Twitter wasn't loving the latest collaboration by UGG and French brand Y/Project. Photo / Getty Images
Twitter wasn't loving the latest collaboration by UGG and French brand Y/Project. Photo / Getty Images
They're perhaps one of the most divisive fashion items of all time, with some adoring their sheepskin cosiness and others deploring their ugliness.
According to the Daily Mail the classic Ugg boot has undergone a high-fashion makeover in partnership with the French brand Y/Project, unveiled at the men's show at Paris Fashion Week yesterday.
But stylistas were left horrified by the Ugg's rebirth as a slouchy thigh high boot, likening them to the coat of a Shar Pei dog and saggy, wrinkled elephant skin.
Y Project designer Glenn Martens kept the trademark elements of the iconic, love-it-or-hate-it brand based in Goleta, California, including sheepskin and the shoes' famous chestnut color.
For the rest of the shoes, though, he completely departed from the classic bootie's shape, and instead created several extravagant models.
One of them consists in a multi-layered shoe with three rinds of fur going up the model's leg.
Another pair features multi-layer fur. Photo / Getty Images
Another is a thigh-high, droopy boot with a flat sole, engulfing the model's lower body.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Martens also created a pair of open-toe slip-ons lined with fur, with Ugg and Y/Project's names on top.
Martens explained that he wanted to "trigger" people with his designs, by giving the classic Ugg boot an "unexpected" makeover.
"The Ugg Classic boot is one of the most recognisable shoes in history. It's timeless and challenging design made it a worldwide statement.
"Y/Project is about challenges. Since launch we've been twisting the grounded codes, we challenged the acceptable and triggered people by putting focus on the unexpected," he said.
The collection is made to be worn by both males and females. Photo / Getty Images
"By reworking the Classic boot with a typical Y/Project twist such as the triple overlaps and the extra-long legs we want to celebrate the Ugg brand's unique history."
The capsule collection was presented by both male and female models, reflecting Martens' focus on creating pieces that can be worn regardless of gender.
"You'll see the exact same piece on a man as on a woman, just styled differently," he added.
Ugg, meanwhile, was delighted with the way Martens reinvented its classic shoe.
"It has been a real pleasure working with Glenn and the team," Andrea O'Donnell, the president of fashion and lifestyle at Ugg's parent company Deckers, said.
"He designs conceptual and thought-provoking collections and footwear, we knew he would do something unexpected with our Ugg classic boot.
The designer kept the trademark elements of the iconic boot. Photo / Getty Images
"Re-interpreting our DNA in new and exciting ways—we love the results!"
Ugg's new releases come just a month after it debuted a heeled version of its classic sheepskin boot.
Christened the Kasen, the shoe comes in two different versions: a low boot, which is priced at $150, and a tall one, which retails for $250.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, an ambassador for Ugg, was spotted wearing the new shoes ahead of their release, styling them with jeans and a beige coat, however not everyone appeared convinced that adding heels to Ugg boots, which are favoured by many for their comfort, was a good idea.
