A popular mantra for fashion designers must be, “Season, season, season.” In fact, the industry never seems to tire of the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring collections. I do believe it is this singular goal — to push the limits of seasonal trends — that fuels design creativity. Fashion and weather go hand-in-hand.

So, what does that mean for those that live in places like Ithaca, a place where weather seems to be on permanent PMS? Now into my sophomore year at Cornell, I’ve learned that Ithaca is definitely not GORGES; rather, it is a TEASE. Your walk to class may be filled with sunshine and the chirpings of birds, but the walk home will be a blind stumble through an April blizzard.

With spring on its way (don’t be fooled just yet), the walkways have become even more difficult to navigate. Fortunately, fashion is, above all, adaptable. It’s not about going out and buying a whole new wardrobe (especially in these desperate times), but collecting essential pieces that work with your lifestyle.

For Spring 2009, we are seeing a shift towards more classic, wearable looks. Designers are undoubtedly taking into account current economic situations for spring. For us Ithacans, our next task is to translate these runway trends so here is a guide for Spring Fashion 2009 — a simple overview on trends to watch out for and advice on essential wardrobe pieces.

Gold Rush. An emphasis on metallic tones has also swept the spring runways. Bronzes, golds, silvers and coppers — these colors complement every skin tone. You can do like designer Dries Van Noten and add oversized baubles to a monochrome outfit. The effect is chic-simplistic and can go day-to-night.

Go nude. Or almost nude. To complement classic looks, designers are choosing softer earth tones and sheer fabrics. Romantics like Sonia Rykiel have embraced the whimsicality of spring by playing with float-y silks and chiffons. Others like Valentino and YSL used a canvas of cream to bring freshness to the runway. For Ithacans, a classic tan trench coat or cream silk scarf will work well both fashion- and weather-wise.

Other essentials. Cardigans in black, gray, navy and brown, and of all different lengths and styles, work with virtually everything. Blazers work the same way cardigans do. A trend we are seeing for Spring 2009 is the “Boyfriend blazer.” These blazers are boxy, falling to hip-length, and look best in neutral colors, black or tweed. Buy them! Or steal them from your boyfriend. It will be a long time before we see skinny jeans and knee boots go out of style. In Ithaca, these are another essential pair.

While a lot of fashions will be hard to afford or even find in Ithaca, you’d be surprised at how much you can recover from your own closet. As a Harper’s Bazaar editor once wrote, “Desperate times call for disparate treasures.”