• Quartz watch
• Japanese mechanism
• Mineral glass
• Metal chain metal housing
• 1 Year Warranty

• Stainless steel case and band 
• Water resistant 
• Bracelet type for an attractive, feminine design 
• Elegantly square face 
• Cut glass

Spring may be on its way, but as we all know, the weather in the UK can take a turn for the worse almost instantly. A big coat is always worth having.

If you already have one congratulations and look away now because maybe, just maybe, as you stand on a lonely platform, late at night, the cold creeping into your fingers, the thought might cross your mind that maybe you haven't bought the right one. Sure, it's big and woolen and *looks* warm but you're still stood here stamping your feet, hunching your shoulders to reduce the amount of neck you're exposing. Why? Because you’re probably not wearing a down-filled coat. 

New technology is great and there has been much done by outerwear companies to keep you warm when it's absolutely Baltic but really, the best way to do that is to rely on ducks. Their down - the fluffy layer beneath their feathers that keeps them warm when they're gliding around on lakes traps air like no other. And that's the science to it – nothing more complicated than that – in order to stay warm you need to trap air around you. 

Once that's in place you need only choose which manufacturer to go for.Canada Goose is an obvious and excellent choice, with their bomber designed to protect against a Canadian winter. While at the same nodding to current trends.

For something lighter, both in terms of weight and on your wallet, tryParajumpers’ Kochi jacket. Wear it under a blazer and remain warm without obscuring your suit.

Finally, Penfield’s Hossac parka goes the whole hog and will cover you from thigh to neck. The beauty of such a jacket is that unless it’s sub-zero out here, you should be able to wear just a shirt underneath and still stay snug (and smug). 

Whether you’re in the market for a new pair of leather suit shoes, or quality suede desert boots to pair with rolled-up denim, footing the bill for a set of quality wheels can kick out a sizeable chunk from your pay cheque.

However, given proper care, parting with your cash can be a sound investment. Quality footwear doesn’t go out on style (unless you opt for pointed toes, obviously) and should last you from season to season. But you need a little more knowledge than simply not kicking through puddles or, heaven forbid, breaking down the heels to slip on shoes in a hurry. Which is where the experts from the Leicester’s luxe shoe brand, Northern Cobbler, come in. Here they outline the simple steps you can take to protect your proper shoes.

Do you need to go through hell for leather?

Well, not necessarily. You’d be forgiven for thinking that forking out for fancy leather shoes would mean tiptoeing along every pavement. However, reassuringly expensive shoes are usually synonymous with high quality leather, which is far easier to care for. More often than not it isn’t coated or corrected, which helps it react positively to treatments like moisturising and polish.

We don’t blame you for doing a double take there. Yes, we said moisturise. That’s because, according to the guys at Northern Cobbler, leather is just like your skin. Wearing your shoes regularly can stress the leather – creasing across the toes, for example – which is why they recommend applyingleather conditioner once a month. Use a cloth to apply evenly, it’ll stop your shoes drying out and maintain their original finish by injecting life back into the leather.

Avoiding water altogether is impossible, but getting your shoes wet isn’t the end of the world. Sure, the leather is porous and will absorb liquid, but they’ll dry out, too. Shoe trees allow your recently worn shoes to contract and dry up to their ideal shape, explain the Northern Cobbler shoe nerds. The fundamental time for using them is the hour after you have removed them from your feet. The shoes will then return to their natural form and the trees can be removed.

Should you spit and polish?

Yes, just hold the spit. Follow this step-by-step guide for a shining master class.

– Make sure the surface of the leather is clear of any dirt and dry.
– Apply the polish evenly across the surface of the leather with a cloth.
– Opt for a polish slightly darker than your shoes; it’ll lighten over time.
– Leave the polish to absorb into the leather. 10 minutes should be set aside as an absolute minimum, even if you’re in a rush. A few hours will work wonders – overnight is even better.
– Use a leather brush to shine the surface of your leather; you can be quite aggressive with this procedure. If you want extra shine on the toe area, an old pair of tights can be used to buff, although it’s up to you to find your own way of sourcing these, we’re afraid.

What about suede?

– Use a crepe block (crepe is natural rubber) to clean the suede, which is a total dirt magnet.
– Then buff with a suede brush to fluff up the natural texture of the suede nap.
– A scotch guard spray can be used at the end of this process to add a water resistant film over the surface of the suede, but note; this will not make them waterproof. It will, however, stop them getting waterlogged, which can distort the shape.

How do you save your soles?

Leather soles may look great, but they are also porous and so will absorb water. Opting for rubber, which is the most common sole material, will not only make your shoes more hardwearing, but easier to repair too.

Not sure when to re-sole? It is simple; when you start to see areas where the leather or rubber is becoming very thin they need replacing. This will likely be across the heel or the area around the ball of your foot. Ideally, don’t wait until you have a hole because then it becomes much harder to repair them. 

In your search for a decent cobbler, word of mouth is always a good indicator. But just to be safe, ask them what they plan to do before you agree to it. You don’t want any nasty clodhoppers superglued to your brogues. Chunky soles might be in, but we recommend leaving that to the designers, not Dave at your local Timpsons. 

Doing 100 reps of any exercise isn’t easy.

Doing 100 reps of burpee-pullups as fast as possible may be one of the hardest challenges you’ll ever perform at the gym. It works every muscle in your body and leaves you feeling like your heart and lungs are going to explode.

ADVERTISEMENT
 
MEN'S HEALTH RECOMMENDS
 
3 Weight-Training Biceps Exercises - For Dummies
DUMMIES.COM
 
The Ultimate Workout For Aesthetics
MEN'S HEALTH
 
25 Gifts That Every Man Secretly Wants, My Boyfriend Totally Deserves…
LIFEBUZZ
 
The Only Type of Cardio That Gets You Jacked
MEN'S HEALTH
 
Education is about what you can do, not just what you know
QLIK
 
4 Ways to Become a Pullup Powerhouse
MEN'S HEALTH
Recommended by
DAILY DOSE

your email address
 SIGN UP
YOU MAY UNSUBSCRIBE AT ANY TIME.
YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS | ABOUT US
Related: THE 21-DAY METASHRED—30-Minute Cutting-Edge Workouts That Torch Fat Fast. One Guy Lost 25 Pounds in Just 6 Weeks!

Here’s how to do it: Stand in front of a pullup bar. Do a burpee, and then immediately jump up into a pullup. When your feet hit the floor, drop into a burpee again.

I am 23. This month, my boyfriend of one year broke up with me. I was totally surprised, and am still devastated by it and in love with him. I have asked a few times about getting back together, but he is not interested. So I am trying to move on, which isn’t easy. It’s even harder when we both turn up at the same holiday parties. I’m scared (but also sort of hoping) that we will be at the same New Year’s Eve party. But I don’t want to stay home alone. Help!

Nina, Brooklyn

Welcome to the Heartbreak Hotel, Nina. It is my sad duty to report that most of us have checked in for a spell (or three), often feeling mowed down by a fleet of midsize trucks. But in time, those trucks will feel more like flammable hoverboards, and eventually, like tiny children stepping on your toes. It gets better. And exploring this bummer with friends or a therapist will give you more emotional depth and make you smarter about the next guy. (And there will be a next guy — really.)