Winter is well and truly here, which means Australians are once again facing the ultimate cold-weather conundrum: is it actually acceptable to wear Ugg boots outside, in public?
While the humble sheepskin boot (dare I say, slipper) is an undisputed staple for freezing mornings at home, stepping across the front door in them remains one of the nation’s most fiercely contested fashion choices.
For some, wearing them to the local shops is a birthright, while for others it is an unforgivable sin that signals you have entirely given up.
I decided to put the debate to my group chats to see where they stood on the matter.
Spoiler: most of them stood inside.
“In Australia, only bogans wear them outside, or non-bogans who are confused,” my sister’s partner weighed in, noting that anyone else doing it is likely too lazy to change for a quick dash to the shops.
He argues that a 10-metre radius from the home still counts as the inside, applying the same logic as the five-second rule for dropped food.
However, he points out that international travellers treat them very differently, having spotted fancy shops selling high-heeled boot versions in Paris and people wearing them as standard day-to-day or going-out shoes in London nightclubs.
“They are either confused about their usage or they are marketed differently,” he says.
My mum leans towards the traditionalist view, stating flatly that wearing them out “just makes you look down and out,” though she later concedes she doesn’t actually have a personal problem with wearing them outdoors.
My sister is far stricter, insisting they are only house shoes because they are “too expensive to ruin outdoors”.
“It’s only overseas that people try to make them cool because they don’t know they are Australian slippers,” she claims, while my dad offered a diplomatic compromise – an approach he’s likely learnt from having three daughters.
“I think you need an inside pair and an outside pair,” he said.
On the other side of the trenches, many everyday Aussies view their Uggs as rugged, all-terrain footwear perfectly suited for winter errands.
My mate Carly fiercely defends her right to a cosy errand, declaring it a “national right” to head to the shops in them when it’s cold, and refusing to wear anything else.
Lauren says she is happy to wear her cheaper, lower-quality pairs for a “quick Macca’s run or a Kmart trip”, but would never dream of wearing her premium pairs out and about.
For Charlotte, the decision to only wear Uggs inside comes down to hygiene. As a mum-of-three, she admits her kids have made her paranoid about tracking outdoor filth into the house, so she makes her children take their shoes off the second they step inside.
Jordana added: “Keep the Uggs at home and invest in thick socks or proper fur-lined boots if you need warmth on the go.”
To settle the debate, I decided to put my journalism degree to good use by reviewing the data and speaking to some experts on the matter.
It turns out that the public perception of Uggs has shifted significantly since the pandemic sparked a nationwide obsession with work-from-home comfort.
A survey of 1001 Australians, commissioned last month by Ugg Express, found that a staggering 81 per cent of Aussies now believe it is acceptable to wear Ugg boots outside the house.
However, a massive generational gap exists, with nearly a quarter of Gen X and Baby Boomers thinking it is unacceptable to wear them out, while 50 per cent of Millennials and 64 per cent of Gen Z fully embrace the outdoor look.
Fashion commentator Annalise Salm believes pulling Uggs off outdoors requires a very specific approach, arguing they will always be more of a loungewear shoe.
“I don’t think you can pull Uggs off unless you’re wearing loungewear with it,” Salm tells news.com.au, suggesting that the only way to elevate the look is to pair ultra-trendy Ugg mules with baggy or flared denim that covers the top of them, rather than straight-leg jeans that expose the sheepskin cuff.
Model coach and etiquette specialist Kate Heussler strongly defends the iconic export, admitting she has worn them outside from time to time.
“From an etiquette perspective, I wouldn’t wear them to a corporate office, a job interview or a fine dining restaurant,” Heussler told news.com.au.
“Though for school runs, errands, dog walks for your little fur baby to check their pee-mails, airport drop-offs, weekend sport and casual catch-ups? Absolutely.”
She adds that teaming them with a beautiful wool coat, activewear, or a cashmere knit makes them look effortlessly chic.
While fashion rules can be bent, the physical toll of walking long distances in sheepskin might be the real reason to leave them at home.
Dr Kate Edwards, podiatrist and founder of City Feet Clinic, warns that the outer soles are simply not durable enough for constant outdoor wear, noting they can become incredibly slippery and are a “bloody nightmare” to clean once stained.
“As for functionality, the sole isn’t great at flexing at the big toe joint, so I feel many people have to claw to hold on – almost scuff their feet as they are walking along,” Dr Edwards told news.com.au.
Because the big toe joint needs to flex to give us a spring to push off, she warns that flat slippers make your feet work significantly harder.
“I would keep it to a minimum of wear per day – an hour max walking,” she advises, warning anyone with lower back, hip, knee, or foot pain to avoid them for long walks, though a quick pop outside is perfectly fine.
If you are determined to wear your boots under the winter skies, a spokesperson for Ugg Express says the golden rule is to choose structured styles that look intentional rather than like you just rolled out of bed.
The Australian-owned footwear retailer suggests opting for styles with chunky rubber platform soles that offer more support and coverage than a typical slipper.
Also, to keep your Uggs looking clean rather than sloppy, the brand recommends applying a suede and leather water repellent before stepping outside to help them withstand weather-related damage.
If they do get dirty, the golden rule, apparently, is to let the boots dry out completely first, rather than rubbing the wet grime further into the fabric.
So, while the experts have given us their tips on how to style and look after your boots, the jury is still not fully in on whether you should actually leave the house in them.
It seems the great Ugg debate will remain unresolved for another winter!
See you next year.
Read related topics:Weather