the UGG-DEBate.

allowed or not?

I swap out my heels for Uggs almost every single work day. Seriously, I keep my own shoes on for like 10 minutes. But only since recently, because Jet and I received a gigantic box containing a pair of Uggs each plus the warmest gloves in the world. I lost one of them recently. Enough to make me cry. But I’m straying off the subject now. The things is, I wear with Uggs with caution. If someone comes by the office, I quickly put my shoes back on and if there are photos to be made, I always put my heels on. My favourite office slippers have a huge image problem and I barely had the courage to tell you that I have them.

But now it seems as if I don’t have to be so embarrassed because “the Ugg boot is back in the high-fashion fold.” Headliner in British Vogue as argument in favour of Uggs and if Vogue says it’s okay then it must be. Or not? For some people they have never been gone. For Stefanie Bottelier for example, beauty- and life style editor for Dutch ELLE, who has worn them for years through all seasons. “And I’m not one of those cowardly closet Ugg fans who only wear them at home with the lights out as a sort of guilty pleasure, I’ve been out and proud for years.”<-

And I certainly will not be teetering through it in a cute pump

And I can confirm it. When I still wandered the ELLE hallways, we would always arrive at the office swearing and cursing that our toes were frozen off during the 10 minute cycle from home to work, but Stephanie was perfectly happy enjoying toasty toes under her desk. I am one of those cowardly closet Ugg fans. I reluctantly admit that I have them, but always tell everyone that I never wear them outside of home. As if that matters.

I’ve been thinking about why these hated boots cause such panic in me. Because I truly love my office and home Uggs, so why am I so embarrassed? I think it comes from the years of hearing how much mean hate them. I once asked men their opinion for an article, about what item of clothing bothers them most on women and they unanimously voted: Uggs. So now you know. But then again, why do I actually care what men think of my shoe choice? Come on.

So I’m in doubt. To wear them outside or not? It goes against all my principles but their comfort is unrivalled. And moreover, the editors will be flying to New York in just 20 days, where the biggest snowstorm ever is happening. And I certainly will not be teetering through it in a cute pump. Let’s agree now that I can wear them on the streets of New York, and then I’ll tackle the Holland issue later. To Ugg or not to Ugg, that’s the question.