It can be difficult to tell what’s “in” and what’s “out.”

To figure it out, Briglio recommends looking backward.

“If you look at past trends, you can kind of tell,” Briglio said. “The classic ones are more basic and get reinvented every year, which is why people keep going back to them.”

Blazers and tailored jeans keep coming back, Briglio said, but she is surprised styles such as leggings have lasted as long as they have.

“It seemed like they’d be a quick trend,” she said.

Other trends from the past are coming back — such as bows tied at the neck on blouses. Ankle boots and vests inspired from men’s wear became popular last fall and continue in popularity.

Finding fashion is a self-fulfilling prophecy, MSU apparel and textile design specialist Lori Faulkner said.

“Whether or not an individual is actually in the know, that’s what everyone is seeing, and they have the majority buying into that,” Faulkner said.

What’s new for fall

Fashion forecasters in the industry keep on the lookout for trends, including color, fabric, print and surface designs.

Students are especially accepting of changing fashion, Faulkner said, because so much of college life is about personal revelations and finding yourself.

“As students, you have so many ideas bombarded at you and you move from one thing to another so quickly,” Faulkner said.

For a style that will last through the seasons, Faulkner recommends buying clothes that include classic colors — such as black, brown or gray — and then adding trendy pieces, such as jewelry or belts, when needed.

One current trend for this fall is the romance theme, which includes adding a lace blouse to a jacket or tailored jackets with fitted skirts.

Wearing colors that match the season is the thing to do, apparel and textile design junior Emily Chase said.

“Everything is changing in the fall and the leaves are darker,” Chase said. “It just kind of sets the tone for what people should wear.”

Skinny belts at the waist, blues and purples of all shades and big bags with fedoras are in style this season, Faulkner said.

To avoid looking frumpy as you bundle up for winter, Faulkner recommends wearing clothes that provide warmth without wearing too many layers.

“Buy pieces that are thinner and provide much more insulation from weather but don’t need as many layers,” she said.

What rules?

Old rules about style are changing, Faulkner said.

“There are rules to doing things correctly, but it’s hard to do,” she said.

Wearing white after Labor Day is acceptable, for example, if fabrics are chosen carefully and are of heavier weight, such as wool or tweed paired with a dark color.

Dressing according to body shape helps too. For a woman with larger hips, dark on the bottom and light colors on top gives a more balanced look.

Horizontal stripes are also not recommended to put on body parts that should be de-emphasized.

The rules of fashion have become loose guidelines.

“I like the fact that there aren’t too many rules anymore,” apparel and textile design instructor Carol Beard said.

If there is one rule, however, Beard said, it’s to buy clothes that fit.

“You’ll look smashing when you go out the door if your clothes fit,” she said. “If they don’t, it doesn’t matter what you buy, it’s not going to look nice.”

Boots do not need to be saved for winter anymore. Functional is mixing with fashionable when it comes to footwear, Faulkner said.

“Because we’re more active, we’re seeing a cross between the two all the time,” she said.

Winter boots with heavier waterproofing fabric such as leather work well with the changing seasons. Popular styles include riding boots and motorcycle-inspired boots.

Brown and black can now be worn together as well, as long as there is a separating piece in between them.

“A black sweater and stonewashed jeans with brown shoes at the bottom are great,” Faulkner said. “With separation it’s more successful.”

The same ideas apply for men’s ties, which no longer need to match their shirt. Instead, the tie should complement the shade of the shirt, with a pattern that pulls colors from the shirt and suit.

Hand-me-down helpers

Mix new styles with old, and it’s wise to shop at re-sale shops, such as Second Time Around, 4737 Marsh Road, in Okemos, Beard said.

“To keep up with trends, a lot of the time it’s just one piece to add in that will update your wardrobe,” Beard said. “If you have a basic pair of pants, buy a trendy top or jewelry — all it takes is a little thing to update a look.”

Some students have misinterpreted styles, Beard said, like wearing leggings without anything over them.

“If you see something coming down the runway and just grab that single item, you don’t look at the whole look and sometimes you really miss the mark when you walk out the door,” she said.

Briglio said mixing patterns will be a big trend in the spring, as long as the patterns are of a different size.

Briglio recommends Web sites like Style.com to keep up-to-date. Style magazines also have trends a few months in advance.

When it comes to some styles, maybe they should have never been around in the first place, Beard said.

“I wish bras showing and nylons with open-toed shoes would go away,” she said. “And don’t ignore your belt loops.”