As the semester stretches on and the days shorten, it's inevitable that a cold and gray State College fall will soon settle over the valley.

It's easy to get caught in a drab mid-semester funk, but this fall's latest jewelry trends offer the ability to brighten up any day and any outfit.

Fall's jewelry, following the trends of more conservative clothing, is seeing a more streamlined, cleaner look as opposed to seasons past, said Brittany Hostetler, owner of 202A Gallery, 216 E. Calder Way. Simple geometric shapes are a standout trend of the season.

"It seems to be that everything is very round -- lots of round stones, lots of hammered circles, lots of really large, noticeable links," she said.

Dana Marsh, owner of Savvy State College, 153 S. Allen St., has noticed similar trends, paired with an emphasis on gemstones. "Circles, ovals and geometrics are big right now, a little bit of chain, a little bit of stone," she said. "Everything has gotten a lot more girly and a lot more fashionable. There is a resurgence of people actually dressing, and there's a need to accessorize to support that."

Marsh, who favors "large, almost imposing gemstones," has also noticed a resurrection of bold rings.

"People are really gearing towards big, fun rings," she said. "I noticed them in the J. Crew catalog and on the cover of In Style. There's a lot of bright colors and the bigger, the better."

Hostetler said apple greens, chocolate browns and beige tones stand out in this season's color palette, and many people are getting back to traditional, shorter lengths for necklaces.

"Some people are even coming in looking for something that's almost a choker," she said. "I think that if you spend two seasons buying long necklaces, long necklaces, long necklaces, you want a break from that."

Hostetler forecasts that antique key charms will be the next overwhelming trend, much as last year saw the invasion of skull charms.

"Maybe not necessarily this year, but I think that antique keys might be the next thing that will be popular," she said. "They've always been around in designs, but they seem to be showing up a lot more."

Though silver always seems to be the dominant metal, especially among younger generations, Marsh noted a pick-up in gold sales. "Typically, younger people wouldn't be caught dead in yellow gold, but now it's 50/50," she said. "Gold is actually making a comeback for fall."

Despite all of the season's trends, people seem to be making a conscious effort to not fall into the trap of conformity.

"The more unique and vintage feel, the better," Marsh said. "People want to stand out. I encourage people to have a signature piece to embrace, call their own and wear it everyday. Whether it's in pages of a magazine or not, you're known for it, and it says a lot more about you than trying to mimic something in a magazine."

Whether trendy or original, Hostetler believes that accessorizing with pieces that are personally attractive will update and add character to any outfit. "Jewelry just brings a sense of cohesion. It makes everything work together," she said. "You can take clothing that isn't 100 percent unique, but by using different jewelry and accessories, you can really make it fit your style, instead of just the style it had when you bought it off the rack."

Marsh agrees, adding that obtaining a clean look doesn't have to steal your budget for the week. "The old joke is, 'what separates humans from animals?' and that's the ability to accessorize," she said. "You don't have to spend a fortune to look polished, but a good accessory will complete an outfit."