Here We Go Ugg-ain: The Comeback of UGGs and Why We Should Be Upset About it by Lauren Lake
We are about to be in an economic recession, Kim Kardashian is in the headlines, and matching sweats and UGGs are in fashion. What year do you think I'm talking about? 2008? Wrong. Its now, 2020.
This year has been a dumpster fire of chaos. There is a global pandemic, natural disasters, political mania, and horrifying racial injustice. Since all of these events have occurred, there has been a surge of new and borrowed clothing trends that are suitable for the stay-at-home attire that the pandemic caused. But, one of these trends is by far the worst thing I have ever laid my eyes upon. I am absolutely appalled by it. It is repulsive, sweaty, and downright UGGly—UGG boots.
During the 2000s, UGGs were the shoe to be wearing. They were seen at every red carpet event and in every elementary school classroom. They came in different lengths, styles, colors, and some even had bows and rhinestones on them. But, no amount of sparkly rhinestone crap can make these shoes cute. They’re called UGGs for a reason (because they are ugly). Not to mention, they make your feet sweat, they get ruined in the rain and they are not environmentally friendly.
Our society soon realized our faux pas though, and UGGs respectfully retired into a bedroom slipper. This was fine. Not ideal, but acceptable. UGGs had found their lane. Recently, UGGs have become a rowdy teen on a learner’s permit swerving all around the highway. The pandemic has made as all invest in some comfy attire for around the house, one of these items being a cute pair of slippers.
The pandemic has made as all invest in some comfy attire for around the house, one of these items being a cute pair of slippers. And if one has purchased a pair of UGGs to wear around the house, I guess this is fine. But the problem is when these heinous shoes make their way into natural daylight. I was (and still am) in utter disbelief when I saw a pair on Rhianna’s feet as I was scrolling through Instagram. RiRi, a fashion icon, spotted with UGGs on??? I was shocked, in tears almost. How could we allow this to happen? I could go on and on about how vomit-inducing I find UGGs to be, but there is a bigger picture here. This is no longer about the sheer disgust of a certain type of footwear, it’s about the future of fashion as a whole.
Source: Pinterest
Rebecca Minkoff recently said that the future of fashion is going to revolve around comfort and the internet. While I am all for more comfortable articles of clothing, I am afraid that the artistry of clothing is at stake. As many of us (including myself), have tie dyed and bleached sweats, invested in more athleisure, and are wearing shoes like UGGs again (gag, could never be me), it frustrates me that there is no more originality in fashion. This could have been a time for designers to incorporate decorative masks and more creative clothing for everyday attire, but instead we have reverted back to the tired trend cycle of UGGs and matching sweat sets, reminiscent of velour track suits.
Not to mention UGGs has an UGGly track record with their business ethics and morals. The company has been in multiple controversies involving animal cruelty, because of the real wool they use to line the interior of the shoes.
In the past few years sustainability and animal rights have escalated in public interest, especially because of climate change. Perhaps instead of purchasing a pair of these sweaty, cruel, repulsive, over-glorified socks, we could purchase vegan footwear that has some artisanal and interesting element to them, even if we are just wearing them as house slippers.
The fashion industry has had 6 months of quarantine to get creative and cultivate some original, innovative ideas. However, designers have decided to have a Y2K revival instead. Some Y2K fashion is fun and creative to wear, but I wish there was more originality or an interesting twist to it. Was I expecting the age-old trend cycle to go away? No, that would be unrealistic. I am just simply disappointed and unimpressed with the designers of casual fashion, since they are the ones who decide our fashion culture.