cold weather outdoorsmen in the know, knows, the first thing you put on your feet is your wife’s knee-high panty hose, then your synthetic socks (to wick moisture), then your cotton socks, then your wool socks. Toasty warm ;)
No cotton - it gets wet & never dries, causing heat loss. All those other layers are good as long as there is adequate room in the boot so the feet are not compressed where circulation is compromised.