A warm down parka should always be part of your gear closet even if you don’t live in a particularly cold environment, because you never know when you might need it for a ski trip or other winter vacations.

If you're a frequent traveler or live in a climate that never sees sub-zero temps, searching for a winter jacket that is both lightweight and compact can be a bit of a hit or a miss. While you probably want something a little thicker than a hoodie you also don't need a ski jacket until you actually go to hit the slopes.

If you need new cold weather boots that are equally gorgeous and functional, Nordstrom Rack has an impressive discount on a pair of customer favorites. Originally priced at $160, the Dolce Vita Caster Waterproof Platform Bootie is now just $50,