As temperatures drop, warm outerwear takes on a higher priority. But the challenge is how to ward off the chill and still look chic. You don't want to take to the streets looking like you're wrapped in a bed covering or your cat' s favorite blanket.

Do you choose a puffy down, a sweeping Dr. Zhivago style or a trendy high-waisted swing topper? Do you rely on layers and a heavy scarf? Or do you just stay indoors?

Ultimately, the best choice is not just warm, but a coat that makes a significant statement about your personal style.

Marlys K. Arnold, an Overland Park image consultant, says nothing measures up in warmth and comfort to her aging indigo double-breasted swing coat. "Every year I look, but there's never anything else like it, and it's become kind of a signature of mine," she said.

Coats now tend to be lighter, shorter, more seasonless and less bulky than in recent years. With unpredictable temperatures, record-breaking warm months and heated rooms, the apparel industry has found consumers less enthusiastic about traditional heavy outerwear. Too many coats were left on the racks.

The erratic weather shift has stymied manufacturers. The Liz Claiborne Co. has hired a climatologist from Columbia University to predict the weather and help the company time shipments to retail stores, The New York Times reported in a recent front-page story. Target has established a "climate team."

Yet the trend hasn't taken away from the styling drama. Coats tend to have added details, says Tina Hodak, St. Louis-based marketing director for Macy's Midwest. They may have high empire waists, wide collars, interesting buttons and self belts or sashes.

Textiles are often textured or in patterns such as plaid and herringbone, an especially popular look this year. Trench coats, the fashion hit of the last year, still look spiffy. The swing silhouette is favored in fashion circles, and so is the cocoon-shape that encircles you like a mother's hug.

Fabrics such as cashmere and camel hair in the higher price range are valued for durability and warmth. Alpaca, which is usually harvested from the Peruvian animal, is considered warmer than sheep's wool and higher priced, a bit of a status symbol.

Besides fur, down is among the warmest materials. The packed feathers trap the heat in tiny spaces, although the outer shell must also breathe to let moisture escape. The higher the down count, the warmer the coat.

Always check seams to ensure they are tightly sealed, says Michele Casper, the public relations director for Lands' End, a catalog company known for outdoor wear and temperature rating. Synthetic down is less expensive, better in rain or snow and certainly more humane for the birds.

But the news is, the new down coats are slimmer, shapelier and more fashionable, notes Casper. Some puffy down-like coats, however, seem so light and sparse, they score more for fashion than for warmth.