They come in black and in white, with spots and with stripes. They come in short and in tall, in winter and the fall. With skirts and with stockings, Uggs are a fashion most definitely worth rocking.
Like leg warmers of the ’80s or LA Gear light-ups of the ’90s, Uggs are a stylish force rapidly engulfing the fashion world today.
But where did it all start? Uggs can trace their beginnings back to Australia and New Zealand during World War I when pilots needed light but insulated boots to stay warm in the high altitudes.
From heroic pilots to fashion divas, these boots have made their impact well known in Harrisonburg as well as around the globe.
As more than 60 percent of JMU’s enrollment is female, this movement has become a trendy way of life right in front of our very own eyes.
I have researched this craze, and when I ask to see if you ladies own a pair of Uggs the overwhelming response was, “A pair of Uggs? I have a pair for each day of the week, sweetheart.”
Considering I can’t walk from the Quad to D-Hall without seeing at least five different women sporting this trend I have to believe that they are all telling the truth.
Now let me set this straight, contrary to popular belief, I am not a fashion guru. I am just a strong supporter and an admirer of the Uggs-wearing movement.
However, I have come to realize that the majority of my fellow men here do not see eye to eye with me, who call Uggs trashy, annoying and ridiculous, and even chant “u-g-g-l-y you ain’t got no alibi.” Guys, put aside the pride and jump on the bandwagon now! By no means am I telling you to buy a pair of zebra patterned boots with the little furry balls (in fact, don’t ever do that) but just pretend that you like Uggs. At the very least it will give you a conversation topic.
If the girls here love them so much then it is safe to say that Uggs are officially a part of our every day life.
Uggs are a realization we all must face together. Like ’em, love ’em, or hate ’em, Uggs are here to turn the fashion world upside down.
Who knows if this trend will disperse, but as long as they are on Oprah’s list of favorite things or here at JMU we might as well jump on the bandwagon and say we like them too!
Sean Youngberg is a sophomore SMAD major.
What I’ve never understood about Ugg boots is why anyone would want to wear a fashion accessory that sounds like a dramatic sigh.
These sheep skin shoes not only provide less-than-aesthetically-pleasing foot apparel but also contribute to the mindless killing of animals in order to supply the latest ugg-ly trend. Unless you’re some kind of Eskimo who use Uggs for hiking in the snow or walking around your igloo (at least you will use all of the leftover parts of the animal resourcefully), chances are you may suffer from a severe case of wearing Uggs not for the sake of practicality but for “fashion.”
Although I personally detest the sight of Uggs, I understand many people find them to be useful in the winter because of their interior wool lining, which provides toes with some extra relief from the cold. I would argue that many boots (sadly often the ones that are the most comfortable and provide the most amount of heat) are not necessarily the most chic, rendering fashion victims helpless.
However, in the case of the Australian-originated Ugg boots, if so many women make this expensive purchase to provide warmth and comfort for their feet during the winter, why do these tan hides suddenly reappear along with the first buds of spring? Seeing a woman walk by with a tiny piece of denim wrapped around her waist and aclunky pair of Uggs on her feet always confuses me. Wouldn’t a pair of flip-flops or some sort of sandal be more weather-appropriate if the snow has melted and the birds have flown back north?
Normally I find I don’t have much in common with Pamela Anderson, and I lack the desire to run in slow-motion on a beach. However, after realizing that the Ugg boots which graced her feet during the duration of her “Baywatch” days were responsible not only for setting off the trend but also for the cold-blooded deaths of animals, she has admirably started a campaign against Ugg boots, starting by throwing away her own pair.
“I feel so guilty…never realizing that they were skin,” Anderson wrote on her Web site. Rest assured Ms. Anderson—I’m positive the entire JMU population has worn more skin on its feet than you showed throughout your entire “Baywatch” career.
Sarah Delia is a junior English and art history major.
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