Looking back at old photos, the one truth that holds constant in my younger years is that I was always wearing a pair of UGG boots. My favorite pair was a chestnut-colored boot with two satin bows fastened on the back. In my eyes, I had achieved the ultimate junction of comfort and style. Although I can’t pinpoint a precise moment, as time went on, I grew out of my loyalty to the boots that were characteristic of my childhood. Besides the slippers I now wear around my house and dorm at school, I haven’t worn a pair of UGGs since elementary school. I had assumed it was an era of the past, one that my friends and I would reminisce about in the future as we laugh about the items that seemed to have universally defined a girl’s childhood – until recently.
This season, UGG boots made their way back to the forefront of current fashion trends. It all began when celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski were spotted wearing a new, shorter, version of the “classic” style. Complete with a platform sole, the Classic Ultra Mini Platform is completely sold out in all three colors available. A similar version to the viral boot, the Classic Ultra Mini, is available in scarcity on the website, but with the holiday season around the corner, is likely to sell out soon as well. A number of vendors have taken to third party websites like eBay, StockX, and Amazon, marking up prices considerably. Alternatively, some customers have resorted to dupes and lookalikes to avoid steep pricing.
Almost every Christmas list I have yet to lay eyes on reserves a seat for the $150 boot. TikTok follows the same pattern, as my for you page is flooded with content and I’ve received limitless DM’s from friends about the UGGs. Simply put, the shoes have taken the market by storm and I completely understand why. The brand itself tugs at the heartstrings of my younger self, while still catering to a modern look. The seemingly endless trudge up the ELC hill from my dorm to classes against the wind has me looking for a solution to my ankles getting cold, and this boot might just be it. I’m left with the internal debate of whether I seal the deal and make the purchase, or if the boots will turn into a fad. While I know which direction I’m leaning, the real question may lie in if the shoe is still available by the time I make it to the website.