I could feel eyes watching me as I walked down the street. There were “looks” in the office. As I made my way through the train station, the once-overs I was getting weren’t exactly subtle.

Then I heard it. The nudge, the giggle, the gasp and then the comment from two girls on the bench behind me.

“Oh my God. As if anyone actually seriously still wears those out.”

I hadn’t walked out nude. I wasn’t dressed in a garish, outrageous outfit. My ‘crime’? I was wearing ugg boots. In daylight. On purpose.

The offending footwear. Image: Supplied

I shouldn't have to explain myself, but I feel I have to.

You see, two days before I'd worn a (totally suede and wool-lined-free) pair of strappy, lace-up high heels that had given me major blisters on both sides of my feet. Walking was torture and I couldn't physically fit my feet into any other shoes. So in a hurry that morning, I pulled out my chocolate brown fluffy uggs and delicately squeezed my feet in them before going on my merry way to work (as, ahem, a fashion and beauty writer).

It didn't take me long to realise I'd committed a massive, unforgiveable fashion crime.

It wasn't that long ago (okay, 2003. Where the hell did the time ago?) ugg boots were a wardrobe and celebrity street style staple. The sheepskin boots were seen on everyone from Kate Moss and Paris Hilton, and considered the perfect style companion to everything from trousers to low-rise pants to denim miniskirts. Sienna Miller even wore them to Glastonbury in the height of summer, for goodness sake.

Kate Moss OUTSIDE in UGGS in 2003. Image: Getty

After a few years encasing our feet in cloud-like toastiness, the boot endured a mighty, mighty fall in style and popularity.

We pushed them to the back of our wardrobes where they spent years feeling unloved, our feet cold and uncomfortable. To wear them outside of your home was to bring shame on yourself, your family and your shoe collection.

Even the ugly shoe resurgence of 2014 didn't welcome them back — and we even had those hideous Windsor Smith cage sandals. In fact, we're still dealing with the aftershocks of Birkenstocks, dad-hiking-on-holiday sandals and slides as a result of that movement.

The true offenders.

If I have to put up with those horrors, the world should re-learn to accept uggs back into mainstream fashion.

For too long, the innocent fluffy boots have been wrongly lumped in the same category as Crocs when it comes to offensive footwear. No more. Following the pattern of cyclical fashion trends, it's high time they made their triumphant return. After all, chokers, dungarees and lipsticks are now fashionable again — surely anything is possible?

My blisters have now gone, but I've worn my uggs out twice since then, simply as a sign of defiance.

The Uggs? We'll take. The mini skirts... not so much. (Images: Getty)

Wearing ugg boots no longer has to be a sign that you've lost control of your life, just rolled out of bed or you're stuck in a style timewarp. If I can wear my activewear to lunch, surely uggs are suitable dinner wear? They demonstrate confidence. They're waterproof. They're practical. They come in every colour from staple black or brown to colourful and printed.

And most importantly? They're damn comfy.

People with feet around the world, the revolution has begun. Join me.

And as for the rude comments? They'd probably have stung a little more - if my feet weren't so cosy and comfy in their sheep-lined foot cave.

The 90s girls we wanted to be.

18. Daria in Daria (duh).

17. Sue Ellen Crandell in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.

16. Katerina "Kat" Ioannou in Heartbreak High.

15. Sarah Bailey in The Craft.

13. Laney Boggs in She's All That.

12. Julia Salinger in Party of Five.

11. Romy and Michele from Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.

10. Rachel Green in Friends.

9. Kat Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You.

8. Alex Mack in The Secret World of Alex Mack.

7. Lelaina Pierce in Reality Bites.

6. Josie Gellar in Never Been Kissed.

5. Corey Mason in Empire Records.

4. Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek.

3. Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Clueless

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Image: Supplied

Where do you stand on the Uggs in public debate?