Nothing bothers me more than shoes made of fake materials, and fake suede in particular. It’s always so thin and cheap and obvious, and there’s literally no reason that a designer who charges around $100 for a pair of shoes can’t use the real deal. Say what you want about Steve Madden (and I certainly have in the past), but at least a decent number of the brand’s shoes are made of genuine materials.

If you live in an area that doesn’t experience much boot weather or you’d just rather keep your shoe spending to a minimum, the Steve Madden Carlsen Bootie is a strong choice for fall. At around $90, this pair of boots is the perfect height and style to find use in a variety of locations and with lots of different outfits. You’re only as limited as your imagination.

A walkable heel is essential for me in any pair of day boots, and although this one measures out at four inches, it’s stacked and stabled enough for frequent walking. The slouchy suede is also the perfect height to wear with either tights or dresses, and my personal color choice would be grey. I wore grey suede boots for the entirety of last winter and they never failed me, and I intend to do the same this year. For shoe lovers on a budget, this boot is a good place to start looking. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $89.