The year of the Ugg!

Aidan Altman '25

Junior Copy Editor

Without fail, every new season brings a brand-new “it” shoe. Despite constant fashion predictions circulating the media, you can never truly tell which shoes will become popular until it happens. However, a new footwear trend is already developing as we start 2023, and it's not what you think. The year's trendiest shoe is a scaled-down version of a much-loved classic— the mini Ugg boot. 

You've definitely noticed more and more people wearing these comfortable-looking Ugg boots lately. But you could be asking, “Why? How are Ugg boots still in fashion?” Whether you like them or not, several A-list celebrities opted for Ugg boots as their winter shoe of choice at the start of 2023. 

Uggs are worn by everyone from Dua Lipa, to the Hadid sisters and Kendall Jenner while they go out with the girls after a workout at the gym. Can we therefore confirm that they are still fashionable? For more information about the Ugg boot trend, keep reading!

Many people have been wearing the brand's mini Uggs this winter, and the look feels completely new. Named the original Ultra Mini, they’re a smaller, shorter version of the classic Uggs, which have faded in and out of trend since they hit their pinnacle in the early 2000s. The new small Uggs are still comfortable while being sleeker and more covert. The shape is also much more universally pleasing because they are cut at the lower ankle as opposed to the calf. 

The versatility of the Ugg is that you can still wear them inside your home if you don't want to go outdoors in them. That is, until one day you have the confidence to wear them outside! As the only shoes I personally will be wearing this season, the mini Ugg has become a staple of fashion videos.

The soft, shearling-lined slip-ons have been a controversial fashion item ever since their popularity soared in the 2000s: Either you love them or you hate them. The iconic suede boots are not waterproof, yet many people still use them as winter shoes, regardless of the ongoing dispute over whether or not they are genuinely an outdoor or inside shoe. Some people simply think they're ugly. 

Even with this controversy, it is clear to see that the mini Uggs are still gaining increasing popularity. They are one of the most prominent trends you'll see right now. In the past few years, Instagram has had a significant impact on fashion, and Uggs are no exception. On the app, influencers are seen wearing the mini Uggs.

 Uggs were one of the iconic footwear styles of the Y2K era. We're unlikely to witness any shoe define a full decade as effectively as the UGG did because of its celebrity partnerships and pop culture appearances .

 Despite repeatedly weaving in and out of the fashion world, these timeless shoes now appear to be settling into a more permanent place. Everybody may find their perfect pair of Ugg boots among the hundreds of different designs and colors available. 2023 is officially the year of the Ugg!