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In 2006, paparazzi photographed hotel heiress, Paris Hilton walking through Beverly Hills. She had an over-sized, tote bag slung over her shoulder. The slender actress/singer (ha-ha) was accompanied by her faithful chirauhua. Her dog sat comfortably in her bag. Together, they enjoyed a typical, sunny California day. Unknowingly, the pair started a trend in consumer shopping among adolescent girls and young women.

Nationwide, women began carrying their miniature dogs in designer, tote bags. Ones who never walked a dog became overnight, dog lovers. They maxxed out their credit cards on designer bags. They used these bags to cater to their four-legged friends, instead of keeping their belongings secure. Humans did the walking. Dogs did the relaxing.

Coach, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior flew off the shelves. Boutiques sold their high-end bags to anyone holding a black card and a money clip. Actresses, such as Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Heidi Spencer and Lauren Conrad (L.C.) displayed their fashionable totes and their pedigree pooches. Consumers began buying stock in designer labels. And, it all started with a photo of a Beverly Hills socialite.

Since 1984, Oprah Winfrey maintained her position as Black America's most powerful, media mogul. Customers always followed what she said. She revealed her affection for a lengthy, insulated boot with straps. It resembled something a Native American princess would've worn. But, this footwear earned instant fame from being one of Oprah's Favorite Things. The name was "ugly".

UGG boots exploded with a bang and disappeared in a flash. In 2007, consumer bought millions of dollars of UGGs. Their stock rose like an inferno on NASDAQ and the Wall Street Stock Exchange. The shoes looked built for the winter seasons and winter conditions. However, folks in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Alaska didn't clamor to own them. It was celebrity Hollywood who fancied themselves with these furry shoes. Tori Spelling, Hilton, Rachel Hunter and others flaunted their UGGs to cameras. It seemed that this trend would last for years.

It lasted for a year. UGGs were a California theme. Cheaper knock-offs were carried by Younkers, Dillard's, Kohl's, Target, JCPenney and Dollar General Stores. Eventually, consumers got tired of sweating in them. They got tired of constant cleaning the seude leather. They probably got tired of being the butt-end of jokes. The allure faded with time.

Celebrities always influenced trends. Rap stars wore excessive jewelry. They drank bottles of Christal. They rode around in cars with chrome rims. Some immature men copied. They purchased customed fakes. They drank bottles of malt liquor and pretended it was Christal. They put rims on their rusted-out heaps. Those rims cost more than their cars. They measured flash as an example of manhood.

Fans clamored over their Hollywood stars. They followed what they did. They saw their lives from the outside. They tried to live their lives. Hollywood knew this. Hollywood wanted this. Hollywood asked for this. And they, as obedient sheep, wanted it.

Learn more about this author, Marcus Brooks.
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