Ugg Australia

Profile

Australian surfer Brian Smith conceived of the UGG brand back in 1978, when the pairs of sheepskin boots he brought with him on a visit to California were snapped up by admiring beach bums. Since then, the comfy, water-resistant shoes have been spotted on a cadre of loyal celebs�Oprah, Sienna Miller�inspiring the brand’s rapid expansion into sandals, heels, ballet flats, apparel, and accessories. The walls and footstools of its first New York outpost are checkered in leather and suede, with flat-screen TVs playing slideshows of UGG-shod models. A soundtrack of pop music, colorful spotlights, and generous leather couches give the store a clubby vibe as shoppers browse wall-spanning glass shelves of shoes. In winter, the selection skews toward boots, stocking the best-selling sheepskin-lined Classics, chic stacked heels, and versatile crocheted styles that button to the knee or fold to mid-calf. In warmer months, UGG unveils its line of lambskin-lined espadrilles, leather wedges, furry flip-flops, and cotton beach cover-ups. Kids can pull on polka-dotted flats or mini-boots in a range of colors, while a smaller variety of loafers, moccasins, and boots cater to men. In a nod to the brand’s star-studded rise, a curtained-off VIP room in back bears a cowhide chaise lounge and faux-fur rug for trying on duds in private. — Lauren Murrow