Beauty Or The Beast?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to ugg boots. The oversize-rounded shape and very flat sole truly is a cross between a bedroom slipper and a space boot, making it look clunky and out of the place on many wearers’ legs. Yet this does not detour people from flocking to them. The cozy inner lining that cushions the foot in warmth and softness so you don’t even need a sock, is combined with a very durable outside that provides a cozy nest that forms a barrier that works in the cold to keep your body heat in and also protect you from some of the elements. In warmer conditions, the sheepskin works to cool your feet. These factors, combined with the ruggedness of the boots, is enough to prompt even budget-conscious shoppers today to fork over the cash for one or more pairs. Further, the boots come in a range of neutral colors, as well as some newer fashion shades, in both lower and mid-length calf heights, allowing die-hard wearers to have enough to choices to wear a different pair every day of the week.

How Uggs Began

Australian ugg-style boots date back as far as about 200 years, but they didn’t really came to the forefront of the fashion scene until the 1970s when Australian surfers began buying uggs because of their practical properties. UGG® Australia boots are made of premium sheepskin that has been specially treated for extra softness. Since sheepskin is thermostatic, it regulates the body temperature and can keep the body comfortable even at 30 degrees below zero, according to some experts. It also breathes naturally, keeping moisture away from the body.

Recognizing these important benefits, an Australian surfer named Brian Smith brought a bag of Australian ugg boots with him to California and introduced American surfers to the style, sparking the new craze and supporting the creation of the ugh or UGG® Australia brand. In 1995, the brand was sold to Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which continued to develop and grow the product line, turning it into a luxury item. The company was able to convince Nordstrom to stock the line in the early 2000s, and in 2003, Footwear News named this “Brand of the Year,” causing interest in the boots to explode. The rest was history, as the ugly slipper shoe quickly became a regular sight on feet all across America.

Celebrities Who Wear

Further spurring the UGG® Australia trend is the wide range of high-profile names who wear the brand. Many fashion-forward celebrities are regularly photographed wearing uggs. Some of the most recognizable faces seen in these boots include Kate Moss, Britney Spears, Kate Hudson and Jennifer Aniston. In addition, Sarah Jessica Parker wore a custom-made red pair on a Sex and the City episode, while Oprah Winfrey endorsed the boots on her talk show and even put her money where her mouth is, buying pairs for all 350 of her staff members.

Beating The Odds

Even with the challenging economy and shoppers tightening their belts when it comes to spending money, many reports say that UGG® Australia sales continue to grow. Despite the boots’ reputation as a luxury item, most shoppers seem to feel these boots are a practical investment to make them worth the splurge. As a result, the brand has been expanding even as other luxury brands have been forced to pare down due to a sharp decrease in sales. But with the demand for Uggs remaining sky it, the company has recently opened additional shops throughout the UK, including a special shop inside Harrods Department Store, and in Ireland, and has also broadened out its line to include clogs, flip flops, other accessories, some high-end casual coats and even sheepskin rugs.