The changing of the seasons has summoned the cold air, winter jackets and, perhaps most noticeably, the familiar UGG boots of all shapes and styles that seemingly dominate Villanova’s campus. The Tasman Slipper, the Classic Mini, and the Classic Ultra Mini—not to mention the platform versions—are just a few of the dozens of UGG boots and slippers that students wear on a day-to-day basis.
Whether one owns a pair of UGGs or has yet to purchase a pair, the opinion is often the same: they are comfortable, stylish and simply adorable. Easy to slip on, these shoes can dress an outfit down or add an extra cozy element to a casual one, a versatility that endears these shoes to all age groups. Jeans-and-sweater combinations seem to be especially popular with the forthcoming holiday season, while sweatshirts with leggings or sweatpants are always a favorite among college students.
Paparazzi photographs of various celebrities flaunting their UGGs in their stylish streetwear likely play a role in their recurring trendiness. Up-to-date fans are, quite literally, eager to follow in their favorite celebrity’s footsteps and purchase a pair.
Like many other Villanovans, freshman Angela Choi wears her UGGs nearly every day, whether for a full day of classes or a quick trip to the dining hall. She expresses particular fondness for the Tasman Slippers, the style that she owns.
“I think that the Tasman UGGs are the cutest thing,” Choi said. “When I see girls wear them on campus, I think they make their outfits so cute.”
While UGGs are viewed by some as basic and one of those inconstant, “come-and-go” fashion trends, their reemergence during the fall and winter seasons year after year keeps them a staple in the wardrobes of many. Styles such as the Tasman have remained a favorite in recent years. However, it’s true that others often experience shifts in popularity, such as the variations of other UGG slippers and the Mini, arguably one of the most popular shoe styles today.
Choi, for one, has not noticed an increase in the popularity of UGGs.
“I thought they were always ‘in,’ or at least every winter,” she said.
It might be hard to believe, but there do exist students not currently in possession of a pair of UGGs. Freshman Grace Johnson, for instance, regularly wears sneakers around campus. However, she too covets a pair of the classic UGG boots.
“Every time I see someone [with] them on, I think about buying a pair,” Johnson said. “They’re perfect to wear around campus—warm, comfortable and easy to walk in. Definitely my most anticipated Christmas gift this year.”
A testament to the popularity of UGGs, these shoes will likely be making their way onto hundreds of holiday wish lists in preparation for the frosty yet festive winter months ahead.
The reemergence of UGGs, like other past trends, evidences the cyclic nature of fashion. Flared jeans, oversized clothing, platform shoes, cargo pants and hair ribbons, to name a few, have also made their way into 2023 from decades such as the 2000s.
It’s true, therefore, that most fashion trends come and go. The reappearance of UGGs year after year, however, prompts the question of just how long the reign of this footwear brand will last. Will UGGs come back in style each fall and winter, or will they eventually fade to be replaced by the next, trendy pair of shoes?
