Winter can be cruel. Take for example, those days when your plans for shoe game supremacy are thwarted when you wake up to a blanket of snow. But as we know, a well-prepared gent always has a plan B, which in this case means investing in the right pair of boots as a backup. When it comes to surviving the frosty months, and I mean survival of your shoes, salt is enemy number one. Everyone enjoys a well-brined holiday turkey but the stuff really does wreak havoc on leather – combined with water and it’s even worse. Choosing the right pair of boots will not only spare your finer shoes from the corrosive destructive power of salt, but can keep you looking stylish in the snow. So here is some advice on what to look for in picking the right boots to survive the winter, some boot care tips to get rid of salt, and my recommendations for buying options.

The swift resurgence of the outdoor vest in the last few years is a nice reminder of the many ways it can upgrade to your winter style arsenal. Bundling up the torso with lightweight warmth while still allowing for uninhibited arms is an easy sell – who needs sleeves after all? The vest has become one of my favorite cold weather staples not only because of its versatility, but they happen to pair surprisingly well with sport coats and suits making them a great layering option. Among its advantages is how the vest eliminates the fit issues in the upper arm/shoulder area when squeezing a coat over a suit.