Throughout the 2000s, Ugg boots were known to be a fall and winter fashion staple, trending on Tumblr and Pinterest. People either loved them or hated them. Today, they have been seen paired with jeans and a long coat, sweats, or even shorts with a leather jacket. Uggs have been styled in various ways both dressed up and down.
The shoes have especially made a comeback in recent years, however they go further back into history than one may know about.
What exactly makes Uggs so appealing, sustaining their popularity for this long?
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The UGG brand was founded in 1978 by Brian Smith and Doug Jensen, two Australian surfers. This boot was originally worn by sheep shearers in the early 1920s to avoid using wool yolk, which would rot their ordinary boots.
Leading into the 2000’s, icons Kate Moss and Beyoncé were spotted wearing them, immediately causing them to sell out across the country. Uggs became a basic shoe that everyone wanted, as celebrities like Paris Hilton and Blake Lively were photographed by the paparazzi wearing them. In 2003, Oprah Winfrey featured Uggs on her show during the segment, “Oprah’s Favorite Things.” Similarly, this proved to be a great form of advertising for the brand.
Uggs are unlike many other trending shoes since the boots were specifically designed for comfort and to keep your feet warm in cold climates, not necessarily for fashion statements. It became such an overwhelming trend that in around 2011, many people collectively started to hate them. They were said to be ugly and serve no sense of style.
However, since the mid 2000’s, Ugg boots have made a comeback when modern-day celebrities and Tik Tok influencers started wearing them again. This past September, Bella Hadid was photographed by paparazzi wearing Ugg mini platforms, influencing the public enough to sell out the boots within days after the pictures were posted.
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The brand has expanded to many different styles of boots such as ultra mini boots, mini platform boots, midi boots, tall boots, slides, slippers, weather boots, and more.
Their products also include winter coats, socks, handbags, gloves, sandals, and house items like blankets, pillows, rugs, and towels.
Uggs are practical shoes that are comfortable, easy, and warm for cold weather. Regardless of appearance and levels of style, the boots serve their intended purpose and last a very long time.
Personally, Uggs bring a sense of nostalgia from my childhood and I heavily resonate with the shoe’s timeline. I was born in 2003, so Uggs were a huge trend when I was in middle school. Receiving a pair of Ugg boots for Christmas felt like a rite of passage and a luxurious gift, since they aren’t necessarily “affordable” boots. After receiving them, I wore the boots to school almost every day.
I vividly remember going through a phase where I hated Uggs along with everyone around me, so I stopped wearing them.
Then when I was in high school, I saw more boys wearing Ugg boots too, particularly the “neumel boots,” which are mini Uggs with laces. Now attending college, I see a diverse range of people wearing them on campus, styling them all uniquely.
Because of its popularity and controversy with style, Uggs are a highly opinionated trend that has stayed relevant for a long time. This leaves room for inquisition: will Uggs remain a timeless winter essential or will they go out of style again?
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