Brrr! It’s cold out there. With the past few weeks of freeze warnings, the cold didn’t leave much room for fashion. Boxy jackets, formless pants and bulky accessories, such as scarves and gloves, were a usual sight during the chill.

But don’t let the freeze make your fashion sense cold.

Sacramento State graduate and fashion designer Cindy Vo’s fashion advice for women this chilly season is: Don’t bury those dresses in your closet. Vo said she wears a long-sleeved T-shirt under her dress. She adds a pair of leggings, socks, and boots. She layers on a cardigan or zip-up hoodie and a coat, gloves and scarf.

“That way I can still wear my cute summer dresses and tanks but stay warm,” Vo said.

Vo said that the most important thing men or women can do is layer. She said it’s still possible to layer and look trendy.

“Don’t be afraid to mix and match things you normally wouldn’t,” Vo said.

Fighting the winters can be a struggle for vintage boutique owner, Olivia Coehlo, but she’s getting the hang of it now with a fresh new look she put together this year.

Coehlo, owner of midtown Sacramento’s Olipom, recommends wearing a cotton turtleneck with leggings of the same color, usually gray or black. She adds a cute summer baby doll dress over her turtleneck.

For shoes, Coehlo suggests slouchy pirate boots or wooden sandals. She mixes her style up with either a big belt or a mini-leather vest. Coehlo also recommends finding a good winter coat.

“A good vintage, double-breasted, wool trench is wonderful during the freezing cold!” Coehlo wrote in an email.

Apparel Marketing and Design graduate Malay Mey, says the key to a great coat for men and women is the fit. The variety that coats and jackets come in, paired with simple jeans and sweater combinations are endless, Mey said.

Vo’s “must-have” item for the chilly weather is a pair of flat boots that you can pair with tights, skinny jeans, or a dress.

“You can wear boots with anything, even a hoodie, and still look fresh,” Vo said.

Coehlo wrote that a neutral-colored version of the Micheal Jackson “Thriller” jacket is a must for men. She said they can pair this with sweaters over button-ups, add a wool Pendleton, jeans and a fitted overcoat.

A big “don’t” from Vo is to stay away from the Ugg boots. They are outdated and although they may be warm, they should only be worn around the house, according to Vo.

Mey has her own “don’t” during the freezing temperatures and said that just because a look or item is trendy for the season, it doesn’t mean you should try to wear it.

Dressing for comfort and what makes you feel good about yourself is what matters, Mey said.

“The truth is, not everything looks good on everyone,” Mey said.

Add some accessories such as dangling earrings, a long gold necklace to accentuate your neckline, or a beautifully colored shawl that can add some that extra hot factor to your fashion wardrobe, Elle Magazine suggests.

“Since warm-weather habitants don’t own many coats, effort should be put in to the accessories such as scarves, gloves, stockings and boots,” Mey said.

Vo’s colorful designs are called VindyCo, based in Sacramento, and Mey is now attending Parsons School of Design in New York City. Olipom is located on 1115 21st Street in midtown Sacramento where you can find some of Coehlo’s picks of sweaters and tops.