Back in November, I was invited by UGG to visit their store in Leeds city centre for a Christmas themed event. It was a very intimate affair, with only me and two other bloggers in attendance, so this gave me a great opportunity to get to know the brand better. I didn't really know anything about UGG, to be quite honest; only that they were responsible for the infamous boots that were rampant during the 2000's. I have to admit, I have seen so many knock offs throughout my time, I was quite put off! In fact, that is something that I was told at the event; apart from Louis Vuitton, UGG boots are the most counterfeited products in the world - which I had suspected, but didn't know for sure that this was the case. By visiting the store, I hoped to be able to put this preconception to rights, see what other products they offered and what makes them such a successful brand.





The Leeds store is based right in the heart of the shopping district, in the beautiful Victoria Quarter. I thought that I would have to search for ages to find the store, but it surprised me by being quite a bit bigger than I had imagined. The event was held early on a weekday morning, which is something that I've ever experienced before; usually events based in a store are held in the evening, and I have to say that this made a refreshing change. With the store being empty, I had the privilege of being able to explore and learn more about the products and that is something that I really appreciate being able to do. The store is beautifully laid out, with plenty of space available to browse, try on items, and display after display of shoes, boots and accessories to fully showcase the range. I was surprised to learn that not only do they make footwear, but UGG also make items such as wallets, gloves, handbags and hats, to name just a few. Many of these items - although not all - feature their signature sheepskin lining, which I can tell you know is the softest thing I have ever felt - I may have been going around the store sticking my hands into the boots just to feel it, which must have looked quite odd! Not only do they sell their Classic range that everyone knows, but also more "fashionable" styles such as knee highs, heeled and laced boots; there is such an enormous variety, it's quite staggering to see it all at once.






To start off the event, I was shown around the store, and shown some of these items that I mentioned, as well as their bestselling ranges and new lines for the winter season. My favourite out of these were the the Pendleton range, which you can see in the image directly above in the form of men's slippers. UGG partnered with Pendleton to create a collection that reflects on the successes of both brands. These items feature a custom Pendleton jaquard that represents the waves and mountains of California, where UGG was founded. I also fell in love with their Classic Short Leather Boots, and I was also impressed with their men's footwear collection - there are many more styles than I had anticipated, and I'm ashamed that I had pigeon-holed the brand into just one of their styles. Visiting the store really opened my eyes as to how big their range actually is, and the quality and craftsmanship that goes into each design is impeccable. As a thank you for coming to the event, I was given the opportunity to choose a pair of slippers to take home with me that day, which was extremely generous of them. The Scuffette II in Midnight had caught my eye earlier on when I was being shown around, as I loved the colour and the style. When I tried them on, I knew that they were the pair for me! I have had many "slipper boot" styles in the past, that require quite some effort to get your foot inside, but I've never really gotten along with them as they made my feet too warm. With these, they have the lovely, soft, cosy lining that UGG is known for, but because they are open back, they still allow air to circulate and I've been finding these extremely comfortable to wear. The best picture that I have of them is on my Instagram from when I first got them; it's safe to say that they have barely left my feet since, and that I can't be without them. Never thought I'd say that about a pair of £75 slippers! The quality is outstanding, and truly a case of "you get what you pay for".






The main part of the event was to make ourselves a Christmas wreath each - with more than a little bit of help, of course. There was all manner of natural products for us to use to create our wreath; dried flowers, fruit, cinnamon sticks and more. Of course, there was plenty of glittery items too, and I wasted no time in getting my hands covered in it. Believe it or not, I've never made or decorated a Christmas wreath before, so I was very excited to get stuck in! The others seemed to have a colour theme to their designs, but I went overboard and used pretty much everything that was available to us. The beauty of it was, somehow it still managed to look great - even though I had put so many things onto it! A bow was added on for me (far too complicated for me to handle), and the final product is available for you to see above. I have to admit, I was quite proud of it! I ended up taking it to work to hang up, where it took pride of place for a few days. It smelled amazing too, as not only were the decorations made out of natural products, but the wreath as well was made out of real pine. I have to admit, I did get a few funny looks taking it to work in a huge UGG carrier bag on the bus, but it was worth it!




Finally, as well as the slippers and making a Christmas wreath (as if they weren't generous enough!), at a later date I was also gifted a pair of Classic UGG boots all of my very own. This is so we could see the results of their monogramming service, which is something I thought I would never own in my lifetime - a pair of Classic UGGs with my initials on them! I was unable to get the monogramming done in store, as the required equipment hadn't arrived, but I was very keen to see what they turned out like once finished. I chose the Classic Short in Black; I had originally asked for the Leather version mentioned previous, but the monogramming was unable to be done on these due to the thickness of the fabric. When they arrived, I was surprised to see that my initials had been blind stitched on - I was expecting them to be printed on somehow, so I was impressed with that! The initials are on the top outer of the left boot, and whilst it is noticeable, it's not so obvious that it cheapens the look of the boot - it blends right in, and that I really like. As for the boots themselves - I have worn them now on several occasions, and, like the slippers, I have been converted. The real sheepskin lining keeps your feet cosy and warm throughout the winter season, as well as making the boots extremely comfortable to wear. The only downside that I have come across is that they are not waterproof. They can withstand some exposure light rain and even snow, as I've discovered, but they cannot be worn in really wet weather. However, you can purchase some Sheepskin Stain & Water Repellent Spray to use on your boots, which I will be doing the next time I'm near the store. When I do this, I'm hopeful that I can continue to wear them throughout the rest of the winter season, before I have to put them away for the summer! I really do love them, and I'm so glad that I had been given the opportunity to learn more about the brand and to try them for myself. I am well and truly converted!