THE UGG DEBATE.

SHOULD THEY OR SHOULDN'T THEY?

Almost every office day I switch my heels after entering for my Uggs. Seriously, I haven't worn my own shoes for even 10 minutes. This is recent, because Jet and I recently received a large box containing a pair of Uggs for each of us AND the warmest gloves in the world. By the way, I'm missing one of them. I could cry. But I'm getting off track. The thing is, I always wear my Uggs with some caution. When people come by the office, I quickly put my own shoes back on, and at moments when photos can be taken, I always immediately switch back into my heels. My favorite office slippers have a serious image problem, and I hardly dare to say out loud that I even have them.

But now it seems that I don't have to be ashamed of them anymore because “the Ugg boot is back in the high-fashion fold.” With that the British Vogue recently headlined a plea for Uggs, and if Vogue says it, then it is so. Or not? Because for some people, the Ugg has never really gone away. For example, for Stefanie Bottelier, beauty and lifestyle editor for the Dutch ELLE, who has been wearing them all year round for years. “And I'm not some cowardly closet Ugg fan who only wears the boots at home with the lights off as a sort of guilty pleasure; I've been out and proud for years.” <-

really not that I'm going to stomp through in a chic pump

And I can confirm that. When I used to wander around the ELLE office and we would storm into the office cursing and swearing during the winter months after our toes had frozen during the 10-minute bike ride from home to work, Stefanie was happily sitting at her desk with warm feet. I am indeed such a cowardly closet Ugg fan. Reluctantly, I admit that I have them, but I always quickly add that I never wear them outside. As if that makes any difference.

I was thinking about why I am so panicky about the most hated boot. Because really, I am so in love with my office and home Uggs, why am I so ashamed of them? I think it comes from hearing for years that especially men have a huge dislike for them. For an article, I asked men which clothing item they find the worst on women, and they unanimously said: Uggs. Well, then you know. But then again, why do I actually care so much about what a man thinks of my footwear? Come on now.

So I'm in doubt. To wear them outside or not? It goes against all my principles, but the comfort is unmatched. Besides, in 20 days your editors are flying to New York where as we speak “the biggest snowstorm ever” is happening, really not that I'm going to stomp through in a chic pump. Let's agree that I can just wear them on the street in New York, and then I'll reconsider the Netherlands issue. To Ugg or not to Ugg, that's the question.