picking chaps- synthetic suede vs real suede. Help!

Hey there!
I am on my university's equestrian team and I need to buy black chaps... with fringe or scalloped edges.
However, I am a college student and I am not made of money. I also don't really love western pleasure, I like reining. So I am looking for a pair of chaps that fit my teams requirements but that wont break the bank. Especially considering I may not wear them for reining, so its not like I would expect them to last for years of daily wear. Having said that- if I could find a pair that would double for both I would be happy to invest $200+ but I would want smooth leather with fringe and hopefully elastic (if not I can add it) but I'm not sure about the color. I know reining dosnt care if you wear black or brown or sand chaps but if I'm going to spend a few hundred dollars I need them to be good looking in reining. My mom says black is classic and makes you look tall and skinney...bla bla bla... but I just kinda like brown. I have brown boots. As im sure you can tell this whole color thing is kinda an issue in my head so any help there would be great!
There are no western tack shops where I live so I have to buy online. I have seen some "synthetic suede" chaps for much cheaper like these- [IMG]http://www.horseforum.com/images/misc/amazon_... Amazon.com: Western Show...">Amazon.com: Western Show..." /> Amazon.com: Western Show...">Amazon.com: Western Show...and then they make these with an exact replica for $4 less in synthetic
Saddles Tack Horse Supplies - ChickSaddlery.com Western Show Chaps - Full Fringe Rear

I was wondering if anyone had expierance with this "synthetic suede" and what they thought of it? Whats the deal with cleaning? Do you like it better than regular suede? Are they comfortable/flexiable?
Thanks so much!
Maggie

Read more: equitation show chaps- suede vs synthetic suede?

Go look at Chicks or Big Dees Or Horse.com for chaps. I found my dark brown
But they had fringe, rough out suede for less then 100 Bucks. You may also be able to find the plain leather which I think looks nice also.

Thanks! But what im trying to decide is do I get real suede or synthetic suede? I have no expierance with synthetic suede.

Micro-suede!! It's cheaper and I got my chaps for $100, it's like suede but at the cost of "synthetic" Lot finer material but still great!

And sometimes synthetics do hold up better tho. I prefer the feel and smell of genuine but I had a synthetic pair of work boots that held up for four years, and my leather riding boots I have to replace every year.