IFD 2017: Be Prepared!

Happy Friday!

Since this will be my last post before this Monday’s International Fluevog Day, I wanted it to be a BIG one! Today, is all about my favorite family, the Prepares. As I have said many times, I’m not a fan of having the same Fluevog in different colors. Fluevogs come in so many different colors and styles, and with my limited budget, I just don’t have time to mess around by purchasing repeat Vogs.

Yeah. Never say never! My one exception to my no doubles rule is the Prepares | Guide. I have them in three different colors: the original blue, paisley, and silver (see above). These are a super versatile shoe that you can wear every.single.day. My original blue ones are so beat up that both heels have broken at some point. Luckily, my trusty local cobbler managed to glue and staple them back together. Yay! When they first came out, I was size 9.5 (the size I opted for both original blue and paisley Guides). However, when I acquired the silver ones, I went up to size 10 for that extra wiggle room. When I have a major event (a job interview or I’m hosting something for my job), the Guides always come with me.

Prepares | Find. The berry and dots pair were a size 10 and the python were size 10.5 (the size availability was limited for the python). I’d likely get these in size 10. There was a pinchy part near the big toe mound, which could be fixed with stretching. Otherwise, these feel and fit like the Guide. I like that the Find is more bold in texture and color combinations. Guide lovers will find the variations a welcome option.

Prepare 2.0 | Canopy. Size 9.5 (perfect sizing for me). Out of the photos that the Huz previewed, he seemed to like these the best on me. The vibrant blue metallic canvas does look amazing and makes for an awesome neutral. The double buckle and higher heel are also nice variations to this particular Vog. In fact, the higher heel is what makes Prepare 2.0 different from the original Prepares. While I think this looks great, there was some pinching on the big toe mound. Since this blue pair is canvas, I’m not sure stretching is an option. Luckily, the black ones are leather, so the pinching is an easy fix. The buckles are the same rosy ones that you see on the Orlando (gorgeous!).

Prepares | Venturous. Size 9 (but I need 9.5 or 10). I’m a sucker for a good black boot. I don’t have an ankle boot in my collection, so naturally, I was drawn to these. Unfortunately, the store didn’t have my size, so I had to painfully squeeze my Flintstones (my new nickname for my feet) into the size 9s. Yeah. Meh. No bueno.

For those of you who remember the Mini | Lover, the Venturous seems to be a current iteration of the now discontinued Mini. Imagine the Guides disguised as a boot. That’s the Venturous. My notes clearly read: “I need these.” So do you!

So…. Are you as excited as I am about IFD? What are you all getting?! Which store(s) will you be at?!) Please post to comments. We’d love to hear from you!

for the love of Vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Spyro

Urban Angel | Spyro. Size 10. Sizing up to a 10 was perfect! Following up yesterday’s post about the Takami, I wanted to introduce you to the Spyro. Like the Takami, Spyro is a sporty “day off” comfy Vog. For those of you who want to spend a day at the park, but still want to sport your Vogs, this is a great one to add to your collection. I like to think of both Urban Angels as giving fellow Fluezies the option to Vog everyday of the week. There is no break-in period required. However, I do recommend wearing these with socks. Without them, you may have the foot farting issue. (gasp!)

for the love of Vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Urban Angel

Urban Angel | Takami. Size 11 (need size 10.5 or 10). According to FlueMaster Denny, Takami is sized really small, so expect to go up at least a full size. While these aren’t the kind of Vogs I would normally wear, I will say that these are #1 on my personal musty have list. I’ve been needing a good street shoe that I can throw on everyday to run errands and such. I do own the Eastons, but I wanted something with that Fluevog flair. Takami totally fits the bill. The tongue-less sneaker is an awesome way to show off those unique socks in your collection. These are comfy right out of the box. Note: don’t waste these on the gym.

for the love of Vogs,

j-ro

 

IFD 2017: Ros

Esoteric Temptations | Ros. Size 10 (but I’d likely need to size down to 9.5). Apologies for the strange picture above. It’s been a while since we’ve done the FlueReviews, so getting into the flow of what/how to take pictures of the Vogs takes a little but of getting used to. In fact, if any of you have suggestions on what you want us to show you in the pix (such as more sole, side, or top views), please feel free to let us know (via comments, email, etc.). Moving on….

As I have said countless times, I’m not a pointy toe gal, so I knew that Ros and I wouldn’t necessarily be good friends. While we wouldn’t necessarily sit at the same lunch table, we would definitely get along as genuinely good people. Yes, Ros is genuinely good folk. First off, she’s HOT!!! If I’m being honest, I’m pretty sure I can’t pull off something this sexy. I just don’t have the wardrobe to give this gorgeous Vog the respect she deserves.

OMG. Both the black and pink (I call bs; it’s red!) iterations are simply divine. Please note the detail on the heel, the different textures on the leather straps (they seem to be suede and patent leather, while the body is regular leather), as well as the hardware on the buckle and down the top center of the shoe. Of course, the Swordfish toe makes this a chic rocker/goth addition to your collection. For me, Ros is a no-go because of the pointy toe and the heel height (I prefer platforms for the heels I wear). However, if you’re a pointy toe shoe lover and are looking for something with that sexy edge, then Ros is for you. In case you’re near a store, I do suggest stopping by to check her out because the pink look so different in person!

For the love of Vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Iris

Attic | Iris. Size 10. As I have mentioned before, I’m not much of a pumps person. I just don’t like wearing anything that makes me feel like I’m mostly on the balls of my feet. Blame it on my extremely wide, flat-footed nature. (Seriously, Fred Flitstone is my feet twin!) When I do wear something with a heel, it will likely have a platform and a wider cut. Given that, Iris isn’t for me. However, there are a number of things that are great about her. For example, if you’re a pump person, these are great because the toe box is roomier than I had expected. Like a true Fluevog, the details are gorgeous. I love the dark burgundy embossed leather with contrasting yellow patent leather toe, pink trim, and red heel. Before Fluevogs, I mostly stuck to black and brown footwear, with the occasional red if I was feeling adventurous. The color is definitely bold, and the various textures add interest. Plus, it’s just so pretty! Again, if pumps are for you and you’re looking for something that work suit some pizazz, Iris is a great pick. For the spring and summer months, she’s go great with dresses and skirts!

For the love of Vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Groove is in the heart

HAPPY FRIDAY!! For those of you who have had the pleasure (or curse) of having me attend your wedding reception, you probably already know that Deee-Lite’s “Groove is in the Heart” is my wedding jam! (Yes, this track is definitely part of my wedding mix.) If this song is blaring from the DJ’s speakers and you’re not up and dancing the night away, then I have absolutely no words for you!!Mega Munster | Deee. Size 10 in teal. (insert the sound angels singing here) Real talk: I have a pair of 40th anniversary Munsters that I have worn only a handful of times in the last seven years.  They are gorgeous and fluegasm worthy. However, they’re not the most comfy of shoes. At best, they’re about a 2-3 hour shoe. If I’m not doing a lot of walking or standing, then I’ll sport these because I love the attention. With that, when the interwebs was a-buzzing over the Mega Munsters, my initial reaction was: meh.

And then Deee graced my precious feet…

Oh holy hell…. Deee (named after Deee-Lite) is my Vog of all Vogs pick. This is theee (yes, misspelling on purpose) Vog to get because it’ll reach collector’s item status in years to come. Unlike the 40th anniversary Munsters, you can get some serious usage out of these. Though the heel is substantive, some folks online say that the platform is higher and that these may also be cut a tad bit wider. I don’t have a side by side comparison, so I can’t confirm. If true, the wider cut plus a higher platform make these a lot easier to walk around in all day long. Other than the overall look (the teal is GORGEOUS in person!), the comfort on these is so much better that the previous iteration of Munsters. I tried on size 10 and they were perfect for me. If you’re in the store, you MUST try these on. They’ll change your mind about the Munsters. (I just hope they’re there when you do visit!!)

For the love of vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Orlando

Talk story moment… when I was in high school, I owned a pair of Doc Martin brown loafers. Docs were all the rage and I was just happy to finally choose my wardrobe. It was the 90s and I thought I was cool. However, growing up, I didn’t have a good sense style and fit. I operated by numbers and letters: size 9 in shoes, XL or 14 in clothes. If it didn’t fit, I blamed it on me, and not the inconsistent sizing that happens in fashion. My brown docs were pinchy and made a farting noise if I didn’t wear socks. It didn’t occur to me that I could get them stretched out and altered to fit my feet. It also didn’t occur to me to just get another size. (Yes, I have issues with fashion that stem from learning to be embarrassed by my body.) So there I was, stuck with cool shoes that didn’t fit, but that I wore anyway because that was my relationship with fashion then.

City Angels | Orlando. Size 10. Fast forward to 2017 when I’m in the Haight Street store trying on Orlando. OMG. They were like my beloved brown Docs, but BETTER because they FIT! Because these are a bit narrow for me, I’d likely have to get them stretched out. But the size 10 was a good size for me. (Yes, the shoe farts are still there, but now I know that I either need Body Glide or socks to cure that.) I love the floral leather (which makes each pair a one-of-a-kind) and the roses on the buckle. For those of you who love sneakers, but want to look spiffy and feel comfy, I present to you: Orlando. The neutral blue goes with everything (including dresses), but the details on this Vog make it unique. I would have loved to put these on layaway right then and there. If I had the budget, I would have. Alas, these pair were already spoken for. I was just happy to be able to try these gorgeous things on. These are another pair that I’d put on my surprise pick list.

For the love of Vogs,

j-ro
NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Cleo

Fellowships: Cleo. Size 9.5 If there is a Vog that every person needs, it would be Cleo. Recently, I guest lectured in Miss Gladys’s course at UCLA and I nearly died when I saw her in the Black & Dots version of this. It’s the perfect teaching Vog, and it’s suited for EVERY part of your life. I do have an old pair of Sandra (currently sitting in a storage unit in Arizona) that doesn’t get as much play as I’d like because it tends to pucker at the sides. However, the FlueGods must have been listening to my complaints because the contrast strap fixes any puckering issues. Going up 1/2 size to 9.5 was perfect for me. Though I don’t own these (I’m holding out for the Black & Dots version), I give these my gotta have ’em seal of approval.

For the love of vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Exene

Swordfish Womens | Exene. Size 10. For those of you who love pointy toes, and a cool vintage rocker aesthetic, Exene is for you. Cranberry colored with an antiqued texture and asymmetrical buckles, this is definitely made for the person who wants to stand out. These are gorgeous statement shoes that are a comfortable flat. Though I tried them on in size 10, I could have gone down to 9.5. Since I have such a wide foot, I’m not very good with pointy toes. Unfortunately, Exene isn’t for me. If you look at the profile photo above, the point is a bit too long for my short stubby feet. Since I’m super clumsy, I’d likely trip all over the place (or split the pointed area, as I’ve done with Bekkie, a Vog that I still love and wear regularly). However, this is a gorgeous Vog and the rocker in you would love an edgy flat that you can wear 24/7.

For the love of Vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases. 

IFD 2017: Bolt

Hello Lovelies!

Yes, it’s been a while since we’ve been posted our infamous reviews. A lot has happened since our last post. Namely, we have an Instagram account now. Since it’s faster for us to share pix that way, you’ll see us a lot over there. You can find us on IG @fortheloveofvogs and at: #fortheloveofvogs and #motleyflue

Recently, Madam Shirley and I visited our incredible dealers at Haight Street. To celebrate the countdown to International Fluevog Day, we’ve decided to bring back the reviews (wa-hoo!). Throughout this month (and if I’m being realistic, into the next month), we’ll be featuring different Fluevogs that you can purchase during International Fluevog Day and beyond. I’m SO EXCITED to do this because this is the first time in years that I’ll be in San Francisco to celebrate with all of you. (I’ll be at Haight. Where will you be?)

To kick off the return of the reviews, I’d like to give you Modern Living | Bolt. Size 10. This is my surprise pick of the season. Each spring, I’m always looking for the season’s perfect wedding shoe. For me, this is it. It’s comfy and edgy, and something that you can wear when the wedding is over. Personally, I loved trotting around the store in these gorgeous Vogs with my dark denim trouser pants. The color contrast was gorgeous. Yes, I love the lucite heel. (Alright, I kinda thought it was a little stripper-esque, but I’m not a hater like that. In fact, the lucite was my favorite part because it gave the Bolt that extra something special.) For a pointed toe, there was a good amount of room in the toe box. Also, I’m finding that toe cleavage seems to be the thing this season. If it is, I say BRING IT!! I did size up to 10, which was a good fit for me because I like the extra room. Otherwise, I say go up 1/2 size or stay true if you have narrow feet.

For the love of vogs,

j-ro

NB: In Fluevogs, I’m a women’s size 9. Depending on the fit and family, I size up or down from there. For example, in most Minis, I’m a size 8.5. In the Fellowships, I’m typically a size 9.5. However, I do have wide, flat feet and Morton’s Toe, which makes sizing a little strange for me. Admittedly, these days, I like a little more wiggle room in the toes and I don’t like to bother with extra stretching. Therefore, I’ve been sizing up in my more recent purchases.