Ugg started in 1978, when Brian Smith, an Australian surfer studying in Santa Monica, pulled on a pair of sheepskin boots after a cold surf in Malibu and realized you could not buy them in America. He left accounting behind for sheepskin footwear for the surfing community, and Ugg's own story still opens there. The slipper that now gets all the attention grew out of that sheepskin history.

British Vogue calls the Tasman "the slipper version of the Ugg boot, which is even easier to slouch and sink into than its suede bootie counterpart." What your eye catches from across the street is the braid, with its "recognisable central seam and zig-zagging pattern around the ankle." Add a suede upper, a lining of sheepskin and a rubber sole that is happy on a sidewalk, and you have the whole idea. There is a platform version too, for extra height.

So this is my Ugg Tasman dupe edit, and I want to be clear about what that means. These are alternatives from other labels that share the details that make the slipper read: suede, a braided or woven collar, a warm lining, a sole you can wear outside. They are look-alikes in the spirit of the original, not the original, and each one has its own name and its own character.

The first group is the closest set of cousins. The Celtic & Co. braid trim slippers in spice come with a braided collar, shearling lining and a chunky lugged sole, which is a very good place to begin. The Dearfoams Fireside Greta in black has a woven embroidered collar on a platform. The Bearpaw Martis in hickory is chestnut suede with a stitched braid-look collar, and the Haflinger Lakota is a black wool clog with a cork footbed. In October I would wear any of them with thick socks and straight jeans.

The platform is the part of this story I find most useful. Who What Wear points to "the benefit of a platform for an added bit of height and comfort." A lifted sole also keeps the suede a bit further from the wet sidewalk, which matters in October.

The Bearpaw Loki Platform Lo Deco in iced coffee is sand suede on a stacked sole with plush collar trim, and the Izzy Platform Lo in mushroom is a plainer, shaped collar on a chunky base. The La Canadienne Era is a tan suede mule with genuine shearling lining and trim on a lugged platform. The Favorite Daughter Sunny in brown sugar is a platform clog with a plush shearling lining, and the Tory Burch shearling platform mule in light chestnut keeps the suede-and-shearling recipe in a dressier shape.

For the fitting-room test, stand up and walk across the room. A good platform bends a little at the ball of the foot, and the heel should not slip when you take a step. Press the collar between your fingers: a soft, thick edge holds its shape, a thin one folds flat by the first week.

Pair them with tights and a knit skirt. The Sorel Roam N Clog, with its lugged tread, is the one I would send out on rainy errands.

What I would skip: a platform with a stiff, flat footbed if you plan to wear them all day indoors. A dressier mule like the Dolce Vita Oslo is better for short outings than long ones.

A clog is the closest shape to the slipper that people queue up for, because the heel is open and the toe is rounded. Vogue's slipper guide says a good indoor and outdoor pair is "sturdier" and "can be worn for walking the dog or checking the mailbox." That is the job description here.

The Birkenstock Boston in taupe suede has an adjustable buckle and genuine shearling lining, and the Dearfoams Fireside Greta clog slipper in chestnut adds a memory foam insole and a rubber sole. The Chocolat Blu Genna in dark taupe is a loafer-style clog with a rounded toe. The Strive Oslo II in chocolate uses a wool-blend faux shearling lining, and the KUNSTEN Ella in umber is handmade with genuine shearling. The Veronica Beard Larken is a black leather clog with a shearling collar and gold studs on a wooden platform, and the Donna Karan Idella goes retro with faux-shearling trim and nail-head studs on a wooden base.

On the shelf, flip each pair over. A sole that is firmly attached all the way round beats one that peels at the toe. Look inside too: shearling or a wool blend should be dense and springy, not flat. Vogue notes that shearling "often offers breathability and moisture-wicking properties," which is the reason many of us prefer real wool for socks-free wear.

I would wear the Vince Berkley in elmwood with a slip dress and a cardigan on a weekend away. What I would skip: studs and wood bases if you want a quiet, slipper-soft walk, since those clogs are made to stand up, not to slouch.

Slides take the slipper idea in a lighter direction, and I think they are the best choice for people who run warm. You still get suede and shearling, only the toe is open.

The Birkenstock Arizona in beige has two straps and genuine shearling lining. The OluKai Kipea Heu is tan suede with a cushy footbed, and the Tory Burch Romy keeps it flat and plush in sweet brown. The Vince Barbara adds shearling trim and polished studs on a wooden sole. The L.L.Bean Freeport in saddle sits on a water-resistant sole, and the Sorel Nakiska III is a slide slipper lined in fuzzy faux shearling. Beek's Gallito in leopard has a memory foam footbed, and the Sam Edelman Astrid is a brown suede mule with a tassel and a faux shearling collar.

What to check: the strap or vamp should hold your foot without pinching, and the lining should be glued flat with no wrinkles near the edge. Slide a finger under the footbed and press. Memory foam or cork bounces back, thin foam stays dented. If you want to wear them outdoors, tilt the shoe and look at the tread depth.

For the way I would wear them in October: with wool socks at home and bare feet in a heated car, or with ribbed tights and a long skirt. What I would skip: open slides for rain or the first real frost, since the toe stays exposed.

The Birkenstock and L.L.Bean pairs are the ones I would reach for if I wanted something that would last more than a season.

Moccasin slippers are the older, calmer relative of the braided clog. Many of them skip the braid and rely on stitching, fringe or a simple moc toe instead, so they read as a gentler relative, not a twin.

The Kurt Geiger London Pimlico is a brown suede moccasin with whipstitching and a metal crest on the vamp. The Minnetonka Cally is gray suede with a lace-up front, a faux fur lining and a thin rubber sole for indoor and outdoor wear. Dearfoams has three moccasins here: the Fireside Mel in dusty pink and the Gladstone in potting soil both have genuine shearling lining. The Clarks Driver Moc in chocolate has accent stitching, the Lands' End moccasin has a fuzzy lining, and the Celtic & Co. loafer moccasin in camel has a hard sole for flexibility and durability. The L.L.Bean Wicked Good in fig is lined with sheepskin.

Test them by looking at the stitching along the toe: tight, even stitches mean the upper will keep its shape. Press the sole. A thin one is fine for the kitchen, a thicker one will cope with a quick walk to the mailbox. The Celtic & Co. is hard-soled, so the sole will not flex like a slipper's.

For pairing, I would wear a moccasin with wide-leg corduroys and a chunky cardigan. What I would skip: a fleece-lined pair if you tend to overheat in a warm apartment, since fleece holds the heat. Go for sheepskin instead.

Check the lining and the sole first, in that order. Pick real shearling or a wool blend if you can, and a sole that you could wear to the corner without worry. Then pick the collar: a braid, a woven edge or a plain moc toe.

Next, think about the day. I would take the braided suede clogs for coffee runs, the platform for a long walk, a slide for the house and a moccasin for the couch.

It all began with one Australian surfer, a cold night in Malibu and a pair of boots he could not buy. A good look-alike is allowed to have its own story.