I have a confession to make. I’m in love. With my Uggs.
I know, I know. They’re hideous. They look like a cross between dinosaur and Snuffulupagus feet. If you split them down the middle, we’d all be walking around with camel toes. They’re also pretty impractical. You can’t wear them when it’s raining or snowing; waterproofing does little to protect your feet from the elements.
But the first time you put your foot into that glorious sheepskin, you’ll forget about their high-maintenance needs and rather unattractive exterior as you melt away to a far-off world where everything is warm, soft and comfortable.
I also love that I can be fashionable without even trying. I can oversleep and still be able to “look good” by simply throwing on a sweater, a pair of skinny jeans and my Uggs. Instant trendy outfit, zero effort. It’s the fashion equivalent of an Easy Mac dinner.
We often wear things that are less than flattering with the excuse of comfort. Bathrobes, sweatpants and Christmas sweaters come to mind. However, these things are rarely, if ever, seen on the likes of people like Sienna Miller and Eva Longoria. So why are Uggs so popular?
Comfort is often given as an excuse for wearing the abominations; just ask Erica Meyer.
“I wear knock-off Uggs and they’re so comfortable that I don’t care that they’re ugly,” Erica Meyer, a fourth-year MBA student, said.
When it comes to most fashion, women are often required by high fashion to wear 4-inch stilettos, tight, unbreathable clothes and suffer through countless painful processes in order to achieve “beauty.”
Maybe we finally decided to give ourselves a break. Maybe we all consciously made the decision to ignore Uggs’ hideous outer appearance and focus only on the softness and warmth they brings us. Much like we’ve all agreed to pretend that food eaten while walking has no calories.
But if comfort is the reason for their popularity, why haven’t we allowed other comfortable, yet hideous items of clothes to be the new “it” thing?
Maybe it’s their ease.
Binghamton is not a fashion capital. It’s weather isn’t very fashion friendly. Trekking to an 8:30 a.m. class through the snow from Hillside, Mountainview or some other far-off place is a daunting task. Having the knowledge that you can be both warm and not look like an extra in “Nanook of the North” makes getting out of bed much easier.
Sara Parrish, a sophomore management major, said she was against the boots at first.
“But my mom told me I needed boots to stay warm up here so I figured, why not,” Parish said. “I kinda of like them now. They’re not terrible.”
It all comes down to personal taste. For me, Uggs are a security blanket. They protect me from the harsh elements of Binghamton’s campus. They make me stylish when I’m too lazy to come up with an actual outfit. I own something that the ex Mrs. Brad Pitt owns!
F-ing A! I like them.
“I don’t really like them,” said Justin Cohen, a junior economics major. “Maybe it’s because every girl I see has them.”
Sorry, kid. Something tells me they’ll be around campus for a very long time.
Editor’s note: Crocs will never be OK, no matter how comfortable they are.