Fluevog fan here—and have been for decades.
I’ll second what Suz and Dagmar said about the need to try on a Fluevog. If that particular style’s fit is right for your foot, you’ll be in shoe heaven and will be able to wear your shoes for hours on end—and for years. If the fit is off, though, you’ll be in “shoe art” land.
I’ve bought Fluevogs online but only when I’ve a general idea of the shoe family’s fit so I have some clue as to what size to order for that style. The good news is that Fluevog does refunds but ONLY if you pay to ship the shoes back to the originating store (there is no “online warehouse”) AND if the shoe is not on sale. Sale items are not refundable but you will get a store credit. If this is your first Fluevog, you really are better off going into a Fluevog shop.
As for the “bling” factor, there is no getting around the fact that Fluevogs are almost always statement shoes. Thinking back, I’m more than a little amused by the realization that, every time I buy a pair of Fluevogs, I inevitably walk out of the shop with a style and color combination that I wouldn’t originally have thought was for me. The Fluevog “magic” happens when I see the shoe on my size 10 foot, break into a smile, and say “oh, I’m not sure I ought to...”. But, if you buy a Fluevog that thrills you and fits your foot, you’ll happily wear it for years despite what is happening in the “normal” shoe world. Like Janet, I have Fluevog boots I’ve loved for years and still happily pull out of the closet to finish off an outfit.