So I know it hasn’t been consistently cold yet, but hey they got snow in Rhode Island the other day so why not start prepping now.  When it comes to picking a winter boot you have a ton of options including many work boots that work just as well in the snow depending on where you live.  But over the course of the years L.L Bean has proven that their Bean Boot will 1. never go out of style and 2. provide reliable, high performance quality. You can always opt to go for the classic Bean Boots from L.L. Bean but the Signature line’s boot offers a bit more style with its full grain leather upper. Another perk is like all L.L. Bean products the Bean Boots come with their lifetime guarantee that if for any reason the boots don’t perform the way they are supposed to or you are unsatisfied you can return them any time.  Offered in Medium D fit and cut to leave room for thick socks.

The ultimate versatile boot. Think motorcycle boot meets work boot mixed with a healthy dose of vintage rock & roll.  When I imagine myself in a few years working in New York riding a Triumph Bonneville to work wearing a John Varvatos Leather Motorcycle Jacket these are the boots I picture myself wearing.  Made with premium distressed leather, a thick rubber sole, and an inside zipper these boots will keep up with you for years. The $278 price tag isn’t a deal breaker either. In fact it’s fairly reasonable for a pair of quality 100% leather boots from easily one of the most famous boot makers in recent history.

A pair of dress shoes is an investment. Like any investment you want to get the most out of the capital you put into it.  I know far too many people who buy a pair of dress shoes wear them every single day without taking care of them.  Don’t worry, it’s never too late to fix a bad habit.  First things first, shoe trees are one of the most important items for a man to have (second would be collar stays). A quality cedar shoe tree will help your shoe keep its shape, absorb moisture from the days wear, and prevent the shoe from smelling over time.  Allen Edmonds offers the perfect solution, a quality cedar shoe tree for just $25. If you’re looking for a touch of personalization or trying to find a thoughtful gift for your Dad, Brother, or friend tack on an extra $5 and have them personalized with a custom message. Allen Edmonds also offers several other great shoe care options on their website (i.e. shine kits, shoe racks, laces, etc.)

If you’re looking for a good summer shoe to wear with shorts or your favorite pair of jeans, then we’ve found quite the shoe for you. Sperry recently teamed up with urban luxury brand Band of Outsiders to create a line of Sperry’s with an awesome array of new colors and new designs. These authentic 3-eye top-siders (3 holes for laces) in gray are the perfect lightweight shoe to wear this summer with almost anything. They come in some pretty crazy colors like pink and green, so if you’re a little more adventurous than us, you can check out the selection on the Sperry website.

I’ll admit- I’ve always had trouble figuring out what shoes to wear in the summer. Sperry’s work most of the time, but sometimes you wanna switch it up. Most sneakers are too techy, and I’m not big on the Clarks with shorts look, nor am I the biggest supporter of Flip-Flops (thongs for those of us mature enough not to laugh.)

Last weekend, however, that definitely changed. I picked up a pair of Vans Authentics in Pewter, and I honestly haven’t been this pleased with a pair of shoes in a long time. I’m rocking them sock-less right now, and they’re amazingly comfortable. They look absolutely sick with both shorts and jeans, and are definitely not too techy. At under 50 bucks a pair, this is a pair of shoes you can’t skip over. But please, keep the colors basic: white, black, and pewter work well. Orange Popsicle? Not so much.