Nushu proffers bargain boots.

As fabrics go, suede has always appeared staid and too-traditional for my taste. It reminded me of native-American/Indian costumes and trawls through vintage and thrift shops that sold tat and smelt off, wherein there’d almost invariably be a collection of ill-fitting, too-rich brown suede jackets whose only chance of leaving the shop-floor could only occur if stock was being given out for free.

But River Island, of all places, has altered my opinion. Despite the majority of their stock being of the arbitrary-number-covered tees and shirts striped-to-the-nth-degree variety, their range of footwear by Nushu rarely fails to impress. I mentioned I finally caved re: quest for the boots and the below-pictured pair in deep chocolate brown is what sealed the deal.

For €54 (sale price), these seemed the best available blend of chic and cheap. They’ll ensure you swelter rather than shiver during Winter, give you a few inches more in height if you’re that’s what you’re after and the resounding thud of each step makes you sound important, to boot (pun fully intended). It’s probably the most impulsive purchase I’ve made but has strangely proved the most sensible since they’ve not left my feet for nigh on a week now. Here’s how I wear them…

Next on the AW list, a decent pair of desert boots…