Less than a week until International Fluevog Day! This review post is super late, but I hope it’s in enough time for you to plan how you want to take advantage of the 15% discount next Thursday. My husband joined me on my last trip to the Fluevog Los Angeles store, and together we tried on close to 25 pairs with dealer Alison’s wonderful help. Hopefully you’ll find something you like the look of. This Spring line has been really lovely — and it looks like a few more pairs are still trickling in.
But first, just wanted to show you what I finally took home on that visit, my blue Miracle | Sights in blue embroidery (took me a while to pick them up after paying the last layaway installment). So lovely! And great with my TARDIS socks. 🙂
OK, now for the rest of the Spring shoes. I note size issues as well as we could remember them. They didn’t carry some of the sizes we needed, so the fit was off for a few pairs. I’ll be starting with the women’s styles, categorizing by family, and then I’ll do the men’s and unisex styles. Here are the usual shoe-size caveats:
I am a true size US 5.5. I have relatively-flat arches, wide toes, and narrowish ankles. I regularly wear 5 in the Operetta, Mini, Attention, and Baroque families; 5 or 5.5 in the Bellevue and Fellowship families; and 6 in the Radio family. However, the sizing of certain styles within the same family can differ, and even the same style can differ in sizing from season to season. My husband is a pretty solid US men’s size 10 with average-width feet.
Women’s Styles
7th Heaven | Derby Swirl in aqua lace. Size 6. These are true to size and fit about the same as previous seasons. Love the colors on this!
Expectation | Motive in floral. Size 6. True to size, which means the 6 were loose. Cute loafers; I really like this floral print on smooth leather. The pink accent clashes with the reds but it works for me. Just I wish I could have tried on my size.
Expectation | Trust in tomato. Size 5.5. True to size. Loved how these fit, and they were comfy. I’m particularly crushing on all of the oxford styles this season. With the cutouts and the color, these will make a great spring/summer shoe!
Immortal Perfection | Audrey in black suede. Size 6. Fit slightly small, about 1/2. The 6 fit me quite well. Love this style. The profile is quite fetching (IMHO) and the fit is very comfortable. Hardly felt like a heel. At least try these on.
Immortal Perfection | Audrey in grey. Size 6. Fit 1/2 size small. I personally like these better than the black suede for the warmer seasons. These would make an excellent neutral shoe under skirts and dresses.
Immortal Perfection | Milla in rust suede. Size 6. These fit like the Audrey, and it is a very chic boot. Dealer Alison suggested these. I wouldn’t have tried them on otherwise, but the more I think about them, the more I like them.
Miracle | Revelation in black and beige. Size 6. Fit about 1/2 size large. Surprised by the sizing on these. Most Miracles fit me 1 full size small (my Miracle | Sights above are 6.5), but these 6 were incredibly loose. Super cute if you can fit in them.
Modvog | Jen in black snake. Size 5.5. True to size. Beautiful new leather/colorway. I think the Jens are just a great-looking style. The leather on these is also a little more pliable than previous seasons of Jens, so try these on even if you were turned off by the stiff leather from previous iterations of the shoe.
Modvog | Mariella in black snake. Size 6. These fit me really well, so I’d say they may run a tad small. However, it’s probably because of the oxford style that the 6 encase my feet pretty well. Extremely good-looking shoes. Again, loving the polished snake leather, and softer like this season’s Jens.
Passage | Torii in brown. Size 6. Fit true to size, slightly narrow. I think these are more forgiving than the previous season’s Passage family ankle boot, the Cairo. The inside zipper makes them easier to take on and off. I like the accent color at the bottom of the heel.
Prepare Wedge | Liu in aqua. Size 6. Fit 1/2 size small. As you can see, my foot just barely fits the 6 in length. These are supremely comfortable sandals, and I do like that floral sole that just peeks out and the matching teal soles on this colorway. This would be a nice way to get some height without the stressful feeling of wearing heels.
Purpose | Ambition in pink. Size 6. These run large, at least 1/2 size. You can see the huge clearance at the back of my Achilles. Even dealer Alison, who herself is a true 6, said the 6 were loose on her. They make 5 and 5.5 but sadly the L.A. store didn’t have them for me to try on. Otherwise, these are super cute. Love the color.
Purpose | Determination in black. Size 6. Given how loose the Ambition pumps were on me, I was surprised that this bootie in size 6 wasn’t too loose. These might run true to size for me, but again the store didn’t carry any size smaller than 6. I really dig the stamped leather that looks like eyelet! Flattering buckle detail.
Purpose | Objective in black. Size 6. Again these fit surprisingly well, perhaps because of the straps at the ankle. The 5.5 may have fit better, however. Cute pointy-toed sandals.
River | Urubamba in blue and tan. Size 6. This size fit really well, so maybe 1/2 size small? If you get a chance I suggest you try them on if you’re looking for a comfortable flat summer sandal. I really like the look of these. There’s something about the anklet look that I find flattering. And this colorway really floats my boat.
River | Zambezi in black and metallic. Size 6. These didn’t seem to fit me as well as the Urubamba, perhaps too many straps? Great colorway, though.
Rule Low | Joni in teal. Size 5.5. True to size. Super comfy sandal. I really like this new colorway this season.
Men’s and Unisex Styles
Down to Earth | Hadfield in floral. Size 6. I want to say they fit almost 1/2 size small because the 6 didn’t feel loose on me, but maybe they would break loose because the leather feels quite supple. These were comfy and lovely, and I believe more comfy than the classic Radio | CBC.
Feature | Grant in blue. Size 10. True to size. Of course we had to have my husband try on all the blue men’s shoes in the store. These are GORGEOUS. The smoky blue is perfect. I do believe he found these quite comfy too.
Future Round Toe | Bodden in grey. Size 10. True to size. These were my husband’s favorite shoes in terms of comfort. They don’t quite look grey here, but that teal sole looks about right. Very cool shoes. They’re the same family as the Tipton from last season, which he thought felt like sneakers. I think this might be his go-to comfort family.
Gateway | Brandenburg Light in floral fabric. Size 4.5 men? I had to try these on after I saw them on Shannon L. in a photo. Very fun shoe, no doubt, but they felt quite narrow to me. Sorry about the sizing confusion. I think the 4.5 was the men’s sizing; I tried on the smallest size first (equivalent to women’s 6) but had to size up for more comfort. So I think they may run 1 full size small. Definitely try them on or call your dealer.
Idol | Freddie in burgundy. Size ?. Again, confused about the sizing and fit. Please call your dealer first if you can’t try them on. My husband had to try on a couple of different sizes, and they didn’t seem to have his size. These are really beautiful and VERY striking, but he thought they made his legs look shorter. He has very curvy muscular calves (mm-hmm) and he thought the bulk of the shoes made his legs look bulkier. Not for him, but definitely try them on for the pleasure of it.
Radio | CBX in teal. Size 10. Fit is true, just like the CBC. Love love love this colorway and the cutouts. Sad they don’t have them in MY size.
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Last but not least is the flower wheel photo. Our usual dealers Kate and Anthony weren’t there, but Alison was totally great along with Lesley. Here are our Vogs of the day. I’m in my Fellowship | Erikas at the 6 o’clock; Alison in her black Toriis at the 10 o’clock; and Lesley in her white LoPro | Leons at the 2 o’clock.
Wishing you all a Happy Fluevog Day next Thursday! Let us know what’s on your wishlist this season!
xo, Gladys
This is very sad for me as the Melrose store is my store. It’s where I first learned that shoes could be both beautiful and comfortable for my feet; it’s where I bought my first amazing pair of Vogs (red Giulia boots); and it’s where I’ve had so many wonderful experiences thanks to fellow Voggers and Fluevogologists (a.k.a. the amazing store staff) over the years. And we never forget our first, do we? Thankfully, I had one last wonderful experience last week, when Mr. John Fluevog himself visited Los Angeles to have dinner with some of the Melrose faithfuls. It was bittersweet for me and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to contain my sadness, but, again, the lovely community made up by Voggers and Fluevogologists made it a fun, lovely experience. And it was an honor to meet John and hear his fascinating journey from his own lips. The delicious wine and tapas didn’t hurt, either. 🙂 Here are some of my photos from the goodbye celebration.
for the love of vogs 