Ugg Australia Spring 2012–Beyond the Shearling Boot

When I was first invited to the luxe Gramercy Park Hotel terrace to preview the new Spring 2012 Ugg collection, I was skeptical.  The association that I had with the salt stained sock boots of the college set with sweatpants or jeans awkwardly tucked into them was hard to shake off.  Still I decided not to let what I thought I knew about the boot to shape my evening and I found myself pleasantly surprised.

When I entered the beautiful space I heard relaxing music playing as I approached a room with an impressive light bulb installation on the ceiling. Amidst the warm lighting and rustic wood fixtures I first saw the men's collection.  Beautiful rich tones of leather were crafted into an assortment of shoes.  Some classic mens shoes were displayed including boat shoes, bowling shoes and ones that even sort of look like Toms (unfortunately without the philanthropy).  My favorites were the olive green bowling shoes and the high top incarnation.  My boyfriend who came along for the ride said he would like a pair stat and pointed out a brilliant touch of shearling placed strategically in the back heel where most shoes tend to rub and become painful.

Staying Warm & Dry this Winter with Cougar Boots

By now, you probably all know about my well documented distaste for Uggs (the classic style ones) as a winter time shoe option.  I’ve steered countless friends away from this as their winter-time shoe of choice.  So when the Canadian (heart swelling with a bit of National Pride) company Cougar Boots contacted me about testing out a couple of their styles, I leapt at the opportunity.  Since 1948, three generations have been crafting quality boots for the whole family made to handle the great outdoors.

Being Canadian does not mean that I love the cold, should be used to the cold, or live in an igloo.  In fact, I’m all about staying as warm and dry as possible.  That’s why when it comes to wintertime gear, whether it be outerwear of footwear, I am an avid promoter of Canadian brands.  Canadians know and truly understand what icy cold winter is and therefore know how to best combat against the elements.

So when the winter time care package complete with 1 pair of rain boots, 1 pair of snow boots, 1 snuggly hoodie and a mug full of hot chocolate arrived in the mail, I was probably the only girl in the city hoping for some rain or cold weather to come my way so I could truly test them out and put them to the test.

Nothing makes me unhappier than cold wet feet - so I was super excited to know that both pairs of boots I am trying out are guaranteed waterproof for up to 6 months.  As luck would have it, it rained last week so I was able to test the boots out in typical November in NYC weather conditions and splash around in a few puddles.

The Rain Boots – The Regal (Approx. Retail Price: $85 Cdn / $80 Usd)
I love these rain boots.  From the moment I saw them on the website initially, I was super excited about the fact that they look so much like a typical Motorcycle Boot, rather than just a Rain Boot.  Why is this so great?  Do you ever have that dorky feeling on days it’s supposed to rain and it doesn’t that you are the only one in the city clunking around so obviously in your rain boots?  Well not anymore.  These are definitely stylish enough to completely avoid that feeling.

The boots themselves feel sturdy and have a good weightiness to them but are not heavy.  The sole has as much traction as a good pair of hiking boots preventing unfortunate slipping.  The insides have a thin layer of insulation to keep you warm and dry on both the inside and out.  With these on my feet, I doubt that I would be able to feel the chill from the biggest of slush puddles.  I wore them for about 7 hours straight (indoors/outdoors) and my feet felt pretty comfortable and not sweaty considering I was wearing rubber shoes, thanks to perforated insoles.  Also, the insides are a great smooth finish that did not snag or get snagged on my tights.  An added bonus - they don’t make an annoying squeaky noise on wet floors like my other rain boots so often do.

The Snow Boots – The Ravishing (Approx. Retail Price: $170 Cdn / $170 Usd)
Even though it hasn’t been truly cold weather yet, I did wear these outside for a prolonged period of time while I was cheering my friend on in the NYC Marathon from 3 different points across the city. 

Standing outside for 6 hours straight can sure make a girl chilly so I thought it was the perfect day to bust out these boots.  I was glad I did and in the end, my hands were the only part of my body that felt the cold!  These boots are as snuggly against the legs as a pair of wooly socks and as cozy on the feet as a pair of slippers.  My feet felt almost like I had a little heater warming up each foot!.  Like the rain boots, my feet stayed dry and comfortable and they did not rub or snag my clothes in any way.  They are lightweight and have great traction on the sole to prevent slipping.  Fortunately unlike other shoes with great grip, they don’t get stuck on the carpet indoors and make you trip.

The only minor caveat I have is I wore light colored socks and they picked up a little bit of color from the insides of the shoe (after 9 hours of wear).  Perhaps on days I wear them for a prolonged period of time, I’ll stick to wearing darker colored socks!  A small price to pay for keeping warm!  Otherwise the boots have been quite awesome.

On the days I was wearing the boots I received multiple compliments on both pairs of boots from both men and women.  Whether it be a design director at my office to my football loving guy friend to Lani noticing them on the street on the way to a preview.  I’d highly recommend that you pick up a pair of Cougar boots to keep you stylish while staying warm and toasty this winter.  Priced at $80 for the rain boots and $170 for the snow boots they offer you incredible quality and value for your money.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugg-ly

Uggs are a trend that just won't die. I have to admit that when they first came out a few years ago, the idea of a slip on boot with a skirt or shorts kind of appealed to me, but the novelty quickly wore off. Since their rise Uggs have taken over as the winter boot of choice and never relinquished power. WWD even reported that they are the one shoe style that are keeping retailers afloat and sales have surpassed last years. In Toronto, a friend of mine reported they were sold out of her size every store she checked.

1. Uggs were originally developed as a surfer shoe, and meant to be worn sans socks on the beach, so they aren't actually designed for colder climates. Because they are sheepskin they are actually warm, but there are so many other options out there.

2. Uggs are not waterproof and they leak. Imagine a big wet cold soggy sock on your foot. Now imagine them covered in salt stains.

3. Once an item has made it to everybody and their mother's mother, no matter how hip she is, it becomes ordinary.

4. People say that they are comfortable but you will be paying for it in the long term. Uggs are actually detrimental to foot health. The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists via NY Mag state "the flat soles leave the arches limp and can cause painful tendon conditions, such as a plantar fasciitis. The flimsy sheepskin casing makes a weak ankle cushion."

So as I was talking my friend out of Uggs, here are some options for truly cold weather I discovered:
Sorel was founded in 1908 in Canada and has been associated with cold weather footwear ever since. Sorel was first in the world to the first to combine leather uppers, rubber bottoms and removable felt liners back in the 60s for total warmth. Today they use Thinsulate to keep your toes toasty. I like the Sura but Style.com just featured Joan of Artic as their item of the week (these are rated for temperatures upt to -40!!!).

La Canadienne, Montreal designed brand (Canadians know cold) has plenty of waterproof options that feature antibacterial microfibre linings to help your feet breathe easy and prevent funky odors. They also use environmentally-friendly dyes and protective agents as well as recycled materials for all packaging. I like the Chase, which is waterproof suede.

Last but not least, I think these Merrell Spirt Tibet High's are quite cute. They are waterproof and good for temperatures up to -20 Celsius (-4 Degrees Farenheit). Merrell is a performance oriented brand that's been creating gear for outdoors for over 20 years.

For less extreme cold needs check out Lani's previous article here.