Ugg Boots have stamped a fashion trend throughout the ISU student population. Finding women wearing Ugg Boots on campus is as easy as a glance at the logo on the back of the boot, but finding people who like the fashion statement may prove difficult.

Brian Schmidt, senior in finance, thinks Ugg Boots are hideous.

“I don’t see the fashion trend at all,” Schmidt said. “Most of the time the boots don’t match the girls’ outfits, and they just stand out more in general.”

The Ugg Boots trend, while still quite popular, is morphing into a different trend, said Natalie Gendle, lecturer in apparel, educational studies and hospitality management.

“It started out almost like a fad, but what’s happened is it’s becoming a more enduring trend in the Midwest because the Ugg Boots are comfortable, cozy, warm,” Gendle said. “The trend is definitely prevailing in the Midwest.”

Ugg Boots have been known to be expensive, but there are plenty of alternatives for the student looking to accomplish this well-known fashion trend.

Aly Jobson, junior in pre-advertising, found a pair of boots resembling the Ugg brand at Target for $25.

 “I don’t have Ugg Boots because I can’t justify spending $160 on a pair of boots,” Jobson said. “It’s way too much money for me to be spending as a poor college student.”

Although some students may dislike the look of these boots, many say they are warm and practical for Iowa’s winter climate. Ugg Boots may have been more ubiquitous a few years ago, but stereotypes of the wearers still exist.

“I think the girls that wear Ugg Boots are usually the ones who wear big sunglasses, the ‘Pink’ brand sweatpants and have dyed hair,” Schmidt said. “I also think the girls are typically in a sorority and are trying to prove their strength of fashion trends. It’s more understandable when girls wear them when it’s cold outside, just not when it’s nice weather.”

Despite the criticism of the boots, some students stay loyal to their brands and practicality. Laura Holck, senior in apparel merchandising, design and production, has owned a pair of Ugg Boots since her freshman year.

“I think they are easy to wear. They keep my feet warm in the cold weather and are extremely comfortable,” Holck said. “The imitation Uggs are a good alternative for the people who don’t want to spend the money, but I’ve noticed that they experience more wear and tear on the boots.”

Holck spent the spring 2008 semester abroad in Rome and said most Italians wore leather boots with the same style for similar purposes, but she said they would view Ugg Boots as bulky and unattractive.

A couple years after the debut of Ugg Boots, Jobson said the trend is now growing on her.

“I think the fashion statement made by Uggs is a strong one that a lot of women are trying to portray,” Jobson said. “They are not only a pair of boots, but a statement about the person wearing them.”

However, the Ugg Boots trend face a dismal forecast.

“The look is on its way out. The boots are becoming more mainstream — you can get the look anywhere, and people are wearing them more out of comfort,” Gendle said. “The boots are more of a young person’s classic look. A classic is a style that is more widely accepted and is at a constant level of good taste.”

Alternatives to Uggs:

Whether students like the style of Uggs, or they simply believe in them simply for the purpose of warmth and comfort, retail stores are creating alternatives for the “spendy” boots:

American Eagle Outfitters: $64.50

Old Navy: $34.50

EMU Australia at www.clausette.com: $44.39

Wal-Mart: $23.99