Baby, it's cold outside. And when the freeze warnings blast us out of our warm cocoons, it's time to do some serious wardrobe transformations. After all, spring is still a few months away. So unless you live in a tropical paradise, here are a few ways to warm up your winter gear.

—It's all about layering. There's the frigid outdoor cold and then there's the chill of an indoor office building. So how do you bridge the gap? By wearing layers, layers and more layers if you have to! There are plenty of versatile ways to pile it on and keep warm, whether you're on a mountain hike or on a city street or even in a drafty apartment. Take a cue from Under Armour, the "ath-leisure" brand who has plenty of ways to keep warm with its ColdGear collection of insulated pieces that adjusts to skin temperature. From legwarmers to fitted shirts to vests, hoodies and fleece pants and detachable hoods, these cold-weather separates can easily be worn under sweaters, jackets and coats.

—Choose your coats wisely. You will probably want to wear your coat over multiple layers of clothes including bulky sweaters. Make sure your topcoat is a little roomy to fit over these extra pieces. The "puffer" coat may be one of the hottest winter fashion trends, but the overstuffed "Michelin" man is not a good look, and it really doesn't ensure a comfortable ride especially if you're trying to fit behind a steering wheel. Outerwear that can be easily compressed is a bonus when traveling anywhere.

—Know your down. For some serious chill chasing coats, goose down is the ultimate way to go. But do your homework and look at labels. The "RDS" logo or Responsible Down Standard certifies that the down coat you buy is filled with down from animals raised responsibly. Fill power is also important. The higher the number, the warmer the coat.

—Get more for your money. Explore all the possibilities of cold-weather gear with coats that have multi-function zip or snap-in capabilities. There are plenty of options available now. Check out the 3-in-1 parkas at Northface. The colorful coats feature a 37-inch trench with a zip-out 34-inch long insulated liner that is more of a fitted jacket with detachable collars and hoods. Vests are ideal for wearing by themselves or under a waterproof shell for rainy days.

—Face the cold head on. Headwear is critical when it comes to keeping warm. The new hats with built-in rechargeable batteries ought to do the trick. Cordless micro-fleece beanie hats at Sharper Image and Russian-style trapper hats at Hammacher feature heating elements around the brims to keep your head and ears toasty for hours.

—Feet first and last. There's nothing worse than having cold feet... well, maybe wet and cold feet. The folks at L.L. Bean have made their famous waterproof footwear since 1912 and if you really need some heavy duty protection from the slush and snow, leave those Uggs at home and check out L.L. Bean's iconic collection. Add a few Wicked Good toe and hand warmers to your shopping list as well.

—Don't forget gloves and scarves. Gloves can be one of the bulkiest items in a cold weather wardrobe, but they are another critical accessory essential. Make sure the gloves you buy will not only keep your hands warm, but will allow you to use touch screen electronics. Check out the Thermarator fleece gloves at Columbia with reflective lining, grippable palm patches and touch screen conductive fingertips. Scarves can add an extra layer of warmth, too, right where you need it, around your neck and even face. There are battery-powered heated scarves (sharperimage.com) but there are lots of oversized blanket scarves that will keep you cozy this winter too...in and out of the cold.

Face winter head on with nice, warm beanies.

To find out more about Sharon Mosley, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.