Uggs
Photo credit: Photo: TexasDex, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sheepskin boots that conquered the world: the UGG brand exploded into a mid-2000s craze, worn year-round by celebrities and mall crowds alike. Paired with miniskirts in winter, sweatpants in summer, or tucked under jeans any season — comfort trumped couture, and comfort won.
The UGG brand is Australian in origin, but it was Deckers' US distribution and the celebrity sightings of the early-to-mid 2000s that turned sheepskin boots into a cultural juggernaut. An Oprah's Favorite Things endorsement turbocharged the trend; suddenly, Uggs were the de facto casual footwear for anyone wanting plush comfort and a certain aspirational ease.
Worn with everything from miniskirts (and exposed legs — no logic required) to sweatpants to skinny jeans, Uggs became the defining shoe of 2000s casual culture. The style persisted, though the craze's fever pitch cooled by the early 2010s, leaving behind a legacy of comfort-first fashion and a footwear category that never went away.
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