If you've spent a minute on the internet, chances are you've come across the new UGG GoldenGlow sandals. The new silhouette by the iconic shoewear brand was unveiled earlier this spring with a colorful campaign announcing NewJeans member Hanni as the brand's newest ambassador.
Now, you might be wondering: UGG makes sandals? Yes! Though the boots have earned the brand its global recognition, we are here to tell you not to sleep on their sandals, especially the GoldenGlow.
Though Hanni posed in various new styles by UGG in her debut campaign, our eyes immediately gravitated toward the GoldenGlow. Since then, others like Teen Vogue cover star Isabela Merced and Avantika have also given this shoe their stamp of approval, so, of course, we'd have to test them out for ourselves to see if they lived up to the hype.
Available in a bunch of candy-like colors as well as neutrals and featuring a chunky platform, the monochromatic sandal has everything going for it at first glance. But, though looks are important, comfort comes first when it comes to shoes. The Teen Vogue team put the UGG GoldenGlow sandals in ‘Bison Brown’ and ‘Mangosteen’ to the test to see how they bode in both comfort and versatility. Read our full thoughts — and see how we each styled the shoe — below. (Spoiler alert: we might have found the shoe of the summer!)
Sara Delgado, Editor-at-Large
From the moment I saw these sandals on NewJeans' Hanni, I knew I'd have to add them to my collection—potentially in more than one color. One thing about me is that I am a sandal girlie. Even in the winter, you can find me religiously wearing clogs and sandals to walk my dog on a daily basis. I am also a platform girlie, so the GoldenGlows were just meant to be.
I opted for a pair of the more muted colors since I tend to mainly wear neutrals and wanted these to go with everything and I don't regret my decision. When I first tried my GoldenGlows, I was quite honestly shocked by how soft they were. They felt like a cloud, and I immediately sunk into them. However, after walking for a bit, I realized friction would be an issue. These shoes are made up of 100% rubber, which makes them super easy to clean, but it also means if your skin is on the dryer side like mine, your feet will need a bit of time to adjust. I first wore my sandals to a concert, and they did rub a little harder than I anticipated on the bridge of my feet, especially towards my big toe. It was a bummer but this is usually the case with rubber shoes. The second time I wore them out, I was prepared and put on a layer of the First Aid Beauty Anti-Chafe Stick on my problem areas, and it worked wonders. After a handful of tries, my feet are now used to the silhouette, and I don't need the protective layer anymore for casual wear, though it's still a nice addition on hot days.
These shoes are so versatile and easy to style that I wouldn't let the minor hiccups ruin the vibe. I've been styling them with jeans and maxi dresses as the weather transitions fully into spring, but I can't wait to rock them to the beach or the pool once the temperatures rise a bit more. A maxi shirt with a bikini underneath and these on my feet? I literally cannot wait. (Ah, I also love that they match my dog's leash.) Priced at $100, I'd say the UGG GoldenGlow is a very sensible investment.
Claire Dodson, Senior Entertainment Editor
Turns out there's no better way to usher in New York City spring than with a pair of bright pink sandals — and a fresh pedicure courtesy of the phenomenal Tenoverten salon in FiDi. I tested the GoldenGlow sandals in Mangosteen — a gorgeous purply pink that reads more bright pink in the sunshine. I'm often a sandals skeptic; New York is ferocious on your feet, and rats have scurried across my phalanges too often for me to be blissfully open-toed. Still, these UGG sandals are chunky enough to feel substantially protective while still allowing the appendages to breathe, plus they're adjustable at every part of the shoe.
The GoldenGlows are, in a couple of words, extremely cushy — nice for shorter trips, park days, etc., though perhaps less great for big walking days or lots of up-and-down subway treks. The squishiness means your knees will do more stability work, which, hey, if you've got great knees, enjoy that sh*t!
The color is a dream, and the chunkiness is ideal. I love an all-black summer fit, to which a statement shoe can be a perfect finishing touch. But I also found myself embracing the adventurousness of the color to be more adventurous in other aspects of my outfits: boxers, tanks, tighter floral skirts. It brightened my mood just to gaze upon them.
Aiyana Ishmael, Associate Editor
I am a huge UGG girlie. I religiously live in the platform UGG boots during the winter months. While I’ve sprained my ankle twice because of varying platform shoes, I still wear my UGG ones because of their support. Suffice to say it, I was excited to try out these platform sandals because I need an easy and quick summer shoe.
As someone who grew up in Miami, it's warm and constantly conflicting weather highly influenced my style. Opened-toe shoes were religiously worn in my household. But I rarely, if ever, wear open-toed shoes now in NYC because I am often on public transportation. I ultimately decided to lose some of that fear, so I had to get a fresh pedicure to take these bad boys on the town. After swinging by Tenoverten nail salon near our offices, I stomped around my Brooklyn neighborhood in the shoes. I have extremely flat feet, so sandals usually are hard for me because they tend to have little to no support. I loved these sandals because they were well cushioned but not too plushy to where I felt like I was seeping into the ground. They had a little squish but were also firm so it made it very easy to wear all day long.
The adjustable straps at first bothered me, but once I realized I could fix that myself, I no longer had any tightness around my toe strap. My next test for these shoes was to take them back to my hometown. I love sandals and anything that keeps my feet from getting too sweaty, so I was especially excited to take these shoes with me to Miami. I must be honest; while these sandals were comfortable in NYC, they just are perfect for Miami living. They’re easy to slip on when you’re in a rush and running errands, but they’re also chic enough to wear to brunch or happy hour by the water. Overall, these UGG sandals just might become my go-to shoe this summer.
Donya Momenian, Fashion and Beauty Associate Editor
I've never owned a pair of UGG shoes before, so I was really excited to see what the hype is all about. My first impression as I took these out of the box was that they're pretty light despite their chunky appearance, which is always great because being dragged down by heavy shoes is never fun. I was pleasantly surprised that the platforms were super soft, too. Despite the height, they weren’t difficult to walk in either. I do think the friction from the cloth straps could irritate bare feet after a while, so for days where you’ll be doing more walking, pairing them with socks would be best. Luckily, they look super cute with them anyway. I love styling them with Y2K looks, and I especially think about the movie 10 Things I Hate About You and the show Lizzie McGuire. I opt for cargo pants and skirts, baggy jeans, cropped tops, and layered tops typically. But the shoes are pretty versatile, so I can also pair them with a blouse or floral skirt, too, if I feel like leaning into the spring and summer vibes.
Kaitlyn McNab, Entertainment News Editor
The UGG GoldenGlows are so comfortable that it feels like walking on clouds — no bullsh*t. I chose the sandals in Bison Brown, hoping it would influence me to wear the lighter colors in my wardrobe. Plus, I have been loving beige, cream, and earthy tones lately, and these shoes are the perfect shade of brown to match my skin, almost the perfect nude. I styled these sandals with cut off shorts as a way to elevate a really casual look; and to show off the platforms properly, I chose a wide leg set. I will always be a sucker for cute and comfortable shoes.
