Regardless, it brought rain boots to mind and how necessary they can be on days like these (live shots from Bonobos HQ below).

What brands do you wear to keep the water out?  Tretorn, L.L. Bean, Hunter? Are you devoted to one brand over another? Do you wear the same boots for snow and rain conditions?

As the snow continues to turn to rain, we’ll bring you our recommendations.  Maybe even as a Stuff category if you’re having trouble finding something stylish?

P.S. – We posted this once with just two images, but the Bonobos crew wanted in on the action (even Tiff with her little boots). We tried to disqualify James (3rd row on the left), but he quickly rebutted that his kicks were waterproof.  John then quickly validated the claim with a hefty glass of water to the foot – they’re legit.

If you haven’t heard of Andrew Bird, consider this a long-overdue introduction. He is perfectly ripe for a Bonoblog highlight—his music is often heard around the office, his style is inspiring, and he happens to be a graduate of our CEO’s alma mater, Northwestern University. Bird picked up his violin at age 4 and was classically trained in the Suzuki method. Considered a child prodigy, over time he mastered several instruments including the violin, guitar, mandolin, glockenspiel, and whistling.

Andrew’s music, much like his style, takes timelessly classic ingredients, inserts a little modern personality and edge and it comes out wholly unique and individual. We identify with those types of stories (I mean, we did eschew a centuries-old tradition of ill-fitting pants). Further, he is as authentic as they come, musically and stylistically. Seeing him in concert is something that must be witnessed to understand. Truly rare these days, he actually sounds BETTER in concert and his ability to perform as a one-man band with looping technology is incredibly complex and inspiring. Check out samples of his music, plus an update from us, after the break. (And notice his colorful pants in the bottom-right!)

Bonoblog Readers—over the course of the next few months, we might experiment a little bit here and there in this space (we hope you’ll indulge us!). We want to make this blog better, more relevant, more enjoyable for you (our company-wide goal for 2010). We’ll occasionally ask specific questions at the end of posts but we’d love to hear your general feedback on posts, content, etc. as well.

So, a question: We love music around here. Some of us wouldn’t be able to survive without it daily. Would you like us to continue to bring interesting musical talents to your attention as we come across them; especially when they’re a double feature style inspiration?

All of this introspective, retrospective and speculative thinking actually got me thinking about the process and the tools we have or don’t have at our disposal.

While this may be TMI, I find myself having the most innovative thoughts in the shower. It causes all sorts of problems considering paper doesn’t stand up to water and the cost/benefit of using electronics in the shower has been well proven. I end up losing lots of thoughts. Could have solved global warming for all I remember.

To my surprise, I stumbled across the Aqua Notepad, which allows me to embrace my thinking spot and turn it into an advantage. (Plus, any company that takes a a part of everyday life—like, say, pants—and uses technology to make it better wins our admiration.)

So readers, we’re curious: where’s your thinking place? Are you a fellow water-dweller, a porcelain thronee, a comfy coucher?

And further, what do you use to remember these pearls of wisdom? Notebook, iPhone, Blackberry, journal? We’re huge fans of Field Notes for quick jotting around Bonobos HQ. We also give high marks to Doane Paper (whose website is awesome and has free graph paper downloads, cool products-of-the-day, and links to pen reviews) and, as always, a little Army surplus action.

Lastly, is this something you think Bonobos should carry as part of Backed By Bonobos? Would you like a consolidated place to purchase these types of non-apparel, problem solving items or should we just stick to apparel and the related?

I scoured YouTube for the best tutorial on how to tie one of those suckers, and I swear this is the best one. Really. 100% merit-based.

One piece of advice from me: it’s not going to look perfect. It’ll be just a touch askew or asymmetrical—good. That’s how it’s supposed to look, and also how people will know you tied it yourself like a gentleman, instead of clipping it on like a third-grader. Now go find someone to kiss at midnight.

In case you’re wondering, here are a few of our favorite bow ties, from brands most people haven’t heard of. For black tie with some attitudinal flair, check out this offering from J.Press, a brand that also carries classic patterns and awesome paisleys. To go a little less formal/more preppy, Brooks Brothers has a great selection in classic patterns. For professorial charm (with a touch of see-me-after-class), go with anything from Pierrepont Hicks.

Oh, and you should know by now that we endorse just about anything in plaid, so long as you wear it with panache. Check out the selection at Drakes.

Fine.

(Firstly, it goes without saying that Bonobos’ free overnight shipping this holiday can really save your plaid-clad arse here. But if you must consider other options, read on.)

Stuff you can steal from work.

Printer ink. It may not be particularly sexy or sentimental, but it is mad expensive. If you typically wind up spending a bunch of money on something the recipient doesn’t really even use, consider stealing some ink.

Stamps. Kind of old-school, sure, but did you know stamps are legal tender? So you’re literally giving the person cash. Cold, hard cash in nifty $0.49 denominations. Baller.

Five-gallon water jugs. Tell the recipient it’s a natural disaster survial tool. If he or she balks, get offended. Natural disasters are not funny. (You could also say it’s in preparation for the apocalypse in 2012.)

Pants. I suppose that only works if you work in our office. Merry Christmas, Dad!

Find a random piece of junk in your house and give it faux-sentimental value.

“Hey bro, Merry Christmas. I want you to have this crappy deflated basketball. It’s the one we were shooting hoops with that night, when I was going through that rough patch and you said that thing that helped me realize that other thing, and then I did those good things and turned it all around. I owe it all to you, that night, and to this crappy deflated basketball.” If he looks puzzled, just tear up and hug him tight.

Bonobos – Better for just about everything…

The secret to any good winter outfit is layers! (Those of us here at the always-too-warm Bonobos HQ need to strip down to our polos just to get through the day.)

Polo Under an oxford: Not all polo layering has to be preppy. Stay away from popping your collar. Basic colors look great. Navy under white. White under light blue.

Polo under a sweater: Avoid v-necks. The polo will look better if it blends underneath a thicker, chunkier sweater. The sweater is the lead, the polo is a supporting actor.

Screw it wear all six:
There is no direction needed here. Just send pictures. And feel free to do lunges. Note: on cold days the gloves this guy is wearing may be necessary.

Scott: Gift certificates suck! It’s why we created our Gift that Fits packages, and it’s why we love unique but easy-to-buy presents. I hate to admit it, but one of the big guys (and my former employer) has created one of the best offerings. Few people know that every playlist in your iTunes library can be turned into a mixtape gift through the iTunes store in a really nifty package. Just click the little arrow next to the playlist, choose iMix, then select “gift playlist.” You’ll be able to purchase a download of the album you created which you can email to the recipient, complete with a neat montage of album art for the tracks you used. Much more thoughtful than buying him $10 worth of songs, it’s clear you put in the effort to craft a custom mixtape—yet it requires no real shopping time and is completely electronic (and green!). If you need a hard copy, you can print the gift certificate with the same album art.

Don: Nothing better than a gift that keeps on giving. Try a magazine subscription on a topic he digs. Maxim, GQ, Esquire…? Great magazines, but way to be predictable. I try to find something a little more obscure and less mainstream. Head to your local bookstore, look through some of the international editions or lesser known mags, purchase one to give the recipient, and send in the card on the his behalf. (Bonus: most mags run insane discounts for one-year gift subscriptions.) Done and done. Some of my favorites lately are Monocle and newly minted Inventory.

Marshall: Gift certificates are anti-climactic when they’re for a product, but not for a service or experience—especially if it’s a service he wouldn’t necessarily purchase himself. Men’s grooming lounges are cropping up all over the place, even outside major cities. A professional straight-razor shave is a luxury every guy should enjoy from time to time. (If you’ve never felt a hot, menthol-infused towel wrapped around your freshly shaved face, get on that.) Our favorite place in NYC is Freeman’s Sporting Club on the Lower East Side. Other great gift certificate ideas: Deluxe car wash. Shoe shine/repair. Landscaping service to mow his lawn come summertime. Tickets to an obscure sporting event (jai alai?). Knife-sharpening. Krav Maga classes or a wilderness survival course.

Any other ideas, gents?

A: Whoa. Buying clothes for women. Um. Okay. Lemme just put my head between my knees for a second. I haven’t bought clothing for women since I gave my college girlfriend sexy pajamas for Christmas and she promptly tore the gift open in front of her grandmother.

Honestly, here’s what we think: unless you are positive that you know what she wants—or have Anna Wintour, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Michelle Obama in tow advising you on your purchase—don’t get your girlfriend clothing for Christmas. Just don’t do it. It’s high-risk. If she doesn’t like it, she either has to return/exchange it, or wear something she doesn’t like just so as not to hurt your feelings. Nobody wins when she fakes it, savvy? Plus, it’s like you said—she’s into fashion. Why would you get her something she finds personal enjoyment in procuring for herself? That’s like giving a duck hunter a dead duck for Christmas.

What you should do: give an experience gift—preferably something she can do with you. A cooking class, concert, winery tour, weekend getaway—be creative. The absolute king of these ideas? Buy her and her two closest girlfriends a spa day on Super Bowl Sunday. Then throw a legendary party for you and your buds while she’s getting pampered, and sit back to enjoy playing the hero in your own life story.

(By the way, if you need a good experience gift for a guy, check out our Gift that Fits packages.)

Q: I’ve got myself a quandary when it comes to boots. I saw the post on winter boots, and I’m already set when it comes to snow boots for hiking the soiled freezing streets of Chicago. What I don’t have is something ideal for the fall and dryer winter days when it’s not snowing, but loafers and boat shoes really just don’t go. I’ve been checking out some Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots, and I’m thinking something in that style.

A: We love boots in almost any season, so having a great pair or two will definitely serve your wardrobe well. If you’re checking our Wolverine’s 1000 Mile collection, your instincts are good.

A few other options to investigate:

1) The Frye Company has been making boots for over a century. I love their Rand and Dakota styles, the latter of which has a beefy rubber sole for great grip.

2) Thorocraft, a brand that hasn’t even officially launched yet, is getting tons of buzz and pre-orders for their handsome Hudson and Shelton shoes.

3) Yuketen is a small American-made brand that’s on the pricier side and mostly available at Bergdorf-Goodman. Their Old School selections have a vintage outdoorsman’s aesthetic and mostly feature comfortable rubber sole with serious grip.

4) Alden’s Indy Boot is one of the most timelessly popular leather boots ever. So named because it’s what Harrison Ford wore in the Indiana Jones films (and Hollywood legend has it that they were his own personal pair, from his pre-stardom days as a carpenter), these bad boys are made to last a lifetime and then some.

Email style@bonobos.com with your questions, and we’ll answer them every week on the blog.

Don: I can’t do eggnog or most other seasonal drinks. When the weather turns cold, I shift from clear to dark libations instead. My grandparent’s have ALWAYS been Manhattan drinkers and, along with large ears, passed it down the gene line. After discovering Templeton Rye and its Midwestern roots, it’s become my staple—it’s only available in Iowa and Illinois at the moment. With a very prohibition-era vibe, the Manhattan warms the limbs and the soul. To keep it a little more dude-ish, go rocks. Best of all, it gives you an excuse to grab a candied cherry.

Manhattan
2 oz. Templeton Rye Whiskey
1/2 oz. Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes of bitters
Stir with ice. Srain into a martini glass.
May also be served on the rocks. Garnish with a cherry.

Kevin: When it comes to cold weather and holiday celebrations I look to one concoction that brings out the holiday cheer in everyone. Contrary to public stigma, bourbon is not a fighting man’s liquor, from everything I have heard the Apple Cider Set-up is the most peaceful of all holiday drinks.

The type of whiskey you use is 100% personal preference. If Makers isn’t your choice, I would give rye a try. Rye can have a fruitier flavor that works great with the cider. My favorite places in New York for cider and bourbon are Fanelli’s Café (94 Prince Street at Mercer), Little Branch (20 7th Avenue South at Leroy), and L’Artusi (228 West 10th Street).

Apple Cider Set-Up
1 ½ shots of Marker’s Mark
6-8 oz of Hot Apple Cider (also fantastic with mulled cider)
Sprinkle of ground cinnamon
Stir with cinnamon stick
Optional: Dash of sweet bitters

Scott: Eggnog can be gross or totally delicious. Store-bought? Guaranteed gross! My old family recipe? Guaranteed delicious. (By “my old family recipe” I mean a slight variation of the Cook’s Illustrated recipe. This magazine and their sister website, www.americastestkitchen.com, is one of the greatest publications on earth!) While it takes a lot longer than using the stuff from the supermarket, your guests will be amazed when they have a sip and find they actually can keep it down!

Eggnog
Take 2 egg yolks, 1/2 cup of sugar and a tiny bit of salt and whisk them in a sauce pan. Then stir in 4 cups of milk, 1/2 cup at a time. Heat over the LOWEST setting your stove can muster, stirring constantly, until it coats the spoon and takes a second to drip off. This will take awhile, maybe a half-hour. Pour this through a mesh strainer into a large bowl and pour in 3/4 cup of dark rum (you can use brandy or bourbon but I think rum works best), 1 tablespoon of vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon of grated nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Refrigerate for awhile. Get drunk!

Marshall: It must have been a very chocolate-peanut-butter-cup moment: “Hey! You got whiskey in my coffee!” “You got coffee in my whiskey!” And then the light bulbs came on over their heads. There’s no better winter beverage in my book than Irish coffee (or, for dessert, Irish hot chocolate). Sweet, rich, complex, and piping hot, Irish coffee is sure to keep the revelry going strong all night long.

Irish Coffee
6 ounces freshly brewed coffee
1 ounce whiskey of your choosing (I recommend Jameson’s)
Sugar to taste
Dollop of whipped cream (store-bought is okay, but homemade is totally worth the extra work)