Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Is Bringing Back Uggs in Fall Campaign

On Thursday night, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Ugg hosted Soho House Malibu’s inaugural fashion event with Rachel Zoe, Sara Foster, Kate Bosworth and friends. The occasion? Celebrating the brand’s iconic boots, which symbolized a certain time in the early aughts when Juicy Couture’s velour tracksuits were king, Us Weekly was the bible of paparazzi chic and every A-lister in Hollywood wore the marshmallowy, apres-surf sheepskin booties (Britney! Cameron! Lindsay! Paris!), spawning a worldwide craze.

THR talked to the model, actress and brand ambassador about starring in the company’s fall ad campaign, where she gets her fashion inspiration and what never to wear with Uggs.

THR: So, congratulations on being Ugg’s first global women’s brand ambassador. That’s pretty exciting.

RHW: That’s very exciting.

Are you a longtime fan of Ugg boots?

Yeah, I’ve owned Ugg boots since I was 16. I’m trying to work out whether I was 15 or 16, but it was around that time. It was definitely when Uggs hit the scene, and everyone was wearing them: my favorite style icons at the time, like Kate Moss, Kate Hudson, Sienna Miller, and I just had to own a pair. So I saved up, and I remember waiting — you know, you wait for something to come in the post every day, and you check and see if it comes, and it came, and that’s when my love began, and I’ve just owned a pair ever since. Not the same pair, but several pairs over the last … hmm, I don’t want to give my age away, but over the last 13, 14 years. And so kind of a staple part in my wardrobe. They really represent the much more off-duty part of my life in Malibu. They are great for wearing down on the beach in the winter when you’re walking the dogs, and I grew up in the countryside, so I spent a lot of time going back to see my parents, so there’s always a pair in the back of my car.

The fall 2016 campaign showcases the classic Ugg styles. Is that what you stick to wearing?

I love the classic style, but we’ve just been doing the shoot for the next spring campaign today, and they’ve got this new pair that I’m kind of — was really impressed by: suede-perforated, that’s the material, but they’re a bit more floppy, kind of bohemian. And obviously they’re cooler in the spring, summer months. I’ll be coveting those.

The campaign was directed by the phenomenal Cass Bird. What’s working with her like?

Cass is awesome. I love working with her. I love that she brings out a side of me and celebrates a side of me that I don’t often get to showcase. People are so used to seeing me in a ball gown, with makeup and hair and, you know, and whatever. And she was all about stripping me back. She shoots me with no makeup and letting my playful, fun side out and showcasing that side of my personality. And she’s just such a laugh. We literally — we just pissed our pants for three days straight. She’s awesome. She’s really cool.

That she is! What’s your go-to winter look to pair with Ugg boots?

Denim cutoffs. I’m a big Paige fan, obviously, I’m sure you know. I’ve been working with Paige denim now for the last two years, and so I’ll wear my Ugg boots with a pair of Paige denim cutoffs and kind of sweater or T-shirt. This morning, I had a pair on with some denim cutoffs, and I was wearing a pair, the lace-up, like, bootie pair. What are those ones called, Alice? The ones I had on this morning, the lace-up ones? The Bethanys, which are super cool, and then a white T-shirt and a bomber jacket.

Your style is so put together and really unique. Are you following what other gals are wearing these days?

I love fashion. I love style, and I love seeing what stylish women wear. I’ll either go onto my Instagram and I look at some of my favorite people that I love to follow for their fashion, or I like to make Pinterest boards.

Ok, last thing. Anything NOT to wear with Uggs? A look that makes you think: “Please don’t”?

That’s a good question. Well, I suppose probably without offending any other brands, probably best to just stay away from any kind of sweatpants with an Ugg boot or any kind of overly distressed paint, splattered denim. It’s about making Ugg cool and chic and off-duty, and I think that’s hopefully what people will see in the campaign.