It’s that time of year again.

The green leaves are slowly making their transition to vibrant reds and yellows, the air is chill and crisp, and there is the sweet and glorious smell of a...pumpkin spice latte?

Woah woah woah – wait a minute. Where did all of these North Face jackets and Ugg boots come from? Ah yes, the change in season has prompted the return of the once rare, but now ever so common “Basic White Girl.” Crikey, Mate!

You’ve probably heard a narrative similar to the one above one too many times. While it isn't exactly Animal Planet and we aren’t exactly in the Australian Outback, the way that we label one another can often feel like species classification. And while it may be slightly humorous (I’m not going to lie, the Steve Erwin reference did make me chuckle) we tend to throw the word “basic” around without actually understanding the significant weight that it carries.

But first, I just want to toy with the idea that perhaps we can cut ourselves some slack for not realizing how ludicrous it is to label someone as “basic.” I mean, phonetically speaking, the word "basic" doesn’t have as harsh of a sound as words like “skank” or “slut,” and typically, the only times that people pull out these crude labels are when they are intentionally insulting someone. However, basic has other meanings and is often used in non-derogatory contexts, such as buying a “basic” tank top from Forever21 or having a “basic” substance when its pH is greater than seven.

Since our definition of basic is so loose, you may think that labeling someone as “basic” just means that they are unoriginal or mainstream. And while that definition is true to a certain extent, I just want to leave you with a couple of thoughts to store in the back of your brain for the next time that you choose to call a girl “basic.”

It's the new "safe" way of calling a girl a bimbo or a slut.

When a girl is wearing leggings, a North Face Jacket, and Uggs, are you actually calling her basic because she’s too “mainstream,” or is there a hidden insult behind your word choice? Basic hasn’t quite developed the recognizable gravitas compared to other female specific insults (slut, whore, b**ch, skank, bimbo, etc. It's kind of amazing how the list goes on and on) however, it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out that being labeled as "basic" isn’t exactly the same as being called "trendy."

I’d also like to point out that 99 percent of the time, “basic” is often coupled with the word “b**ch,” creating the ever so popular phrase “basic b**ch." If you couldn't figure it out already, this isn't a compliment.

Why are women the only ones who are labeled as "basic"?

Have you ever heard of a guy being called basic? Probably not. “Basic bro” doesn’t quite pack the same punch as “basic b**ch.” But perhaps the biggest reason why men don’t have a clever alliterative label is because nine out of 10 times they aren’t the ones being objectified! Wow! Our culture puts so much emphasis on how women physically appear that it's kind of a given that there would be some coined phrase to generalize all of the women wearing leggings and drinking pumpkin spice lattes.

But here is the thing: I'm not arguing that there should be a male equivalent of "basic b**ch." I'm just saying that I think it's interesting how men can wear jeans and a t-shirt every day and not get any crap, but the moment I throw on my North Face I'm "Soooo basic." No comprendo.

Why does it even matter?

Did it ever occur to you that maybe I like to wear Uggs because they're warm and comfortable? Did it ever occur to you that maybe I like to drink pumpkin spice lattes because I think they taste good? And whether girls are dressing in North Face parkas because they think they're trendy, or they just genuinely like wearing leggings as pants, it doesn't f**king matter. Why can't I do any of these things without being stereotyped as a "basic b**ch"? Sigh.

So, before you go ridiculing the girl that fits your criteria of "basic," just remember that she is much more than a pair of Ugg boots and leggings.

In the meantime, I'll just be sitting over here enjoying my Starbucks and hanging in some yoga pants for two reasons:

1. I'm in the mood for a pumpkin spice latte.

2. This is so f**king comfortable.