I thought that after one year, their popularity would die down, like those monogrammed purses and Converse-style stilettos. I thought wrong.

They’ve come back for a second time around. Frankly, people young and old, as well as all the furry animals in sight, are trembling with the utter shock and horror that these foot covers are now “in season.”

Those foot covers known as Uggs.

I know, I know, I just sent children scurrying under the covers and caused some middle-aged women to revert to sucking their thumbs. I’m not ecstatic about it either. Apparently, the same people who buy these Inuit-esque boots not only are bringing them back for Season Dos, but are doing so with a pre-snow season vigor.

Maybe they just pride themselves on wearing pretentious, overpriced snow boots lined with 15 animals a foot. Most sane people stopped wearing snowsuits and all of the trimmings, including thermal boots, in their younger years.

I guess some people just are not able to shake old fads as well as others.

Maybe they just don’t have any mirrors in their homes to see the sheer ridiculousness of the “style.”

Whatever the reason may be, Uggs made their main entrance in recent weeks, understandably when the thermostat dropped. Surprisingly enough, these shoes were being donned by some as soon as it was too nippy to wear flip-flops.

And by nippy, I mean they didn’t get their pedicures that week, since it was 70 degrees out.

I don’t understand.

First off, I highly doubt that 80 percent of the people wearing them do so for the utility. That’s what socks are for. God forbid people actually lug around an extra 10 pounds on each foot to keep their feet warm. That’s not even in the realm of consideration.

Instead, these foot blankets are worn for what else — fashion. Why else would they be selling for such exorbitant prices?

But the fashion is enough to raise eyebrows, cause a gagging reflex and make cynical people like myself pound their heads on their desk screaming “Why?”

For those not familiar with the “styles” I speak of, let me explain.

There’s the infamous “mini-skirt ‘n boots” look. The far-too-short ruffled mini-skirt paired with an off-the shoulder paper-thin shirt finished off with a pair of Uggs.

And this look is most likely seen when temperatures are below 40 degrees. No stockings, no knee highs, hell, not even any leg warmers.

Now, why would someone be wearing an overly-busy poofy mini-skirt in the dead of winter with bare legs? Well, because of the Ugg boots “warming the soul” of course.

No, really, give me a logical explanation.

A reality check may be in order: You live in New England, on the water, no less. It’s not 85-degee dry heat. It’s 20 below and windy.

Justify it how you will, there’s no winning that argument.

Second staple Uggs fashion: donning them over a pair of pants, typically jeans. This one’s a bit easier to stomach. Throw on a pair of Uggs with some faded tapered jeans and you have this look down. It’s as if you took the “Aspen snow-bunny” look and threw it into downtown Manhattan.

The only severely distressing part of this look is the mere fact that it might bring back tapered pants, which are already creeping back into the style rotation on the emo scene. It’s just a matter of time before these boots take over the world.

The trend is already gracing red carpets, high end boutiques and the “thank you daddy” population here in Boston and the girls who pick their friends by their Coach bags.

This year, though, the furry foot-covers were brought out of the closet a tad too early. The leaves had hardly begun to turn when Uggs were being sported all around the city.

Maybe that type of anticipation is hard to contain.

You can just envision the thought processes for this group of fashionistas:

“You know what? We can beat every style expert and magazine this year by wearing winter fashion in September. Who cares if it’s still 75 degrees outside, it’s a small price to pay.”

If only the thought process was that coherent.

Will anyone ever fully understand the ways of fashion? Other than the Queer Eye Five, it is doubtful.

Unfortunately, winter is just starting to chill the city, which means one thing. The boots are here to stay and their expiration date is far from what I’d like to hear: tomorrow.

– Kaitlin Thaney can be reached at [email protected]