As soon as the temperature drops and the light, long evenings of summer start to become a distant memory, one distinct footwear trend comes immediately to mind: UGG boots. Slipping your feet into toe-warming shearling and strokably soft suede is the sartorial equivalent of hibernation, and UGGs have quietly spent the last few years cementing their status as the cold-weather shoe of choice for It-girls and fashion people alike.
Whether it is the classic midis favoured by style icons like Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Lawrence, or the easy-to-wear slip-ons, these cosy-meets-cool shoes have always made leaving the house in sub-zero temperatures feel like an absolute breeze. However, whether or not they could genuinely look chic has been a matter of ongoing debate within the fashion community for some time. That is until today, when Zoë Kravitz effectively silenced the naysayers by stepping out in New York City and pairing her Tasman II Slippers with a pair of floaty, ankle-skimming trousers in a matching shade of black.
Strolling the bustling streets of Manhattan arm in arm with Riley Keough on the set of the upcoming feature film Die Alive, Kravitz made a remarkably convincing case for the elevated UGG boot outfit. Wearing a loose white jersey jumper, voluminous barrel-leg trousers, and black low-rise UGG boots—all finished off with the perfect pop of seasonal color via a vivid purple scarf—the unexpected trouser-and-boot pairing immediately captured the attention of street style photographers and fashion observers alike.
The brilliance of the look lies in its deliberate styling choices. By colour-blocking from the hips down and matching her trousers directly to her boots, Kravitz made the entire ensemble feel significantly sleeker and far more intentional than casual footwear styling typically allows. This clever visual trick is a styling hack that offers particular benefits for petite dressers and anyone looking to refine their winter wardrobe proportions. While neutral shades help to maintain an inherently polished energy throughout an outfit, matching your trousers and boots seamlessly helps to visually elongate the leg, creating a balanced and harmonious silhouette even when dealing with inherently bulky cold-weather footwear.
For years, shearling-lined boots and low-profile slip-ons have been relegated to the realm of casual errand-running, airport style, and indoor lounging. Fashion purists have frequently balked at the idea of wearing them outside of strictly casual contexts, arguing that their relaxed proportions clash with tailored clothing. Yet, as contemporary style continues to lean into the harmonious tension between comfort and high-end design, celebrities and stylists are finding innovative ways to bridge the gap. Kravitz’s New York appearance serves as a masterclass in this philosophy, demonstrating that comfort does not have to come at the expense of aesthetic integrity.
The choice of trousers plays a critical role in the success of the outfit. Rather than tucking denim into tall boots or letting sweatpants pool clumsily over slip-ons, opting for ankle-skimming, floaty, or barrel-leg trousers allows the footwear to peek out subtly while maintaining architectural interest. Brands ranging from luxury houses like The Row—whose sophisticated Gala pant is widely believed to be the exact piece worn by Kravitz—to contemporary labels like COS, Anthropologie, and Reformation have increasingly championed relaxed tailoring that accommodates alternative footwear choices. Similarly, high-street mainstays such as Marks and Spencer, New Look, and Jack Wills continue to offer accessible takes on barrel-leg trousers and shearling-lined mule slippers, making the trend attainable for shoppers at every price point.
As cooler days and winter weather loom on the horizon, this particular pairing of relaxed tailoring and cozy footwear feels like a fail-safe way to make even the simplest everyday outfits feel more put-together. It is a styling formula well worth bookmarking for the months ahead, proving that winter dressing can successfully marry uncompromising warmth with undeniable street-style credibility.