Expert Tips for Keeping Warm

— -- Could it be any colder?

Well, yes. But that doesn't stop many people across the country from positively shivering these days. If you can't shake the chill no matter what you wear, you might be wearing the wrong things.

"Make sure that you don't get bundled up until you are ready to walk out the door, " said Jody Schwartz, executive vice president of Free Country, an outer and active wear company now in its 25th year. "That way your body doesn't overheat and even sweat, which will make the outside cold feel even colder"

Here are Schwartz's cold-weather dressing tips:

First Layer: Fabrics, fabrics, fabrics.

1. Avoid cotton as the first layer when bundling up yourself because it absorbs moisture, keeping you cold and wet.

2. Choose synthetic and natural fiber (such as wool) fabrics, as they wick the moisture away from the body.

Second Layer: Keep the cold out and the warmth in.

3. The second layer's purpose is to keep your body's natural heat in; fleeces, synthetic layers or light-weight down jackets are the best options for layer number two.

4. Choose layers appropriate to the activity in which you will partake. If you are skiing or outside in the snow, a thin or medium fleece will work best because you will be exerting a lot of energy and generating a lot of body heat; if you plan to go on a nice wintery walk, you will want to try a thicker layer.

Top Layer: A shield for your body.

5. The top layer acts like a shell that reflects the biting cold elements away from your body, protecting you from wind and rain. Find jackets that are water and wind resistant and contain insulating (like the natural lightweight warmth of down feathers) and shielding fabrics. Keep your head warm.

6. Although you may hate wearing a hat in the cold, it's extremely important that you do; adults can lose about 10 percent of body heat by not properly covering their feet, hands and head.

7. Be sure you have a good hat, mittens or gloves and waterproof boots.