An ode to the UGG Classic Mini 

I bought my very first pair of UGG boots in November 2006. I'd just gotten my first real paycheck and I had no bills back then, so of course, I spent most of my money on trendy clothes I wanted.

While yoga pants are now called flare leggings, UGG and North Face have never really faded into obscurity. Some folks might consider the brand "cheugy" but I've been a loyal fan for 15 years. After all, the boots have lasted me this long, and I was a monster 15 years ago – I didn't take good care of anything back then.

My first pair of UGGs were the Classic Mini. They only cost about $120 when I got them, but now, they run you $150. Mine don't look quite as nice as a new pair anymore, but there are no holes and the sole is actually in pretty good shape. I don't drag my feet much, which is the #1 enemy of these boots: If you drag your feet at all, you'll wear your flat-bottomed soles out fast.

I've managed to keep my boots and slippers in decent shape because I bought a few bottles of UGG cleaner and the stuff really does work. You can also buy replacement insoles for $20; I've done this a few times now for multiple boots.

Those first pair of boots were well-loved and sparked a 15-year-long relationship with UGG. Several Christmases in a row my parents bought me a new pair of boots. Over time, I've donated many of my old boots, but I've never been able to let go of my first pair – or the slippers I bought right after them.

I worked in an ice rink back then, and our uniforms were essentially yoga pants, a work polo, and boots or slippers. Many of the girls I worked with had the slippers, so to fit in, I bought a pair too. UGG is the only brand worth spending $100 on slippers because I've seen firsthand they really do last forever.

I got my Coquette slippers sometime at the end of 2006 because they were the "it" slipper of the year. It was totally normal to go to high school, college, or even work in a pair of UGG slippers. No one looked at you like you'd just rolled out of bed.

These days, I tend to only wear my boots when I'm walking my dog (I cannot be barefoot around the house anymore, due to an injury, so I'm always in my slippers). I recently upgraded to a new pair (the Oh Yeah Slide) since the insoles of my old slippers have bit the dust.

I probably will never wear my UGGs like a core part of an outfit again, but I also don't ever think they'll leave my wardrobe. There's no easier shoe to throw on when I'm running out of the house far too early for coffee or out for a late-night snack. I've stood by these shoes for 15 years, and I know I'll be saying the same thing 15 years from now.

Ana Suarez is the senior commerce editor for Hearst Newspapers. She is always on the hunt for good sales, but really, she just won't shut up about her senior dog, Tyrone.