The UGGly choice we ALL have to deal with
By Sarah Craig
Fashion faux pas: they happen to the best of us. From head to toe, whether it’s a an ugly shirt or hideous pair of pants, we’re all doomed some days. The fashion world, however, seems to be particularly picky when it comes to what one decides to strut around in on their feet.
Ithaca College, as well as the rest of the world, has been overrun with Uggs and
Crocs. Both shoes have been condemned as hideous eyesores along with other
frightening footwear such as Birkenstocks and Doc Martens. For those of you behind on your shoe facts, Uggs are sheepskin boots from Australia with a wool inner lining and Crocs are plastic clogs from Canada. Both have grown in popularity over the last few years and neither show any sign of going away soon.
Why are they so popular? Part of the hype is that celebrities have been seen wearing them both. They’re just the new trend. No one ever said fashion was attractive, or even that celebrities actually had good fashion sense.
Sarah Bernard commented in her New York Magazine article, “Every few years, tastemakers mysteriously embrace some comfortable but undeniably ugly footwear more typically associated with river-rafting potheads or line cooks.”
Unattractive clothes happen. Those who hate Crocs claim they look like “an accidental mating between Swiss cheese and a gardening shoe.” Uggs critics describe them as “looking like they were made from hamster fur” and “unshapely.”
The most common reason for their allure, is both shoes’ extreme comfort level.
Crocs have been approved as helping avoid foot injuries and are comfy on top of
that. Uggs are incredibly cushy and have the warmth factor on their side. Each
shoe was also designed to serve a specific use. Crocs were originally made as
boating shoes and Uggs were first worn by pilots in WWI.
Nobody will ever win the fight for or against Crocs and Uggs. Much of it simply has to do with one’s own preference. Senior culture & communication major Tatiana Sy, who has designed her own clothing and had pieces modeled in the student-run “Capture the Dream” fashion show, is a fan of Uggs and said, “I remember when I first saw Cameron Diaz wear them. They really are the shoe everybody loves to hate. The amount of attention the shoes get negative or positive is a bit absurd. I just know at the end of the day when it’s freezing and snowing outside, nobody can tell me anything.”
If you love Uggs and Crocs, you most likely won’t admit that they are both pretty
low on the prettiest shoe list. But please, at least try to invest in a nice pair of shoes. If you’re caught wearing Crocs or Uggs constantly with formal wear, we have a slight problem.
However, if you absolutely hate them, you won’t give in to the fact they are comfortable and useful. Instead you’d rather have every pair burned so you’ll never have to see them again, even if you have to do it while they’re still being worn. But try to be a bit more understanding. There’s probably an embarrassing piece of clothing lurking somewhere in your closet.
So what right do we have to play fashion police and decide what others wear or don’t wear? This isn’t as a promotion for insincerity: Don’t gush, “nice shoes!” while secretly wishing they’d find a new home in a dumpster. But in the end, it’s up to one’s own discretion what they are willing to be seen wearing in public. So if the shoe fits, regardless of whether that shoe is a pair of Crocs or Uggs, well, why not wear it?
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Sarah Craig is a sophomore journalism major. E-mail her at [email protected].