To Ugg or not to Ugg: That is the question

via www.jimmychoo.com

It is that time of year again when the clocks go back and you find the night time closing in on you as you just about finish off your lunch.  One is surrounded by such miserable weather that conjours up joyless sensations of damp and chill.  I am particularly agrieved this year because I have found myself longing for comfortable cosy footwear (as opposed to uncomfortable glamorous impractical footwear, like the gorgeous Alexander McQueen Buckled Shearling Ankle Boots pictured below).  I need these to help me conquer the elements whilst I am about pounding the pavements of  the urban jungle dealing with the minutia of everyday life.  The current fashion for riding boots and wellingtons doesn't quite cut the grain here.  This need for comfort is not a very youthful sign but I am afraid good sensibility is now in residence within me. I am however resolved to marry fashionableness and function in my pursuit.  And so the challenge is shoe shopping for practical reasons without losing my sense of fun and aesteicism. 

 

Recently I received Jimmy Choo's usual mass e -news letter, swiftly followed by their postcard through the letter box announcing the arrival of the latest footwear. It is the love child resulting from Jimmy Choo's collaboration with UGG (one from the collection pictured at the top).  I am still pondering what to make of it!  The original Ugg Boot, despite its rather unfetching appearance has recruited itself dedicated followers accross the globe, I am yet to join in the Ugg revolution but if any one can convert me, it would be Jimmy Choo.  I admit that in its commonly known and original guise, it is one form of footwear which seems to have endured  swift changing fashion trends but I have always deemed them to be simply as ugg-ly as the name suggests.  Having been pimped up by the glamour that Jimmy Choo is renowned for, it certainly fits the bill for my comfy footwear quest.    

To try to understand the Ugg Boot craze,  a while back, I took to interviewing random stangers in the street or in the supermarket checkout queue.  Asking, are they comfortable? Are they good in the rain? Are they durable?  By and large the feedback was that the UGG brand of the Ugg Boots were super cosy albeit that they did not like the rain and rather dangerously, they became ice skates in the sleet or snow.  So the summary from my "very detailed and scientific" straw poll was that the boots are not quite suitable for the British weather and would be better served as indoor boots.  I am sure there will be those who disagree with me and I welcome any corrections from seasoned UGG fans.

Well, I have been shopped around since Jimmy Choo's near successful attempt to ensconce me in the uggg-ly fashion trend.  The Celtic Sheepskin Company is a great find.  Interestingly, the website explains the origins of the Ugg boot and how it came about. The Celtic Sheepskin comany where also  the original producers of what is now the massive brand UGG  (http://www.celtic-sheepskin.co.uk/about-us/ugg-boots/).  Anyway, much more importantly, the Celtic Sheep Skin company have actually succeeded in making the Ugg Boot very appealing to me (see picutre of their Ribbon Boot below). The general concensus is that they are better made and the soles are quite thick.  I think I may have found my comfortable cosy footwear and seeing that for the price of one pair of Jimmy Choo UGG boots, I can get four from the Celtic Sheep Company. My mind is rather made up already.

 So I am considering the Popper Boots below or these Ribbon Boots. I shall report back on their appearance,cosiness and comfort factor in due course.  

 

 
 

Comments

[Aineakho]

Ugg's - I too have struggled with this trend. The most recognizable profile (pictured above) with the rubber sole just seem to me like an indoor shoe. I too have heard that they are super comfortable and I personally would go for their more fashionable styles that have a bit of a heel or contour to the profile. The thought of walking around with damp bread loaves on my feet is like a bad dream. The Jimmy Choo Siobhan is the only style I would consider in the collection because the cashmere blend cable knit gives them a nicer profile but then again would they survive the rain? At $500 a pop, I pause and consider the wedge heel Leona.

http://www.uggaustralia.com/ugg-and-jimmy-choo/productDetails_jc.aspx?gID=w&productID=3046&model=Siobhan.

[Omonelove]

LOL! "...damp bread loaves...". I think you've acurately described my feelings too! I've checked out the Leona boots too but I'm wanting my feet/ankles to be snuggled in sheepskin. Please give the feedback when you've tried the Leona boots on, they might be more snuggly than I give credit for.

[Vickii Onabolu]

I felt exactly the same about Uggs but slowly, over a couple of years, I must have seen so many pairs that I became immune to their ugliness ... and so I bought my first pair and I've never looked back! My friend describes it best when she says 'They're like slipping your feet into warm fluffy clouds' :D

You both have to review whichever pair of boots you end up with please!