Stalking the Elusive Ugg-lover in SoHo

UGG-LY Fuzzy-foot model Uggs—those boots that make anyone look like a Yeti from the shins down—are trapped in luxury goods purgatory. Just two weeks ago, a shoe designer in New York magazine had but one tip for females in search of winter footwear options: "Don't wear Uggs." A June 2006 Sunday Styles article in the New York Times—an institution notoriously a few steps behind fashion's front lines—derided the chunky clompers as the "bulky boots that reigned two years ago." Yet, like a persistent case of athlete's foot, the Manhattan and Malibu moon boots simply refuse to die. So when the Australian company opened up its flagship store this week in SoHo with a party sponsored by, uh, Vogue, RadarOnline.com hoofed downtown to find out how a brand that first appeared on Oprah in '99 plans on gaining traction with a bunch of consumers who hated it four years ago. Is anyone still wearing these things?