.