This is a public service announcement. Attention any man wearing skinny jeans. You need to go home right now and change into a pair of normal Levi’s. Men do not look good in skinny jeans. And if you wear a striped shirt with your skinny jeans, you look like you’re channeling Where’s Waldo.

While I’m trashing fashion trends, can  someone please explain the plague known as Crocs? The only people who look cute in Crocs are kids under five. Clogs in general are not flattering footwear people, and Clogs made of rubber are even less so.

I was out of town recently and saw a fashion trend that made me laugh. High school and college aged guys were wearing Bermuda shorts, T-shirts, sandals, and black knees socks. Black knee socks, that bears repeating because it’s so absurd. Were these outfits supposed to be ironic? Were they making fun of crabby old men across America who yell at kids to get off their lawn? I have no idea.

I’m not claiming to be fashion forward. My closet is full of jeans, capris, yoga pants and T-shirts. I own one dress and two black pencil skirts.  Given a choice, I would live my life in yoga pants.

I am amazed by the women who walk around every day in heels. I don’t know why or how they do it. I’m not sure it’s always appropriate, but I respect their ability to navigate the terrain of life on five-inch stilts.

When it comes down to it, you can wear whatever you want. When you write your characters, do you consider the clothes they wear? A woman in a sundress and cowboy boots is a different person than a woman in a strapless sequined gown. A man in an Armani suit would have a different personality than a guy wearing a pair of faded Levi’s, a T-shirt and motorcycle boots. You can use clothes to hint at your character’s personality, profession or lifestyle. It’s a way of showing rather than telling. So go ahead and dress your characters in dog fur covered sweaters or crisp white button down shirts. Just don’t dress your men in skinny jeans and Crocs.