UGG Boots Blog

Archive for May, 2009

I was watching “You, Me, and Dupree” last night and noticed that Kate Hudson was shown in several scenes sporting some Cluggettes in Chestnut. She also wears UGG boots in Raising Helen (they’re on the movie poster even!) and has been seen wearing the Cardy in Grey on the set of a movie she’s currently filming in New York. Anyone out there have a celebrity UGG spotting that you would like to share?

I love shoes. For years my dad blamed this peculiar love on Sex and the City and our materialistic culture. This may very well be true…but I just don’t care. All I know is when Vogue lands on my doorstep and I look at the beautiful footwear creations inside, a particular part of me finds great peace. Call me shallow if you will, I prefer to think of it as one more thing that makes me happy.

Shoes are important. To everyone. You may be searching for that cheap but sturdy pair to last you for every outfit for the next decade. You may be looking for a glamorous splurge to treat your feet to a night out of fabulousness and toe cramping. Or, you may have just found that love-at-first-sight pair; you know, the ones you’ve been dreaming of your whole life, that fit like a dream and cost more than your car.

Basically, you need shoes. For some people, you just need the basics: work and play. But there are some of us who need shoes for work, play, casual, fancy, high, low, moderate, eccentric, and in every color under the sun. (You know who you are.) Regardless of your level of shoe obsession, we can all agree that you need shoes to wear every day.

As a shoe lover, I accept it as my duty to learn about shoes. Although this may be a lifelong quest, I am steadily adding to my repertoire of fashion awareness. The first rule seems to be that for every item you find beautiful, someone else will think you are crazy. Most “It” items have been equally loved and ridiculed: cargo pants, wedge heels, and really, animal print anything.

Fashion is about beauty and personal aesthetic, creating a look that speaks to how you want to present yourself to the world, for whatever occasion. So, let’s grab the proverbial sheep by the tail and take a gander at the controversial UGG.

UGG boots and slippers are wonderful. I will not deny that the classic style is pretty darn plain looking, and that it looks a little illogical to pair fleece boots with a skirt. Of course, then I tried it and it was so comfortable that I had to stop judging. (All right, if you’ve got a mini skirt the size of a postcard, I’ll still judge a little.) I will say it is nice to have boots that keep your toes warm when you’re sick of wearing long pants and really want a cute skirt.

I’ve read many articles both praising and bashing UGG. One of the arguments I’ve come across is that most of the UGG styles lack sufficient arch support. This is true. On the other hand, so do most shoes. Look at the effortlessly simple and popular Converse; there’s not a stitch of arch support in those babies. In my opinion, the benefits of the UGG boot outweighs this paltry criticism. They were never advertised as a hiking boot, but as comfort and luxury in shoe form. It’s just a bonus that many of the styles have removable foot beds if you should need an arch support insert. I wanted a pair of boots that I could wear with whatever I wanted, and I wanted a slightly different style so I went for the UGG Swell Tall. I needed the extra arch support so I ditched my coffee habit for a week and bought a pair of arch support inserts. Easy as pie, and the shallow part of me is proud owner of a pair of ever so famous UGG Australia boots. I love them, and everyone I work with can attest that I wore those boots almost every day since purchasing them.

Now, I know that everyone is selling something, so of course I’ll say that UGG Australia makes a superior boot. Well, I’m saying it because it’s pretty much true. They keep you warm when you need it, and help your body temperature regulate if you need to cool off a little. With high quality grade-A fleece, you know those sheep went to Harvard. For those of us watching our pocket books these days, it’s a comfort to know that UGG Australia footwear will last for ages, definitely longer than any Kmart knock off. There is a wide array of styles to choose from, and isn’t variety the spice of life? So what do UGG naysayers really have to say: the UGG Classic is too simple? Oh, how horrible.

Ah yes, the classic argument… Are UGG boots fashionable and comfortable or unfeminine and ugly? While very few people would argue that the Classic UGG boot is a piece of artful, beautiful footwear, most that have had an UGG on their foot would agree that they are comfortable. The debate seems to stem more from the fact that as with any other popular thing, some people just prefer to go against the flow. This seems to be especially true when the “flow” is a lot of tanned, blond, beach babes. That said, regardless of how much you may or may not like UGG or the people that wear UGG, this is a trend that does not seem to be going away any time soon. This is becoming more and more obvious in the fashion meccas of the world and the clientele that UGG has been attracting in the last few years. While a lot of the reason that some people wear UGG (the trendiness and brand name), there are a lot of others that wear them simply for comfort and maybe a little for the look as well. There really are a lot of reasons to love UGG and I suppose just as many not to as well. Personally I am of the mind that UGG boots are cute (even if in a “so ugly it’s cute” kind of way) and I proudly wear mine frequently. What do you think? Are you pro or con UGG? What do you think of the classic Cali mini skirt and Classic Tall? Make a comment and we can debate it right here in the comments!

Read our article: UGG Boots From Fad to Fashion

Fall 2008 has come and gone and we are well on our way to the warm summer months. In the shoe business this means that we’re already looking at Fall/Winter 2009. So, I thought we could take a look again at the new styles that were offered in 2008 in anticipation of what is to come from UGG Australia this Fall.

We had originally touted the Belfair as the go to boot for rainy climates, people did not respond as we thought they might. In my humble opinion, I think they are cute but I do have a notoriously funky taste in footwear. Same goes for the Goldeneye, Magpie, and Duclair. Anyone out there own any of these or have thoughts on why this style may not have been as popular?

Next on our list is the Elijo. This style definitely made it into many a footwear collection in the colder months, some folks are probably still wearing them. That smooth leather foot bed is very appealing to those in warmer climates as are the other members of the Surf Collection such as the Kohala, Cove, Swell, Swell Tall, and Kona.

The Metropolitan Collection did well as always, people love that classic look with a little extra detailing! Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Nolita. We are just not feeling the love for these extra spendy and coutourish boots. I think that UGG fans just love the simplicity of the Classic and don’t really want to add stacked leather heels to that equation. I think that these boots are beautiful but my feet scream at the height of that heel! The Soho Collection was also not as popular as we may have liked it to be. I think that the same goes for these, people are just more interested in the Classic UGG look.

As is par for UGG in the Fall and Winter, slippers are a big hit! Men and women alike LOVE their UGG slippers and this year has been no exception save perhaps the Coquette in Camo. Why wouldn’t you be into something a little more fun if you’re not leaving the house in them anyway? UGG fans are busted on this one, you folks are totally wearing your slippers out of the house! I’ll admit, it’s difficult to take your comfy toes out of your slippers at the door and I’m guilty of wearing my slippers to the grocery store too. It’s just too comfy! Even my rugged outdoorsman of a dad has been caught out and about in his Tasmans, he even has one pair “for town” and one for wearing around the house!

Speaking of mens UGG, men made their voices clear this season and bought up some of our more masculine looking boots and slippers for their shoe wardrobe. The Surf Collection has been great for the guy that doesn’t want shearling between his toes all day and the Chesterfield is a great look for the guy that wants something a little more rugged. Maybe I should get my dad a pair?

Last but definitely not least on our list of UGG footwear for Fall/Winter 08/09 is of course the Classic Collection. The people have been heard again and again, you LOVE your Classics, especially in Chestnut and Chocolate! The same goes for any variation including the Baroque, these were snatched up quickly! As we look forward to another season of boot weather coming up, one thing is certain- the Classic Ugg is a boot that has a loyal fanbase and for good reason! We all love warm and comfy feet! Anyone out there have comments? Please feel free to give us your opinion on what you thought of the UGG collection for last winter. What are you looking forward to for Fall/Winter 09/10?

Read our article: New UGG Styles 2008

For April Fool’s Day this year, I decided to research famous pranks.  My favorite prank I came across was from 1996 when Taco Bell announced that they bought the Liberty Bell and were going to rename it the “Taco Liberty Bell.”  People were aghast to say the least, arguing that the prank itself desecrated the dignity of a national symbol.  Instead of apologizing, Taco Bell responded that some people shouldn’t get their panties in a wad over a joke, and the fast food perpetrator subsequently donated $50,000 for the upkeep of the monument.  What does this have to do with Oprah and UGG?  Nothing.  But it does bring me to my second favorite prank…

I once stumbled across an article claiming that Oprah recently patented the letter ‘O.’  It went on to say that any published material which had any words containing the letter ‘o’ had to pay Oprah royalties for each time the letter was used.

Like the Taco Liberty Bell spoof, this prank is funny because it’s almost believable.  For the past few years, the “O” factor has taken on mythic proportions: Oprah Winfrey wields nothing short of Midas’ touch; anything she touches, mentions, glances at…heck, anything Oprah burps on turns to gold. Obscure authors skyrocket to the bestseller list via her book club. Oprah shuffles through a marathon, creeping along like molasses, and suddenly the athletic world is confronted with the largest women’s running boom in history. And, of course, Oprah mentions UGG as one of her “favorite things” and ABRA CADABRA CALAMAZOO, everyone and their little sisters are wearing the baked-potato look-alike boots.

Naturally, the whole everything-I-touch-turns-to-gold thing did not bode too well for Midas since he could no longer eat, and he accidentally turned his daughter into a statue. I sometimes wonder how Oprah is coping with her magic touch. She can’t really have intimate pleasures…if she likes something then so does the whole world, and we all know too well that the loneliest place is smack in the middle of everything. But enough sympathy for Oprah. I’m sure she can afford the best therapist and life coach that the world has to offer. The real question is: did Oprah make UGG too trendy?

And the answer is a resounding: NO! And you can quote that straight from the UGGadillo’s mouth. The thing about trends is that trends burn brightly then slowly fade away. Slap bracelets, trolls, New Kids on the Block, perms—I’ve fallen victim to the worst of popular trends.

The difference between a trend and a good product is that when a trend is no longer this season’s hot ticket, people hide it in the back of their closets because it was never useful in the first place. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who crashed a bicycle when their bellbottoms got caught in the chain.

But my UGG boots are a far cry from a useless fashion accessory. They’re luxuriously soft. They provide a pampering warmth in the winter. In the summer the sheepskin wicks away moisture, keeping me cool and dry after a day at the beach. They go with everything.

UGG boots are the new blue jeans. A timeless, functional and necessary staple in everyone’s wardrobe. So don’t wear those UGG boots because Oprah said so, wear them because you say so.

Read our article: The Oprah’s Favorite UGG

I’ve heard over and over how you can wear your UGG® boots in warm temperatures (up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and they will keep your feet cool. Personally, the thought of donning my clunky, chunky, UGG® boots in warm summery weather is not appealing. In my opinion, warm spring and summer months means it is time to minimize coverage; not saying that I belong to a nudist colony or run around barefoot, but that my footwear and clothing become scarcer. I love to sport my bare toes in a strappy pair of sandals yet miss the fluffy comfort of my UGG® boots. What could I possibly wear to get the best of both worlds?

The article ‘UGG® Makes Sandals’ highlights the answer to this perilous predicament. This piece of writing does a great job of showcasing the reasoning behind UGG®’s fantastic line of summer footwear. Not only does it explain the theory behind the sandals, but also does a fabulous job of exploiting the feeling you get when you wear genuine UGG® sandals; how simply wearing these sandals can allow your mind to travel to exotic destinations and make you feel so very good! All of these styles have the essence of UGG®’s signature sheepskin feel without the bulkiness of clunky boots. In my personal experience, these styles run just a tad narrow, so size up if you have a wider foot. Welcome summer with light airy UGG® sandals!

Read our article: UGG Makes Sandals?

UGG Australia slipper’s are definitely appropriate to wear all year round. You will probably find yourself wearing them all day long hanging around the house since most styles can be worn indoors and outdoors. A great indoor/outdoor style is the Tasman or the Coquette since it has a thick rubber sole that can withstand the outdoors.

Once you put these slippers on in the morning you will find it hard to take them off and put on your work shoes since they are so comfortable and cozy! However, you will have something to look forward too when your feet begin to hurt from a long hard day at work.

One thing for sure is that you will be totally satisfied with any UGG slipper you purchase.

Read our article: UGG - Slippers For All Seasons

Men be not afraid to take back your boots! Why should you be out in the cold? These boots are made for walking, and hiking, camping, staying a nice controlled temperature no matter what the activity.
I was glad to read this article pointing out these were originally made for shepherds not for women in mini skirts.
If you are worried about looking too “feminine” in those ugly Classics, go for something more rugged and stylish such as the Hartsville or the Stowe. Or if you are still too nervous get yourself some slippers and just stay cozy at home. Seriously, why not enjoy the same warmth and comfort the women have been enjoying? Men take back your manhood!

Read our article: Mens UGG - All in the Boots That He Wears

The problem with fake UGG sites has grown somewhat worse since our article was first written.  The internet is an ever-shifting landscape and while UGG Australia has been attempting to pursue these crooked counterfeiters,  the amazing ease of today’s technology has so far allowed them create new websites almost as fast as the old ones are taken down.  Remember to beware of websites that use UGG in their domain name.  There are a lot of them popping up in Googles search results these days and not just in the ads.

Make no mistake you are taking your chances with these websites as they will surely sell you product of varying quality.  Some of the fakes we have seen are very close to a real UGG Australia boot, and others are probably not worth even the reduced price you pay.  We have yet to find a fake UGG though that uses real twin-faced shearling.  The best we have seen had low grade shearling and some sort of suede that had been sewn together to look like twin faced shearling.

Worse than poor quality counterfeits though, beware these sites for security reasons.  As I look through them from time to time I am always seeing unsecured pages asking for you name, address, and other personal information.  Usually these sites use paypal for your payment and as long as you are on paypal.com and it is a secure link you are probably safe, but these other unsecured pages you are putting your personal information into raise a red flag for sure.

Have you had a bad experience with one of these sites? Let us know, we would like to hear about it and raise awareness about the problem so that people don’t get ripped off.  If you have any questions we would be glad to reply to them as well.  Thanks for reading!

Read our article: UGG Boots Online Shopping Guide

The controversy of the UGG name is really interesting to read about. It makes sense that the Deckers Corporation would want to protect their interests and avoid confusion by copyrighting the term “UGG.” And yet it seems just as valid that Australian companies who have marketed and sold generic ugg boots for years might be a little upset to have to change their name.  The whole idea behind a copyright is to make sure no one can steal your product. The main frustration for UGG Australia and most internet retailers right now is the abundance of fake sites and counterfeit products.  So, until the copyright issue is clarified and fake Ugg companies dealt with, consumers should just be sure to double check their sources at www.uggaustralia.com where UGG Australia offers a full list  authorized retailers.  Any Questions?

Read our article: The History of UGG Boots