If you’re trying to identify which generational category someone falls into, you can usually tell by their reaction to an Ugg boot. Gen X-ers and Boomers might offer the weary acknowledgement of those who have seen a trend come and go multiple times, but remain, on the whole, broadly unmoved. Millennials, meanwhile, are more likely to be existentially split over whether to embrace or reject a shoe that sends them hurtling back to their side-fringed teenage years. And then there’s the Gen Zs and Alphas, who have taken to the slipper-like shoe like east Londoners to a new organic wine bar. In fact, last winter, a black North Face puffer, baggy jeans and Ugg boots became the unofficial uniform of choice for the country’s teens.
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The Ugg comeback was officially cemented at the end of 2024, when it made its debut on the Lyst Index for Q4 2024, appearing in 10th position and pipping Miu Miu to the “Hottest Products” top spot with its sellout Classic Ultra Mini Boot. Of course, the backing of in-the-know labels has also helped, with everyone from Chopova Lowena, Eckhaus Latta and Wales Bonner, to Ashley Williams, Telfar and Palace partnering with the Noughties favourite. The It-girl seal of approval is another important piece of the puzzle when it came to realigning the brand for a new generation. When Bella Hadid wore a pair of Ugg’s Ultra Mini Platform Boot back in 2022, the photo went viral and the shoe sold out across the US.
Ugg has certainly been smart in the way it has leaned into the nostalgia while also delivering new spins on the original design, via platform soles, low-rise silhouettes and fresh colourways. The brand’s new-season minimalist clogs and ballet-pump-come-sneaker hybrids are confirmation of this new direction. So even if you’re not quite ready to re-commit the OG mini boot, there are now so many ways to incorporate some Ugg energy into your cold-weather capsule.
So what’s the secret to styling the Ugg boot in 2026? The answer will depend on whether you want to lean into the nostalgia or opt for a more update take on the shoe. For the former, you could try experimenting with a Y2K-coded denim miniskirt – a throwback staple experiencing a comeback this season – paired with a long-sleeved logo top. A skirt over jeans or trousers pairing is another styling hack that will bring out the boot’s 2000s undertones. If you want a less on-the-nose interpretation then an asymmetric denim skirt (see Zara’s TRF style below) styled with a simple crew-neck knit might be a good alternative.
Meanwhile, for those experiencing Noughties fatigue (quite understandable), may want to adopt a more minimalist stance, by which we mean simple staples, such as loose shirting, straight-leg jeans and streamlined accessories. You can also go for a very 2026 preppy spin via Prada-inspired A-line skirts, simple white tees and Harrington jackets.
Scroll down for more Ugg inspiration for the season ahead. (Deep breaths, millennials, you got this.)
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