UG BOOTS / Happy Australia Day
The Hairy Shall Inherit the Ug
Originally uploaded by Oblivia.
On this auspicous occasion known as Australia Day, I would like to express how very proud I am of what must now be known as our National Footwear - the UG BOOT. Now, when we travel overseas we are going to have to explain this one away too alongside Paul Hogan, PM John Howard and Steve Irwin. Do people realise "ug" is short for "ugly"?!
Yes, this seasons' must-have-take-the-world-by-storm is actually the secret shame of many of an Aussie who will absolutely not(!) be seen wearing them outside the corridor between the kitchen, bath and bedroom because they are as ugly as they are FUGLY!
They are warm, admittedly, and quite soft but utterly lacking...in...in....style. When Marx spoke of the "lumpen" proletariat, surely he pictured them in ug boots. They are and remain in my heart the preserve of the bogan (a Victorian term I prefer to the New South Walesianism Westie). The following is from Save the Bogan:
Both males and females have been known to cover their lower hind-limbs with furry pouches called "ug-boots." While the wild population of Bogans is dwindling, it is still possible to view them in their natural environment. The species has been known to congregate around regional "shopping malls", where family units often come to settle domestic issues using high-pitched wailing sounds.
What do you expect from a trend spear-headed by Pamela Anderson?
posted by Oblivia @ 10:32 PM
14 Comments:
Oh no...The virus has spread to Europe too? Jeez. The irony of it is that their function belongs to colder climes but their form leaves much to be desired.
HA HA HA HA HA HA! Can you imagine those in clubs in Sydney??? P-U!!!
Quite true about the personal freshness issue. I heard some lore that said it started in the outback....Don't know if thats true.
The ug boot has definitely reached europe. You can't go anywhere in germany without seeing girls in ug boots - even in clubs. Shops sell them from 10 € (!) to 120 € (the original one). Most seen colours are rose and baby blue.
What about the boys in australia? Do they wear them, too?
When I started snowboarding 16 years ago, several big-name pro snowboarders were sponsored by Ugg boots (http://www.uggaustralia.com/), and they (Ugg) used to regularly have ads in all the major snowboarding magazines. Outside of snowboarding (and surfing) though, that type of boot (not just the Ugg brand) was non-existant. Today, Ugg and piles of other copycat brands are everywhere.
Funny how skateboarding, snowboarding, sports oppressed by the mainstream population and media for decades until recently, seem to frequently be ahead of (dare I also say be the root of?) many urban fashion trends, no?
Some examples, past and present (in no particular chronological order): cargo pants, beanies anytime of the year, the skate shoe (Airwalk, Vans, Etnies, etc.), trucker hats, Ugg boots, baggy pants, chain wallets, etc...
There you to be a time not so long ago when someone dressed like a skateboarder or snowboarder was one. Not anymore.
On the other hand, I'm relieved to say that the horrible fashion of untucked, collar-up, ugly-pattern, half-unbuttoned dress shirt + tight jeans + fruity soccer-style shoes which every second arse-hole guy wears out to clubs and bars these days did NOT originate from skating or snowboarding.
Blame that metrosexual Dick Clark-wannabe Ryan Seacrest for that one.
Did I just go on a rant? I think so! Sorry about that...
Blame it on the Ugg boots.
Splurge
http://splurge.blogs.com
Oops, major typo in my previous post:
Paragraph 2, before-last line says “There you to be a time...“.
It should say “There USED to be a time...“.
How'd I manage that one?!
(blushing)
Splurge.
Hmmmm. Splurge, though I agree with you broadly speaking on the skate fashion contagion, I think the current obsession with ug boots has a lot more to do with the current climate of celebrity, unfortunately...
I agree, but as far as snowboarders are concerned, the revival of the Ugg boot is "Been there / Did that 15 years ago."
P.S. I might be wrong, but it seems the current Ugg boot demography is women. Back in the day, many MALE pro snowboarders were sporting them. Today, I have yet to see any dudes (celebs or other) kicking around in them. I think that's a good thing, really.
Splurge.
Splurge: there are few people who could boast having "been there, done that - 15 years ago". It is very much a female thing this time around whereas, growing up, it was practically unisex but perhaps skewed toward the men. You used to buy these things at K-Mart.
Iso G: Thanks for the shoe reconnaissance. I chose the side I'm battling on back in November with a purchase of pointy black shoes with a kitten heel. Go Wicked Witch Shoes!!! (Perhaps this needs a photo?)
Keira Jackson, ha ha ha! I have this image of Maggie Alderson desperately trying to get him for an interview sight unseen. YIKES!!!
(For the uninitiated, KJ was Head "bogan" at our highschool and MA is a journalist/socialite whom I loathe and envy.)
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Wow, those boots have a name AND a history? At least one in three girls in Korea has a pair of those boots this season...
Hey Anninator! If you could oblige us with a photo that would be great. Shouldn't be too hard seeing as 1 in 3 Korean girls seem to be wearing these shoes!
I went up to Seoul recently, and as it's a little colder there, lotsa girls were still wearing Uggs. I suck at action shots, but I did get this one of some still for sale.
i think you all have no fashion sense because ug boots are really trendy and fashionable and everybody is wearing them.
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