Love affair with Fluevog is cooling

Are there any other Fluevog fans who are finding the same thing? I think Angie labeled me "Queen Fluevog" at one point, and it's true I have acquired quite a few pairs over the past six or seven years. And the ones I own I still stand by. They are beautiful shoes -- well-made, comfortable, and with charming retro and/or punk rock features. However, my love affair with the brand is definitely cooling. I have seen very little to tempt me for a couple of years now. The brand is known for having a lot of weird (and many people would say ugly) styles, but their ratio of weird/ugly shoes to awesome shoes used to be about 50/50, or maybe 60/40. However, lately about 80 or 90% of their styles are deeply unappealing to me. You could never accuse the brand of being boring, but to my eye at least, it's significantly less awesome than before.

They do have the odd pair of beautiful shoes -- in fact I found my spring/summer sandals there a couple of months ago -- but on the whole, my interest in their product is waning. This is added to the fact that over the past two years I've purchased three extremely successful pairs of shoes -- total wardrobe workhorses! -- by other brands. I guess I might be moving on.

8 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

It was a good run, Az. You ended your post with a smiley face. I think it happens. We grow , they have to find new ways to expand demographics and profits...and so it goes. : )

Suz

(website)

I have only owned one pair, ever --- and I still love to browse the shops, but I enjoy the styles more on others than on myself. Most are too retro/ feminine or too hard edge for me, and those that aren't sometimes (alas) do not provide me with a comfortable fit. Having said that, I will never stop admiring the craftsmanship, originality, and integrity of the line.

catgirl

I feel the same- I check all the time but not finding anything I like with a reasonable heel! The Swordfish family is my fave. Also their shipping policies are annoying.

Anonymous

I love Fluevog quality, and continue to look to them for winter boots year after year. I like the plain stuff!

I had a pair of Angels that I wore through 11 Ontario winters - they were my only boot throughout those years. I mean, come on!

I'm thinking about the ones you see below.

John Fluevog

Blake

View Info

Top Pick

Anton

Thistle

Sounds like you two are moving apart, not sharing the same vision. And yes, it's them, not you

Aziraphale

I did, Isabel. All good things must come to and end, however.

Suz, I do admire the originality of the brand, and respect them for taking chances. The shoes continue to be well-made, too. I think it's just that the direction they are taking seems to be diverging from mine. We'll see where it goes over the next few years.

Una, I have a pair of Swordfish boots, and they are Uber-rockstar-fab. I wear them a lot in the winter -- they are surprisingly walkable for a 3" heel. Mind you, I don't think I'd wear them to tour London or anything.

Smittie, I like both those boots you posted very much. I agree that Fluevogs tend to be hard-wearing. I have a pair of Operettas that have been worn to death for six years and they still look great.

Thistle, it might be me, not them!

Don't get me wrong -- I still wear my existing Fluevogs all the time. I'd say three or four days out of seven, actually. But they aren't coming up with as many new styles that I find myself lusting after.

Gaylene

Well, I just bought my Karyns last Fall and totally lived in them until I swapped them out for summer sandals. They were such workhorses for me in black, I splurged on another pair in brown. For me, they are 18- hour, serious walking boots.

I've been a Fluevog fan for decades--bought my first pair in the seventies--and I've also gone through periods where nothing grabbed me. But just when I think I've bought my last pair--BAM, I'll see a new style or shape and I'm smitten all over again. I think all lot of Fluevog's designs fall into the "I adore them" or the "gawd, those are ugly", but rarely are his designs boring.

Karyn

Style Fan

I have never owned a pair but I do like them. I am sure one day I will add a pair to my wardrobe. I love the ones that Gaylene posted.

rachylou

You'd think I'd have a pair, but I don't. I think they have always been more clever than I am, that's why, lol. But now that you mention it, I'm not sure they represent where the fashion is at right now. Squared and super round toe boxes, which I associate with Fluevog, but obviously isn't true, are reading dated...

Janet

I feel the same way, E. I have my one pair of low-heeled, pointy-toe booties from them, and everything else has been sold. I think my style has evolved, and while I still want distinctive footwear, I've been craving somewhat simpler styles.

annabelle

haha, I just went through this thread and collected all the Finds.

I have never been a Fluevog-for-Fluevog's sake kind of loyalist. I've had some Fluevogs in my collection over the years, but more because they filled a function and they were a little more interesting than run of the mill brands.

Like alaskagirl, I don't like the shipping / store credit only return policies, especially for a shoe manufacturer that (a) admits that its sizing is inconsistent, and (b) doesn't distribute (basically) anywhere but their site.

I'll still poke around from time to time, but it won't be to prove a point, just to see what they got goin on.

My Finds: Pilgrim in lilac and Callas in teal are in my regular rotation; the Joni sandals and Jump Rope have been tantalizing me from my wish list.

Custom Find

by annabelle

Amazon

John Fluevog Women's Callas Dress Pump

John Fluevog Women's Joni Slingback Sandal

Jump Rope

Gaylene, yup, those are great little boots. I can see why they are workhorses for you.

Rachylou, I always think of Fluevogs as being the #1 leader in winkle pickers. Mind you, they do have their share of round toe boxes, it's true.

Janet, you didn't get rid of those electric blue ones, did you? They were so awesome.

annabelle, I quite like those Jump Rope ones too -- the colour is pretty, and they have a sexy librarian vibe.

If only I'd bought those blue Swordfish from a couple of years ago!

alaskagirl You might already know about the Community link on Fluevog to the Fluemarket, where you can post Wanted or for Sale, one's vintage Fluevogs. I didn't see any women's blue Swordfish but here's a link to the men's version https://www.fluevog.com/commun.....sting/7849

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