My husband isn’t the bragging type (they do say opposites attract). Because of this, you won’t hear a peep out of him for any promotion, bonus, or academic achievement that comes his way. In fact, it’s usually my duty to brag for the both of us. A job I take quite seriously.
But if there is one thing he brags about, it’s bringing UGG to Western Pennsylvania. He’s convinced it was him, and him alone, who brought that fat little sheepskin bootie to the hoi polloi sometime around 2004. I’ve always been a bit dubious of this claim myself. But, since I don’t have the subscription data of In Touch Weekly within a 50-mile radius, I can think of no one who was more influenced by early-aughts celebrity culture than my husband.
Usually, the boasting is at a minimum until winter comes and we dust off our own UGG boots from the spare closet. Like taxes or the flu vaccine, I can handle this sort of thing only once a year. But, with the rise of 2000’s fashion coming back into style, I’m bracing myself for impact.
Having graduated high school in 2009, I know the warning signs of what is ahead: low-rise jeans, long-sleeve button-downs under t-shirts, an inexplicable increase in hair gel usage. All of these are key indicators of a call-back to a world that was wealth-obsessed, celebrity-obsessed, youth-obsessed, and trying to reconcile a nation divided by a polarizing leader (sound familiar?). When those little newsboy caps come back into style, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Even if I say it a little begrudgingly, UGG is the one early-2000s holdover that actually works today. I’m not saying they’ll ever be “fashionable” in the normal sense, but their staying power isn’t random. Deckers, the brand behind UGG, posted a 13.1% revenue jump in 2025. Picking short, squat, fur-lined boots over, say, an Italian loafer feels a bit rebellious, putting personal style over whatever is trending in a sea of menswear influencers who all look the same and somehow all misuse the word sprezzatura. Maybe UGG is profiting off the existing “ugly” shoe trend that’s been on the rise over the last few years. Think Salomons, Crocs, New Balance’s sneaker loafers. They’re all shoes that reject traditional ideas of what looks “good” for what feels good.
If you’re looking to stay on-trend like Timothée Chalamet, or just want something cozy to throw on until Spring, here are the three UGG products I’d recommend for anyone in the market for a new shoe that you might only slightly be embarrassed to wear in public.
Photo via UGG
Classic Mini
This is the Platonic ideal of an UGG boot for men (the taller “short” style hits mid-calf and looks a bit too feminine). It has all the elements you want in this style: the classic tan sheepskin, the rounded toe, and the plushy wool interior. Paired with light, slightly oversized jeans and a beanie and you’ll fit right in with the locals on a lazy Sunday in LA.
Photo via UGG
Neumel Chelsea
For a bit more rugged upgrade to the Classic Mini, the Neumel Chelsea is a black suede option that would look great with a leather jacket and a straight fit dark jean. Still lined with their signature UGGplus wool, it’ll give you all-day warmth without sacrificing too much (well, okay, a little bit) on style.
Photo via UGG
Neumel High Weather Hybrid
There’s something that’s a bit more forgiving about cold-weather clothing. They can, frankly, be a little ugly and no one is going to bat an eye. Luckily, the Neumel High Weather Hybrid has all the best elements of UGG and the black helps to bring it all together. With a contoured EVA footbed, an extra-high collar, UGGplush lining, and a promise of keeping you warm in -20ºC (that’s -4°F for my fellow Americans out there), this is a boot you’ll reach for every Winter.
