There are some truly awful popular fashions in our generation’s culture right now — for instance, Ugg boots and bug-eyed sunglasses on women or pants that are either too big or too small on men. I admit it might seem shallow, but I cannot help but notice the appearance of the people around me. And because I cannot have a discussion on international politics, economics, pop culture or history with every man or woman that I see, appearances are important.

Let’s address each trend individually, starting with Ugg boots. I quote my best friend Coert: “Uggs are ugly.” Winter is over, so thankfully I rarely see them now. I’ve priced them online, and in case you didn’t know, they range from $100 to $400. I’m not saying that people do not have the right to spend their money as they please, but try to do so with some taste. Ugg boots are neither pretty nor utilitarian. To be honest, when I see a woman walking around in Uggs I think either that she has more money than sense or she is a sheep following a fad. Neither of those are at all attractive to me.

The Victoria’s Secret PINK sweatpants in any other color than pink are also atrocious. They look nice enough and quite comfy on women, but why would you wear the ones with PINK spelled out in green on the back.

Clearly, pink is meant to reference a certain part of the female anatomy. If you’re not sure what I am talking about, listen to the Aerosmith song “Pink” and figure it out. I am always slightly disgusted when I see a woman wearing these.

The one I really detest, though, are bug-eyed sunglasses. They completely cover at least a third of a woman’s face. A woman’s most beautiful feature is her face. Hiding it with huge plastic sunglasses doesn’t make her mysterious, just unappealing. Girls, you look like a bunch of half-mutated cockroaches walking around campus in those things.

Not to be outdone, men can look just as stupid as women. Why do men wear jeans that do not fit? If you’re still unclear on what I mean, I’m talking about pants that ride extremely low and saggy or men in girls’ jeans. Having pants that hang down past your butt definitely looks stupid, especially when combined with extra-long t-shirts. When men wear this “outfit,” they look like “The Incredible Shrinking Man” — at any moment, they might shrink to the size of a thimble into a pile of their own over-priced, ill-fitting clothing.

Girls’ jeans on men, though, are just as bad. These pants were designed for women. Women have wonderful, shapely legs. When men wear women’s jeans, it looks like their mothers are still dressing them. Apparently some women must be attracted to this look, but I beg all men to please stop. You’re only furthering hideous pop fashion.

So what gives me the right to judge someone else’s fashion? Nothing. But I know what I like, and I know from conversations that I am not the only person that feels this way. So although I have no right to tell you how to spend your money, please try to look in the mirror before you journey to class. What you wear says a lot about you. Look in the mirror and make sure that you’re not just buying into a fad.