Uggs, or should we say ugh? Meg Ryan wore them in a movie, Pamela Anderson on the beach, and Julia Roberts to the opera. Kidding, but just about the opera part. The fleece-lined Australian Ugg boots, named for their lack of aesthetic qualities, have been showing up on stars from Santa Monica to Soho. Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker (who ordered a specially designed ruby red pair) and J. Lo are among other style vixens sighted in the cheap uggs. Oprah even gave a pair to everyone in her audience recently. It seems to be one of those "there's no explaining fashion" phenomena. Perhaps people are like sheep, following in the fuzzy footsteps of the stars, perhaps it's an anti-fashion statement. Or maybe it's a comfort-shoe revolution, following in the tracks of comfort clothes. Like Cameron Diaz in a Juicy Couture sweatsuit. That's pretty cute, right? And so is a buff babe in a tan, bikini and big hairy genuine ugg boots. Now the boots are showing up in Montreal and selling like hotcakes at Browns Holt Renfrew and Scarpa. "Who says they're ugly?" said Caitlin Fear, 22, spotted wearing them at work at Caban. "I love them. They're amazing." And they're not an anti-fashion statement, she said. She and her sister had been searching high and low for a pair since they saw them on Meg Ryan in the 2000 flick Hanging Up. They finally found them last month. "I'm obsessed with fashion," said Fear, a fashion-marketing graduate who admits to always wanting to be first with a trend. The sheepskin ugg boots sale, first imported to the U.S. in 1978, were originally worn by Aussie surfers after an icy dip in the waves. They are meant to be worn barefoot and to keep your feet comfortable between minus 30F and 80F (minus 34C and 27C), said Leslie Styles, brand co-ordinator for ugg australia in Toronto. Styles said a snug fit is best. The sheepskin wicks moisture away from the feet, she said, and the boots can be sprayed to make them resistant to water. The company can't keep up with demand for the uggs on sale, she said. "Yeah, they're ugly," said Giuseppe Tortorici, manager at Browns Holt Renfrew, noting that Vanessa Paradis bought two pairs recently. Browns has a few pairs left, as does Scarpa - but only a few. At Scarpa, about 70 pairs sold out in 10 days, said Melanie Azoulay. "It's a total trend right now." The ankle ugg boots uk cost $280; knee-highs are $380. Scarpa is at 4901 Sherbrooke St. W. Holt Renfrew at 1300 Sherbrooke St. W. efriede@thegazette.canwest.com