Good question. I don't disagree with any of the above. First base layer should be synthetic, like poypropylene, like UnderArnour. I have heard good things about UA, don't own any. Acually I bought my wife a UA set a couple years ago and she likes it fine. If its an option choose the "active cut" even if you are very skinny. A good way to get a base layer to bind up in your armpit is to pick up a splitting maul.
First step up from brand X blue jeans I heartily recommend the flannel lined work pants by Carharrt. Great stuff. If you are still cold with a polypropylene base layer and flannel lined Carharrts its time to think about a wool base layer to wear over the polypropylene, or some kind of bib to wear over the pants. I own three base layers and a bib, hopefully it won't get that cold at your place anytime soon.
Feet, my winter boots are about half a size bigger than my summer boots. Liner socks work surprisingly well - if you can fit them in your boot without compressing the loft. Smartwool liner socks are the warmest, but have merino wool in them and tear most quickly if you don't keep your toenails short. Spandex liner socks are almost as good as the smartwools, don't have wool in them and will last longer on toenails. Another one for "really" cold days is toe warmers, just like handwarmers, only thinner and peel-n-stick. I like Little Hotties brand pretty good, I put them outside my liner sock under my toes, my hunting buddy sticks them to the outside of his liner socks above his toes. We're both happy, and were both willing to try other brands.
For outer socks, the thickest merino socks you can afford. Smartwools are great, but they aren't the only folks in the biz. If you have to compress it to put your boots on you need either bigger boots or a lighter weight sock.
Another advantage to leg gaiters is they stop cold air from running up the inside of my pant leg. My favorite ones have a ring of elastic at the very bottom, a second ring of elastic about five inches up and zippers up the side. Hard to find anymore, the ones with the velcro up the front are less favorite for me.
Shirts, layers. Poly base layer and then do what you have to do. Look for a neck gaiter. Like a muffler or a scarf, it'll keep heat from escaping out your shirt collar, only just a short tube of something with no loose ends hanging in your way while you are trying to work. Common in the hunting aisle, also check the skiing aisle for patterns with no camouflage.
if it is cold enough for me to put on my fox fur trapper hat it is too cold to be do anything with firewood except bring more indoors for the stove. I like a simple pullover toque or tobaggan style hat, with thinsulate. I love thinsulate. The hat needs to be generous enough to cover my ears all the way down to the bottom of both ear lobes.
A couple other points.
1. It is Ok to feel cold in the cold. If you stay out in it longer and stop feeling cold, that is when you need to get indoors right now. That loss of sensation signals imminent frostbite, get inside and stay inside for a while. Warming up is going to hurt probably. Whatever it is that is really cold and painful as you warm up, don't touch it. Don't get it wet. Keep it dry, stay close to the stove, don't touch and think about upgrading your gear.
2. Keep your skin dry. The only thing I know of more miserable than cold is cold and wet. If you are sweating under all your layers your body is going to give up a TREMENDOUS amount of heat.
3. Keep your body hydrated. This takes practice, cause stopping to pee and dealing with all those layers is an adventure, but being dehydrated reduces your cold tolerance.
4. No shame in recognizing your limits. If you are cold in ten minutes, that's fine. Try hanging out in a +50dF garage for maybe ten minutes, without going into the +70dF house and then go back outdoors a second time. If you are real intentional about it you can get a whole lot done in an afternoon taken in ten minute bites. But when you are done just recognize it and call it a day; you'll still have tomorrow this way.