Ugg-ly Duckly

Even though it’s only the beginning of October, it’s pretty cold already. I see people wearing all kinds of jackets, parkas or some (never quite understood that kind) just sweaters. People don’t mind if you have a warm cardigan on, or if you’re sleeveless jacket kind of type. People don’t even mind if you bring your old Toper jacket out of your closet. Yeaaah, you remember them dontcha?

Hell, some may even say that you’re cool with your old-school vintage look. But it’s a given fact that they will most definitely mind you wearing Uggs.

So what is it with these boots? Are they so ridiculously uncomfortable so you have to mock every girl you see them wearing? I doubt that. Are they truly so unbelievably gruesome that your eyes suffer when looking at them so you have to turn away? I don’t think so. So what is it with Uggs?

First of all, I would like to make one thing straight. When I speak of Uggs, I do mean Ugg ®. If you didn’t know, ‘uggs’ in general mean Australian boots made of sheep skin. Not defining a label. But as far as I know, only Ugg, the brand, made the worldwide phenomenon. That is way today I’m talking about Uggs and not uggs.

As I was saying people like to hate Uggs. Sometimes it seems like only people who like Uggs are their owners. How come? I’ve been doing quite a little research on this topic for quite some time now. I found many, many forums that debate about Uggs. I saw that you can simply divide all opinions on two views:

a)      I loooooove Uggs. I bought/got them ?? time ago and ever since I’m in love with them. They’re warm, never too hot, the most comfortable shoes I ever owned. They get little dirty, have to admit that.

b)      I haaaaaaate Ugg. Aren’t you aware how stupid you look? You shouldn’t wear them with your skirt, with your sweat pants, your pj’s…. And you’re a complete idiot because you paid so much for them.

Ok, so I want to focus on a) a bit. They’re warm. Being made of sheep skin I have absolutely no doubt they are really warm and fuzzy. Never too hot? According to Ugg brand, the sheep skin works as an insulation and as they are keeping you warm in winter, you should have your feet temperature nicely balanced even in warmer days (summer). Right. Summer. Really? Who would want to wear Uggs in summer (except for Pam Anderson, who is obviously a fan). 

Wow, she really went out of her way with this picture. I mean Uggs on beach? What the hell? Well.. if you were to learn about the origins of these boots, you would find that Ugg boots were primarily worn by Australian surfers, and only when their American stoner friends came to get ‘some really nice waves, dude’ to Australia, they found out the practical use of Uggs. So, Pam on Baywatch really isn’t overdoing her wardrobe. She kinda is ‘theshit’. I think that this also proves them being comfortable, because I seriously can’t imagine a stoned surfer wearing come pain-in-the-ass, hot-as-hell boots. But they do get a bit dirty. Can’t argue with that.

That leaves us with b) clan. Looking stupid? I find that kind of comment on the third grade level, when you get to school looking a bit nervous because you’re wearing Beatles t-shirt your sister gave you for your b-day and the class bully wannabe Barbie says you’re stupid because you don’t have Justin Bieber T. Right. I think this analogy works just fine.

The reason I wrote ‘u shouldn’t wear them with whatever’ is because few weeks ago I watch this video on YouTube. There was this absolutely insignificantly styled generic girl, with no personality (except annoying) who was telling us how not to wear Uggs. Apparently you can’t wear them with skirts. Or your sweat pants. Or your pjs. Actually the only way you can wear them is with skinny jeans tucked in. 

wrong

wrong

wrong

ok, i guess

All of this is so wrong I don’t even know where to start. Skirts. To be quite honest I don’t really see the problem here. Especially if we’re talking about younger girls. I think they are adorable in short wavy skirts and Uggs. But that’s just me. But if we’re talking about young adults (I’m gonna go crazy here and say 15-30) it depends on a skirt. If you pair them up with a fancy elegant skirt, well you probably don’t have much of a fashion sense anyway and Uggs really aren’t the problem here. If you’re 28 and have a hot pink ruffle skirt paired with idunno, baby blue Uggs.. then I think it’s more of ‘age appropriate’ type of question. Everything between, I don’t see why not. If you’re still not convinced how about this: can you honestly tell that Uggs+skirt is in any way more wrong than cowboy boots+skirt? And I don’t hear any cowboy boots fans complaining.

Sweat pants and pjs. To be quite honest I can’t really imagine more comfortable combination to wear on a cold day at park than sweatpants and Uggs. I may be wrong but that’s how I feel. Of course this is not a look for work or even school. But to go to the store? Sure. I really don’t see the difference in that or just sweatpants and sneakers. If your problem is sweatpants, than it will be your problem with any type of shoes. Similar goes for pjs. If you see a poor soul walking around in her pjs does it make a difference what is she wearing for shoes? I don’t think so.

I think I looked on these problems as fairly and objectively as I could. So I think group a) holds better grounds then b). The thing I find really funny is that group b) almost never mention the cleaning problem. Which apparently is the only rational problem in group a). Yes, cleaning and the price. I didn’t mention the price before because I’ve come to a conclusion which may upset some. Given recent arguments that prove team b) to be wrong, it is the only logical explanation why would somebody care how much money do you spent on your shoes. Envy.

The thing I personally find troublesome with Uggs is their genuineness. Usually Uggs can get a bit expensive. It is just ridiculous how much more do they cost here in Slovenia than US.  So let’s order them on net. Here’s the problem. Most, and I do, mean most of the pages are counterfeit. Which causes more problems than you can think of at first. Sure there is whole ‘respect the real label’ thing. But the thing is those counterfeit pages are really good. You can’t always know they are fake. At the beginning you were able to follow your gut with ‘if it’s so cheap that it almost isn’t true, then probably it isn’t’. Now these companies got smart. The prices aren’t so low so you almost pay full price for a fake. And a fake won’t last that long, trust me. And I don’t even want to think about hygiene. It may sound funny but I know you ladies. I know these boots were made to be worn bare feet. But if you buy some cheap poly-something imitation, god knows what kind of steamy funky smells your-otherwise clean and flowery-feet will be producing. Not to mention athlete’s foot. Ok, I don’t know if you can actually get an athlete’s foot, I’m not a biologist or a doctor, but I bet it can get nasty.

What I’m trying to say I guess is wear them! Or don’t. Either way, don’t pick on someone who has them just because you don’t like them. Or if you see someone wearing them in their pjs.. try to take them home (not your home!). Or to the nearest hospital, coz I know they aint right ;)))

And if you do buy online check for genuineness of the page. You can do so right here. And if you are wondering whether you bought real or fake here are some clues.

And most of all.. if you do decide to wear them.. make it fashionably!!

Love,

AjoLina

Feel Good Inc VS. Error 503

My dear readers. You’ve surprised me. After posting my first blog involved mind thread, I was sure it will take days, weeks even, for people to wander to my page and read it. You proved me wrong, for which I am thankful. So here I am again.

You know that feeling, when you’re cleaning your room or car or flat.. And you find some old CD, that you were craaaazy about few years back and then totally forgot about it. Then naturally you put it in your player and get absolutely overwhelmed with all the memories, feelings and warm fuzzy feeling of nostalgia. This happened to me today. I loved it. Actually, last couple of days were pretty amazing, which was a well deserved workship of mysterious ways. First I found out that I made it into my next year on faculty. Yes, I am aware that I said I blew it on picking the right one, still.. I am set to finish this one nonetheless. Then my sister invited me and my darling bf to join her family of three in the spa center – herself, her bf/life partner (they’re not married but it’s kind of weird to call him her bf after such a long time) and their almost 2-year old (my niece Sara). It was fantastic. Earlier though, my bf realized he forgot his bathing suit, so we went shopping. As I walked by a really nice shoe store I noticed they still have a pair of this adorable boots, I’ve been drooling over for the past year. Being the lovely man he is, he bought them for me as an early birthday present. First I didn’t want to accept them because they are pricey. But after half a day of convincing I was a proud and utterly happy owner of these beauties (sorry bout the crappy link, but it was the only one i found in the right color). And today, when my lovely Sara came to me, for the first time ever, during our hug, she said that she loves me. Melted my heart literally. BUT, this is not a blog about my ‘koos-a-la-goop-a-goop’ feelings. It’s fashion darling!! (sounds really great imagining Mr. Andre Leon Talley saying that).

Speaking of Mr. Andre, I would like to start a topic of fashion knowledge. As I said in my previous blog, I like various aspects of fashion. But if you don’t know who is who (even behind the scenes) how can you say anything about it in the first place? For me it is like selling apples and not knowing they come from a tree.

For several years I’ve been a great fan of ANTM. The appeal of this show for me is not in the liking of models or looking up to them or wanting to be them. It is the process of it and the opportunities they are given during the show. Which I may add, are really extraordinary for young girls with no previous true contact with fashion industry. And I think it’s sort of sad, that they (sometimes) just don’t appreciate it. But the thing I love/hate the most is auditions. Love them, because you get this great insight of the girls and how far would they go to impress the judges. And hate because mostly you see some really ignorant girls, who you would just like to slap. Now, don’t get me wrong. I know all kind of girls come to the auditions, and I think it’s really remarkable that they are given a chance, even if they have some shady background or if it is clear they had rough time surviving in this world. And this is not the ignorance I am talking about. What I really dislike in some of the girls is that when Tyra asks them if they can name some designers or photographers, they completely fall short. Yes I know, the footage is edited to be more interesting, but I will never forget an audition of a girl (which ironically enough I have forgotten) who was collecting pens. Funny shaped pens. She was a real hard core thing too. She even had them with her on the audition. And then Tyra selected 5 of them and asked her to name 5 designers. Nope, a bit too hard for that outstanding young lady. 3? Couldn’t do it either. Apparently, all of this girls time was consumed with pen collecting. And this is what I really hate. Of course she then burst to tears that this is her dream and everything. I don’t want to single her out, over the last 15 cycles many girls were in similar situation. But how can someone stand there and claim this is their dream, when they don’t know the basics of it.

Don’t even think I’m picking on models (I know there are some stereotypes about them not being the sharpest tools in the shed). The wannabe designers can be the same. I was watching the second season of Canada’s Project Runway (which is hosted by fabulous Iman, really worth watching). There was this young designer who was all about fashion and how he couldn’t imagine life without it and what not. Then in some ‘influential designers’ challenge he asked his team mates who is this ‘Yves saint Laurent’ or 'YSL guy' they’ve got. Seriously? No, for real – seriously? And I don’t even mean that in cool/semi passé slag ‘seriously’, but truly SERIOUSLY? I was flabbergasted. In fact I still am, so I won’t even try to bother with how wrong that was.

I just realized I haven’t mentioned much of education in here. More just the lack of it. For some basic, and I do mean basic info I warmly recommend a film ‘The September Issue’. It is about, well, many things actually. The main focus is on editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Ms. Ana Wintour. You may not like her (many people don’t), you may worship her (many people do), but I believe it is essential to know her. I knew for a long time who Ms. Wintour is and I never had any special interest in her or her doings. Not even when ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ came out – which is supposedly inspired by her immanent persona. It was after seeing this film that I became interested with her. At first I wasn’t sure whether to like or dislike her, but I was surely fascinated with her. Only after I read Kate Betts’s (once seen as most likely Wintour’s successor) critic I was convinced I not just like her, but adore her.

//.. what it might cost a person like Miranda Priestly to become a character like Miranda Priestly.//

(Miranda Priestly – the main character in The Devil Wears Prada.)

So my dear fashion lovers, today I got a bit theoretical again, I know. I am hoping to be more visually compelling next time. I do hope your eyes are not starving for beauty, like Mr. Andres do, still, I’d like to take care of your occasional munchies.

Take care of you AND your shoes.

Love,

AjoLina

Getting it right

When given an opportunity to do my dream job, I’d run into the kitchen, grab the very first frying pen and hit the streets, slapping people round the head and saying ‘what is it that you don’t understand?’

Of course I don’t mean that in a bitchy vicious way. It’s to protect people from themselves or their hideous wardrobe. Sometimes I wonder whether they own some kind of a ‘special perspective changing’ mirror that throws them in a new dimension that makes them believe they actually look good.

 Food for thought.

Ok, so that was my first attempt to write fashion blog. And then I stopped. Sometimes I feel I have soooooo much to tell bout fashion, fashionistas, wannabe fashionistas, fashion critics, people, photographers, designers, SHOES!!.. But then I want to and nothing clever comes out. Or in (my mind). So I started and then stopped. And then my bf read the draft I forgot to delete and said I should continue. Given he’s a pretty damn good blogger himself in my opinion (you can check his blog here -> boing) I thought well.. maybe I do have something new to say to celebrate fashion. Maybe.

And here I am again. Wanting to be part of it. You know - IT. It -  the fashion. It - the buzz. It - the lifestyle. It.. – everything actually.

But first things first. I haven’t  introduced myself properly at all. I’m 23-yo student of architecture, who completely missed her calling. ‘Why, so young and already knows her calling?’ you may say. Of course not. But I do know myself enough to know what I don’t want. Architecture definitely is not IT for me. Fashion on the other hand, I love. And I do mean love. In all her glorious ways, shapes, forms, colors, even an occasional faux pas is welcomed. I kind of feel like mother hen and fashion is like children to me. I do mean children not child. I feel like every aspect of fashion is one little baby I need to take care of, need to feed with information, need to see it flourish. And like any other mother (well-most of them at least) I’m not picky. I love all my babies equally. And of course just like for any other mother, that is a lie.

Another thing u should know about me. I’m not mean. Even if maybe first paragraph wants to prove me wrong. I don’t consider myself to be one of those self-righteous snobby bitches who think only their taste for fashion is the right taste for fashion. Or only expensive fashion is worthy fashion. Nope, not me. I don’t judge. Not in that way at least. Of course you have all the right in the world to dislike me for merely implying I am capable of judging in any form what so ever.

And this is a topic I would like to linger with a bit. Actually it is more of an explanation of my state of mind and my general perspective as a fashion lover. First of all, I believe in your own opinion. If a see a pair of ugly-as-hell louboutins (and I do loooove louboutins) I’m gonna say it’s a pair of ugly-as-hell louboutins.. aaaaand that you’re probably filthy rich tasteless idiot, who buys louboutins just for the sake of it. Ah, here it comes already. I practically can hear very clearly you yelling that I have no right to say that and that I certainly don’t have any right to judge you and that I should just keep my mouth shut. But that’s the beauty of it. You’re contradicting yourself now. If you have the ‘right’ to buy something ugly-as-hell and then wear it, don’t you think you’re being world’s biggest hypocritical bitch by saying I don’t have the right to express what I think? Oh wait the best part is yet to come. I am perfectly aware that we have very different tastes and esthetic views. Which, in my opinion, automatically defines our styles. So if I find your some of your likings absolutely hideous then it’s only natural that you must find some of my likings just as obnoctious. And this is just the thing that comes back and bites you in your hypocritical bum.

But I don’t want to bother you on my very first blog post. The way I see it, if you are one of those girls, then you probably won’t read this anyway. Like I said, I’m here to celebrate fashion, not roast it.

So what do you think? Are you interested?

Whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re doing it fashionably.

Love,

AjoLina