These are like Howard Stern - Ugg-ly but loved by women anyway
Written: Nov 22 '05 (Updated Jan 09 '06)
Product Rating:
Pros: Fashionable, all weather, can be worn without socks, mold to your feet
Cons: Expensive and sort of UGG-ly
The Bottom Line: All the rage with celebrities for good reason. They're all weather, comfortable boots that feel great and can be worn with anything. They're not sleek or pretty, but they're Uggs!
PattyTherre's Full Review: UGG Australia Classic Short Boots for Women
I am going to share a secret with you. I didn’t buy my Classic Short Ugg Boots because they were practical. Or warm. Or on sale. Or because I needed them. I bought them because everywhere I looked celebrities were wearing them. They wore them with shorts, with skirts, with jeans, even bathing suits! It was Ugg this and Ugg that. And I caved and bought a pair. Ugg. They’re pretty ugg-ly. But they are amazingly comfortable.
The Official Word
This is a bit about the Ugg Boots from www.rei.com:
A long-time favorite of surfers and skiers alike, these offer sublime UGG comfort in both warm and cold climates.
• Soft 100% sheepskin fleece wicks moisture away, keeping feet dry and comfortable
• Sheepskin fleece is naturally thermostatic, meaning it maintains body temperature no matter what the outside temperature
• Stitch-out construction increases durability
• Lightweight rubber/EVA outsoles provide cushioning and traction
• Designed to be worn without socks; fit should be snug, as sheepskin will stretch and conform to the shape of your feet
• Available in full sizes only; half sizes should order next smaller size
I didn’t even know that they were made to be worn in all types of weather until I read that above. No wonder the celebs wear them with bathing suits. It makes them seem ever so slightly less strange now.
My Experience
I bought my Uggs in mid 2004 when they were all the rage. I had a bunch of color choices but went with classic tan because … well … everyone else was. (Oh I sound shallow, I know.). At first I considered “Ugg look-alikes” but I wanted to try the real thing. A friend of mine who lives in Australia where these boots are supposedly made (Ugg is an Autralian company but the boots are made in China I found out later) convinced me that there are Uggs and there are all the fakers out there and nothing compares with the real thing.
So I shelled out way too much money for boots that aren’t sleek, pretty, classy, or needed.
When I got them, I tore open the box and tried them on without socks. I had ordered size 8 which is my usual size and they were too big. Bummer. I later found out you should order a size down in Uggs so they fit very snugly and conform to your feet. I exchanged for a size 7 and they felt awesome. When I put the boots on, they felt amazing. I could see why so many people were choosing comfort over looks.
The boot is made of soft sheepskin with a rubber ridged bottom and sheepskin fleece inside. I am not a fan of fleece in general because usually it makes my feet too warm unless I am in very cold temperatures. But this fleece didn’t do that. It is the strangest thing. These boots know what the weather is and sort of adjust like a thermostat to your body temperature.
The stitching and soles are durable and the whole boot is very well constructed. These boots can be worn straight up or cuffed. I cuff mine because, well, you know why. Everyone else does! I sometimes wear them with the cuff up if I am wearing pants over them though. Either way they hug my calves and feel soft and comfortable.
The boot is lightweight. They look heavy but they aren’t. They don’t feel like you have a heavy duty all weather boot on. They actually feel like slippers only they’re less floppy. These boots are meant to conform to each person’s individual feet and fit snugly, but not tightly. It took me about five wearings before I started to feel like these boots were exclusively mine as compared to just a pair of boots I pulled from a shelf in a shoe store. With each wearing, the boots seem to take on the shape of my feet more and more. Now, no one else could wear them because they are truly only for me.
As far as warmth goes, these are. I wore them last winter in the snow (with socks although they say you don’t need to wear socks with them) and my feet stayed quite warm. I did waterproof them well before wearing them in the elements and they didn’t leak or cause my feet to get wet even in the rain. However, I stayed away from mud and other really wet or dirty areas because these boots cost too much to be stained and ruined. Waterproofing well and cleaning them as often as needed will extend the life of these boots by a lot.
In the warmer weather, I wore them without socks and they were not too warm that they made me uncomfortable. I never went so far as to wear them with a bathing suit (Even I have my standards!) or even in the summertime although I could have. I just didn’t see the sense in wearing sheepskin boots in 80-degree weather. Still, had I wanted to make a fashion statement, I could have without suffering sweating, overheated feet.
Since I bought these, I have tried on loads of Ugg look-alikes. None are anywhere near as comfortable and none are made to be worn all year round. Sure, they’re cheaper, but the real things are just that. The real things.
I admit, I don’t think these boots are too pretty. They’re sort of the ugly ducklings of the boot world. But, in time, they grew on me and I felt much less like some copycat wanna be celebrity and much more like I was wearing a comfortable, warm, very well made pair of boots. And that I am as cool as Britney even if I am old enough to be her mother. Ha!
Buying Info
Uggs are all over the net. I got mine at www.rei.com for the painful price of $120.00. They come in a variety of colors including two shades of tan (Chestnut and Sand) as well as pastels (which are slightly less expensive usually). Comparison shop because you can find sales and specials on these boots as their popularity slightly dips and those furry boots start to take the place of Uggs. And no, I will NOT be buying a pair of furry boots anytime soon. My days of novelty celebrity stuff are over. (Don’t you just know you’ll see a review for the furry boots written by me at some point? Haha. It’s a disease. If I see things too often, I must own them.)
I am sure Uggs are sold at good brick and mortar shoe stores and department stores as well.
Conclusion
Rarely, if ever, would I consider spending $120.00 on Ugg-ly boots but I am glad I did this time. These boots are more than just slippers turned outerwear. They’re made incredibly well, they’re very comfortable, and they can worn year round. They’re fashionable and they’re versatile. You can wear tem with just about anything and still be politically correct.
Ugg boots didn’t start out as a faddish boot. They were made for sport enthusiasts who wanted year round wearability, comfort, and stability. These boots are very lightweight and super comfortable. They go from warm to cold weather with no problem. I like that I can wear them outside on a freezing cold day then keep them on inside without overheating. These boots remind me of those glasses that get darker in the sun then change back to clear in darker environments. They really mean it when they say they are all weather boots.
Buy them for the fashion statement they make but wear them for the comfort and personalization you get from them. They mold to your feet and feel so good. No, they’re not pretty, but you’ll love them for everything else they are. Just remember to waterproof them well and often and keep them clean. They should last you a good long time with proper care. Remember though, if you're a half size, order down. I ordered a full size down and they fit fine so be mindful that real Uggs run big.
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