FlueFan Guest Post: Vintage Vogs, Pointy Edition

As part of our feature highlighting fellow Flueddicts, I’m happy to share Sarah O.’s story of her favorite vintage Vogs. Sarah is one of our readers on this site, and I was excited when she agreed to share. The MotleyFlue in general aren’t huge fans of pointy shoes; while I love my pointy Vogs (particularly in the Coffee family), I don’t like pointy shoes as a rule. Your humble web mistresses here recognize that there’s some love overdue on this site for pointy Vogs. I mean, the Swordfish family in particular is one of the most distinctive and popular Fluevog shapes. So, special thanks to Sarah for spreading the love!

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I’ve been wearing Fluevogs since the mid-1990s. Here are four of my favorite pairs.  As you can see, I love the pointy styles most of all (the pointier the better, I say!), and Swordfish are my very favorite Fluevog family.

These are my first Fluevogs, purchased at the Boston store in 1996-7ish.  I’m not sure what family these were from, but a good friend refers to these as my “angry fairy shoes.”  There are many miles on these and they’ve held up beautifully.

These are vintage Swordfish, purchased on Ebay a few years ago.  I’ve gotten burned on size with these before (the old ones run really, really, really small!), but these arrived in near-mint condition and fit like a glove.

These are my beauties, my pride and joy, my very favorites: my red Swordfish.  I have worn these as much as possible since I bought them in the Chicago store in 2004.  They’ve been resoled at least three times now, and traveled all over the place with me, but they’ve still got lots of life in them.

And last but not least, my wedding shoes!  These are Coffee Macchiatos.  They were perfect for our casual, beachy summer wedding.  And they were my something blue!

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Those are all such gorgeous shoes! I can see why the red Swordfish are her pride and joy. And those icy-blue Macchiatos make my heart beat faster! I have that style in a lovely brown, but I do wish I had them in that blue colorway as well.

Does anyone know which family the first pair above (the wingtips) are from? Any expert Fluevogologists in the house?

As always, we welcome your stories of your favorite Vogs  or how you became a Flueddict! Here are some of our previous fan spotlights. Send us an email at: fortheloveofvogs@gmail.com.

xo, Gladys

men who Vog

One of the great things about being a Fluevog fan is meeting other unique-minded individuals. Admittedly, I’m not as good as Madame Shirley in “I-Spy a fellow Flueddict.” Most of the Flue-natics I run in to are at the store. During my last visit, FlueDaddy Denny introduced me to long-time Fluevog lover: Len. The great thing about meeting male Fluevog lovers is knowing that they potentially have more shoes than you. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to talk to Len as much as I would have liked to. According to Denny, Len is a major collection. Just check out the vintage Fluevogs he recently acquired:

Did you see the bag in the background? It’s because Len was probably adding another awesome pair to his collection.

*****

Speaking of which… the Manpanion added another pair of Fluevogs to his growing collection. He’s been eyeing some burgundy and wanted to try on the Prophesy | Breton. Unfortunately, Haight Street was out of his size. Of course, our friends never disappoint. They ended up bringing out a pair of the Value | Gratitude in burgundy for the Manpanion to try on. Here’s what they looked like:

I loved this – especially since the Manpanion does not have anything like it. Plus, they are currently on sale! The Manpanion ranges between a size 9-10. I’m not sure what size he ended up getting, but he did say that they were a little pinchy. We came back to have the boots stretched. Viola! They are now perfect and he’s worn them quite a bit since purchasing them. Check out the Manpanion patiently waiting for his mint mojito iced coffee at Philz:

If you’re a Flueddict and want to be featured on this blog, please feel free to email us at: fortheloveofvogs@gmail.com. We’d love to see your collection!

Cheers to men who Vog our world!

j-ro

FlueFan Spotlight: Lisa R.

Hello All!

We are so lucky to feature Lisa R. in our FlueFan Spotlight. She was the April 2012 Fluevog Vogunteer. For those of you who are familiar with the Fluevog Fridays Facebook Page, you’ll know that Miss Lisa is a regular poster:) Members of the MotleyFlue were lucky enough to meet Miss Lisa a while back at the Haight Street store. Miss Gladys recognized her from the Fluevog Facebook Page. From there, we bonded (Miss Gladys has the shoe pic to prove it). Enjoy getting to know Miss Lisa R.!

(Left) Lisa R. with John Fluevog! (Right) A personalized plate from Mr. Fluevog.

Name: Lisa R.

Hometown: Los Osos, California

My Super Fluevoger Life: I am originally from Florida. My husband Rob, and my daughter, Raven and I  moved to Cali about 4 years ago and we LOVE it! (and yes, they both wear ‘vogs too!). We are a bit of a kooky family, we love to have fun, explore new places, hiking, movies, live music, festivals, art shows…I guess we are just ultra cool. :- ) We also have 2 large dogs, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and an Old English Sheepdog, and one beloved guinea pig.

A part of Lisa’s awesome collection.

How I Became a Fluevoger: A friend introduced me to the website several years ago and I fell in love. I signed up for the email newsletter and would drool over the shoes thinking I would never pay that much for shoes…HA! I needed a new pair of black boots and started searching, I kept coming back to the Fluevog site and finally, could resist no longer and ordered the Countess Olivia and never looked back! (Denny in SF was my first ‘vog ‘dealer’)

What I look for in a Fluevog: I love color and a funky heel.

My Namesake Fluevog Would Look Like… Probably anything from the mini family in some shocking color combination. (stripes, please!)

About My Collection: My collection has evolved over the years…I have several pairs of minis and I also love the operetta line, so comfy. I got to meet John himself a couple of years ago and have some original art and a couple pair of signed shoes. (my Countess Olivias and the purple and green 40th anniversary Vanny). I have gotten most of my Fluevogs from the LA Melrose store, although I have also spent some time (and money) at the Haight street store. My personal dealer, Shawn, just moved to DC to work in that store and I still call him when I need shoes! I have scored a few awesome ebay deals too!

My Personal Style: Definitely eclectic. I am just as comfortable at a middle school band concert or a Flogging Molly concert.

*** Vog Quickies ***
Coffee or Tea: Tea

Color or Colour: Orange

Prints or Solids: prints

Half Empty or Half Full: full

Heels or Flats: heels

Share the love of Vogs or keep your Fluevog secret?: Share..I like to think I’m a Fluevog ambassador!

Fluevog that most likely needs a new sole: My Bobbis or my red/black Lily Darlings.

If you’re interested in being featured in the FlueFan Spotlight, please send an email to: fortheloveofvogs@gmail.com. Thanks!

building on a budget

Late last year when Madame Shirley set her 50 by 50 goal, I told her that it was totally do-able. She declared that she may have to go bankrupt in order to reach her 50th pair by October 2013. I told her that if she scouted eBay, the FlueMarket, and etsy, she could actually reach her goal and not be ultra poor. Shopping for vintage Vogs is a great way to build your collection on a budget. When I vintage shop, I set strict rules about buying:

a) Set a price limit. Overpaying for a used pair of Vogs is never a good thing. Believe me, there’s an eBay seller that has some killer vintage Vogs. However, I’d never buy from him because his prices are too high. For example, he has a pair of Hi Choice | Hopes for under $300. I bought mine for under $90. Setting price limits is important.

b) Don’t buy it just because it’s cheap. Anything I add to my collection has to really add to my collection. If I know I’m not going to use it, there’s no point in buying it.

c) Make sure it’s going to fit. I’ve been around Vogs for a while now and I have a sense of how certain families will fit. This can get tricky with the older styles. For fit info that’s out of my purview, I always consult with the dealers. They always give good advice.

d) The Vog has to have some life left. Though Fluevogs can last many years, used shoes are still used shoes. Some people abuse their Vogs more than others. Be sure that the Vog you’re investing in is in good condition. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller questions. When I bought Margie, I knew that there was a lot of scuffing and such. However, the shoe itself was in great condition. After refurbishing, Margie has lots of life left!

e) It has to be worth the $$ spent. This is related to my first point. Again, I bring up some of the eBay sellers who list some great vintage stuff. While vintage definitely has its value, $300+ for used Vogs is a bit steep – especially since you could likely get new Vogs for that much or less. At the end of the day, I like to feel like I paid a fair price.

Someone’s loss was my gain. I’ve been wanting these F-Shoes for a while. Luckily, a kind soul listed these on eBay for $50. They were in perfect condition and fit wonderfully! They are my go-to weekend-in-jeans Vog.

In looking at Shirley’s new collection, I count around ten pairs that she purchased for under $100 (including a gorgeous one-of-a-kind sample). She didn’t even have to take any of them to a cobbler for refurbishing! In my personal collection, I have at least four pairs that were under $75. Vintage Vog shopping is a great way to build your collection.

Another great way to build your collection is to sell your Vintage Vogs. A few months ago, in order to streamline my collection, I put three pairs of Vogs on the FlueMarket. Luckily, all three pairs sold. Letting them go felt like I was putting good Fluevog karma into the world. Of course, I used the money to put a brand new pair of Vogs on layaway. The Hopes | Promise are the latest addition to my collection:)

I had been wanting a pair of heart-heeled boots for ages! An eBay seller listed these used for almost $300! Luckily, I found these for under $90. All they needed was a coat of leather lotion and the heel needed to be re-enforced by a cobbler (a $7 repair).

As I had mentioned in this post, I’m all for refurbishing Fluevogs. It’s a budget-friendly way to build your collection while helping reduce waste. In fact, I know a lot of people are into re-cycled fashion. Shopping for and/or selling vintage Vogs is a great way to do that. Vogs last forever (well, almost!), which is why collecting them is so great. However, I like to keep a consolidated collection. When something isn’t getting the wear it deserves, I have no problem sending them out into the world. That way, someone else gets to build her collection while I re-build my own:)

For those of you who are on a tight budget and have been loving Fluevogs from afar, please don’t lose hope. There are ways to own a pair or two and still have $$ left for rent and bills!

For the love of Fluegasms,

j-ro

FlueFan Spotlight: Stacey K.

Hello Fellow Flueddicts! We are so happy to introduce you to a new feature. Since there are so many folks out there who share our Love of Vogs, we wanted to give you, our readers, the opportunity to strut your stuff and tell us who you are. Today, we have our very first FlueFan Spotlight. We are very lucky to feature Stacey K., whose Everyday Fluevogs were featured in January 2010!

Name: Stacey Kuhr

Hometown: Discovery Bay, CA (now shacked up in Phoenix, AZ)

My Super Fluevoger Life: Single gracefully aging 40-ish gal, raised a Nor Cal Delta-Brat. Relocated to Phoenix in 01, dig the desert but still miss having a boat docked in my back yard. Professional Bad Ass Operations Mgr for the last 20+ years mostly in Custom Home Industry.  Besides the shoe fixation (now solely focused on Vogs) that goes back to at least 1st grade when I got caught trading shoes with other kids  my main hobbies include but are not limited to cars and my car clubs (most notably the 20 years of dedication to my Samba Green Del Sol). Reading, Racing, Road Tripping, Herps, My Corgi-Monster, anything to do with water and spending quality time with my diverse herd of friends of 10-30+  years or more.  Optimus Prime has been my dream man since I was 17 and I’m a total Trekkie and FF geek. I speak fluent sarcasm and live by the Do Unto Others… and Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff philosophies which help me preserve the remnants of sanity I have left.

How I Became a Fluevoger: Bored one night in 2004 and did a google search of “funky shoes” and the Vog website was at the top. Had never heard of them before and became instantly obsessed; not only the cool and unique designs but the whole attitude of the company and good ju ju it projects to the world. My first pair (The oh so lovely Mini Bebe in black) was purchased on sale on 7-9-04 for $99.00 and came to me via Haight St. (Yes, I am a big enough geek to track my shoes in a detailed and comprehensive Excel spreadsheet)

What I look for in a Fluevog: At first I was overcome and wanted them all and had no plan of attack in my selection process.  If they caught my eye and fit me well I got em (assuming $$ were there as I vowed never to charge shoes). Since being diagnosed with Plantar Faciiatis 5 years ago I have had to adjust my scope to only include Vogs that my feet can handle standing in for normal lengths of time.  Also reaching nearly 80 pairs I have started checking myself as to whether I already have a Vog that serves a purpose in design and color in the collection so as not to repeat myself and keep the variety going. (Though to be honest, I still want 99% of them all)

My Namesake Fluevog Would Look Like….: My namesake Vog doesn’t “looks like” but IS the Listen Up | Stacey (1st Gen released in Fall of 2006 and 2nd Gen released in 2011?)

About My Collection: My collection is all over the place though I have more Minis and Fellowships than any other family. I have a little bit of everything from platforms (Summertimes/Munster) to Peacemakers to a 1 of 13 custom Vogs made for Canadian fashion house Com Rags 2004 fashion show. My favorite Sole is the Choice (which I will get inked someday). Most of my shoes come from Haight Street where the BEST crew of Dealers take up residence led by Denny G., a guy whose awesomeness would take too many words to describe. My favorite pair?…. Hmmm… Well if my house were on fire the first shoes I would save would be my black Choice Hi | Jolene and red/orange Thanks | Amazing (a box under each arm)

My Personal Style: My personal style ranges from funky when it’s not 200 degrees outside (gotta love living in the easy bake oven of the southwest) to average when the sidewalk is melting.  Being a top heavy fluffy girl with no bottom to even it out it makes it hard to find clothes that fit well and are flattering which is probably why I rely on a great collection of accessories (shoes, hats, shades, bags, jewelry) to really display my personal style more than clothing ever could.  Besides, they last longer.

*** Vog Quickies ***

Coffee or Tea: Tea

Color or Colour: Green

Prints or Solids: Prints

Half Empty or Half Full: Full

Heels or Flats: Flatter than I’d like nowadays.

Share the love of Vogs or keep your Fluevog secret?: Share of course! Must spread Sole Gospel and convert the world, Amen.

Fluevog that most likely needs a new sole: Will either be my Bobbi or Chinoa boot I’m sure as I practically live in them in the winter.

If you’re interested in being featured in the FlueFan Spotlight, please send an email to: fortheloveofvogs@gmail.com. Thanks!

Fluevogs in the Workplace

A few months ago, we met Laina, who was spotted at the Oakland airport in a gorgeous pair of Bunnies. Shortly after, she kindly shared her story with us. Today, Laina shares some pointers on how to sport your Vogs at work. Again, many thanks Miss Laina. Your outfits are adorable! One day, we expect to see you featured as a Vogunteer! Check out Laina’s tips for putting together Fluevog outfits for work!

This year I decided to up my game at work. Even though casual attire is completely standard at my workplace, I have a lot of nicer clothes in my closet and I want to wear them! Fortunately my Fluevogs are perfect companions in my new endeavor and they’ve been getting a lot of wear.

My Vogs tend to get a lot of notice and compliments when I wear them to work, and I wear them often enough that several of my coworkers are now familiar with the brand! Usually I start with a color and try to put together an outfit with one or two main hues that play off of my Fluevogs.

A pretty patterned pencil skirt, gray top and funky white jacket pull together the right elements to go with my Mollie Johnsons in blue and grey.

For my Baroque Cortonas I found all I needed was a splash of pink and a bold necklace. I like long coats with shaping at the waist for the office because they keep me warm in the AC environment and are flattering to my pear-shaped figure. 

Sometimes I start by deciding which pair of Vogs I want to wear and build an outfit around them.  For example, my blue and yellow Mini Bunnies can be a challenge, as they aren’t traditional heels, so wearing them with nylons or tights can sometimes feel a little clunky. But, I’m an unrepentant dress-over-pants wearer, and with a pair of yoga pants (so comfortable!) they work great. (So far nobody has called me out on wearing yoga pants to work!) I like to wear them with a blue blazer and a stripey dress – this dress is too short and snug for me to feel comfortable wearing to work without pants, but with this outfit it takes on the role of a tunic. I’ve worn these shoes with blue, yellow and teal as the main colors in my outfit and they work with all of them. One interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed when wearing the Mini Bunny – women invariably LOVE them and tell me so, and men seem to be confused by them. They aren’t sure whether they like them or not, and they can’t quite tell if the shoes should be considered weird or outlandish –  or maybe perfectly normal! 

My red Operetta Illeanas are the foundation to my husband’s favorite outfit of this set – he loves red and black together, and I can’t say I blame him! I picked up this skirt at a thrift shop, and pair it with a white collared shirt and black sweater. These shoes are easy to style with almost any skirt, dress or pants. They probably get the most workday wear of my Fluevog collection.

P.S. Yeah, I totally dyed my hair blonde halfway through the week!

– Laina W.