Boots with the fur. The expression has become practically immortalized since Flo Rida sang about them in his hit song “Low.” Now everywhere I go, there they are like a fuzzy disease.

High school students, college students, the gymnasts at Kenney, even an older woman who waited for the same bus as me — they all have them. I even found out that one of the guys I know has a pair.

For me, it all seemed to start with that fateful line, “She had them apple bottom jeans, the boots with the fur, the whole club looking at her ....” When the song came out in October, it was a little to warm to be wearing boots at all, so I didn't see much of an effect.

As the weather turned colder, though, every time I went out on campus I would see groups of college girls with huge sunglasses and Uggs. These “trendsetters” seemed to be the first to catch fur fever. Suddenly it wasn't enough to have furry boots; they had to be Uggs as well.

Over the winter and especially after Christmas I noticed more and more fuzzy-footed people. Apparently you can wear these boots with anything and every day if you want.

Some of the boots really are cute, and if they are a little original or different I like them. However, I still believe that Uggs got their name from their less-than-appealing exterior. I don’t care how comfortable they are, if it were up to me I wouldn’t buy a pair.

This brings to light a disturbing trend in the fashion industry: buying things for their brand name and not for their appearance. Another example in footwear is the Croc. I don’t personally know how comfortable they are, but to me it is not impossible to find a shoe that is both comfortable and cute.

The whole topic makes me a little sad when I realize how easily people can be influenced into doing something because it has been deemed “popular.” I think that, while trends can sometimes be misunderstood, wearing something that you know you don’t actually think is cute is pushing it a little too far.