Among all the stylistic scourges inflicted on us by winter and its hostile temperature, the irresistible invasion of UGG boots deserves a closer look, within reason. Even more than the popularity of puffer jackets, fleeces, balaclavas and the Sophie Scarf, the rise of these sheepskin-lined Australian boots says a lot about our times.
Indeed, anyone who has ever slipped on a pair of UGGs can attest to the strange pleasure the experience brings. (In the name of professionalism, the author of this column once gave them a try.) Completely lined with sheepskin, free from any fastening system and perched on an ultra-soft sole, UGGs are not just comfortable. They are incredibly squishy.
That is the real issue. The wild success of these boots, created in the early 1970s by an Australian surfer who wanted to warm his feet after leaving the water, seems to be part of a broader movement that has turned the legitimate quest for ease and pleasure into a pursuit of softness above all else.
In the same way that people don UGGs, they now enjoy eating fluffy pancakes so airy that chewing is almost unnecessary, or sprawling out on feather-light Togo sofas that are nearly impossible to get up from. What does this desire for softness really mean? Have we become so enamored with comfort that even ordinary sneakers feel too stiff?
Or have we become so lazy that lacing up shoes or chewing a pancake seems like an insurmountable challenge? More broadly, does this fascination with all things soft reflect, in these especially trying times, a subconscious and perhaps healthy form of self-protection? Or are we, once again, making much ado about nothing?
At this point, it is worth noting that the softness of UGGs – which offer no support for the foot or ankle – can, over time, lead to muscle strain, joint problems and even osteoarthritis. Above all, it should be remembered that these Australian “it shoes” are designed to crease quickly and take on the look of a Shar Pei dog’s face. The lesson? UGGs may be soft, but in the long run, they are hard to live with.
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