Tall Uggs Are Back, and I’m Ready To Lead the Movement

In paid partnership with Old Navy

I’ve been in LA for the past few days, which is important for me to mention because of what I’m about to say: tall Uggs are back. I know, I had to take a moment, too. But after experiencing the whiplash that is LA’s Mediterranean, semi-arid climate for the first time, I finally understood why so many celebrities in Hollywood wore Uggs with shorts in the ’00s and ’10s. Oh, Mischa Barton. I’m sorry I ever doubted this one specific shoe choice of yours back then. I’m shivering while surrounded by palm trees and billboards reminding drivers to never leave a dog in a hot car. A pair of tall Uggs would feel really nice right now.

While the Ugg Slip-Ons and Ultra-Minis have had their moment, the tall Ugg is ripe for redemption. And unlike the mini, which reads as intentionally “cute” or just another micro trend, the tall version has range.

There was a flicker of hope for Uggs in general in 2022/2023 with the occasional celebrity endorsement (Bella Hadid with her pizza and Ultra Mini Platform Uggs comes to mind) or runway appearance (see: the “club-ready Ugg clogs” at the Martine Rose Autumn/Winter 2023 menswear show), but with the 2010s aesthetic finally back, it feels like this is the Uggs time to truly shine.

But first, a history lesson: although its origins are hazy, Uggs have been around for a while, tracing as far back as rural Australia in the 1920s, when shearers wore sheepskin boots because they resisted lanolin. Surfers adopted them in the ’60s and ’70s to warm up after being in the ocean, and by the time ads appeared in American surf magazines, Californians were quick to claim the cozy, shapeless boot as their own. By the 2000s, they were on the feet of every It girl, transforming them from a masculine boot intended for competitive surfers to a wardrobe staple for the likes of Pamela Anderson, Lindsay Lohan, and Beyoncé. In the 2010s, Jeremy Scott attempted a revival with an Ugg collaboration, telling WWD, “I was an undercover Ugg fan. They are so cozy and I love the way they look with pants and shorts….I loved classic tall boot because it’s so recognizable and very indicative of L.A. and Malibu.”

Now that I’ve been in LA long enough to shake off my New York City jadedness and channel a little Eve Babitz (who famously wrote about how her Uggs protected her lower legs from burns after dropping a lit match while driving in her essay, “I Used to Be Charming”), I get what Scott meant—it’s so LA.The tall Ugg, in particular, feels, dare I say, sexy. Maybe it’s the lack of structure, maybe the unisex appeal. Either way, the boot adapts to its wearer: it can be the focal point of a look or vanish into layers of cozy essentials like cardigans, leggings, and scarves (just look at Megan Fox).

“Me and Uggs go way back,” stylist Jules Cesario told me over a series of voice notes while driving across the country. “And now that I’m older and know my personal style, I feel like I know how to incorporate them into my wardrobe. One of the key aspects of my style is comfort, and Uggs are so comfortable.” Cesario is a big fan of the shorts and tall Uggs combo. “I have long legs, so I’m going to show them off. I wear normal boots with my shorts, so why not tall Uggs?”

Parker Foubert, a model, agrees. Foubert also likes to style them with “a mini short or mini skirt” plus “a big hoodie, sunglasses, and a fur hat.” I immediately thought of Snow Strippers vocalist Tatiana Schwaninger, whose simple yet sexy style mostly consists of some kind of short and boot combo as well. Last winter, Schwaninger wore a pair of shearling boots with denim mini shorts, a white lace garter, and flesh-colored stockings, making the case that practicality and provocation aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s not hard to imagine her embracing a pair of tall Uggs sometime in the near future.

But there are other ways to style the tall Ugg to make them feel fresh. I love the idea of pairing the black tall Ugg with an ultra-feminine pleated shirt (obsessed with the Chopova Lowena mini skirts and this black midi one from Uniqlo) and a simple boatneck top, like this TikTok user did.

If you want to go more luxe, tuck a pair of chestnut tall under straight-leg denim and throw on a vintage fur jacket. Or go no-pants with a cozy oversized knit and big, futuristic sunglasses (I’ve been looking at this image of Elle MacPherson in 2007, which is still so fresh 18 years later). You could go preppy like Doechii, who recently styled Ugg’s tall New Heights boots with a mini bubble skirt and burgundy V-neck sweater. And with all of the monochromatic ensembles we’ve seen during NYFW Spring/Summer 2026, tall Uggs can be a great way to add texture and interest to a monochrome look. But when in doubt, you can’t go wrong channeling an off-duty Y2K celebrity. Case in point: Jessica Alba in 2005,who tucked her army green Juicy Couture tracksuit into bubblegum-pink Uggs, accessorized with a camo cap, oversized hoops, and a stack of bangles.

All this talking about tall Uggs is making me want to post a X-Pro II-filtered selfie to Instagram and drink a coconut latte. Or maybe I’ve been in LA for too long. Either way, consider me a fan. I’m just going to wear them in a way that’s more appropriate for NYC weather. Googling pics of Chloë Sevigny in Uggs, BRB.

— Ashliene McMenamy

In paid partnership with Old Navy

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