Ties, Starbucks gift cards, and holiday-themed pajamas you can wear for approximately two days of the year are gifts that fall into a category of presents that are just…fine. What they lack in personality they make up for in ubiquity. This grouping of items are relatively harmless. They’re things you can throw at a cousin you haven’t seen in years or receive from a coworker in a forced team building experience masquerading as Secret Santa. Out of this same classification, slippers are the inoffensive gift you enthusiastically accept, even if you already own a pair. But not all slippers are created equal, because there’s one particular brand that reigns supreme. If you don’t love UGG slippers, we can’t be friends.
Courtesy
Courtesy
The Swedes might have invented Hygge, but the Aussies own it with UGG boots, a traditional sheepskin shoe with origins in Australia and New Zealand. The UGG brand—think of this as the brand Kleenex versus the word tissue—defined an entire generation of basic-ness before basic was nomenclature. Circa 2006, what college-aged girl didn’t roam campuses in North Face fleeces, leggings, and UGG boots? The California-based company has since evolved from these dated roots thanks to high fashion collaborations with Jeremy Scott, Eckhaus Latta and Bape, but it’s their slippers that are universally appealing. Fans include Cardi B and Charli XCX who wear them IRL with only a faint whiff of #sponcon, so you know it’s real love.
As someone who adheres to a strict, cozy-based diet, I know a good pair of slippers when I try them. They must meet specific requirements, which boils down to correctly answering the following: How cozy are my toes? Are said toes warm, but not sweaty? All pairs of UGG slippers pass this difficult test, therefore making them the ultimate lazy gift, ideal for burly men and twee babies alike. Seriously, I store a pair under my desk in case of an emergency, if emergencies include my feet swelling from sneakers or a wave of “I just don’t feel like it today” hits me at the office.
My two favorite styles represent the opposite ends of the spectrum: the classic slide that’s fun for all, and the obnoxious Fluff Yeahs, which come in aggressive shades of hot purple and neon orange you can only indulge in in the comfort of your own home. The price is steeper than your average loungewear accessory, but these are slippers that will last for years, and can handle more wear and tear than cheaper substitutes.
Between frantic holiday shopping and an impending case of SAD on its way, brace you and yours with the slipper that exceeds them all.
