Shoes, Glorious Shoes

Outside of the store

A good friend has been telling me about Fluevog shoes for years. John Fluevog is a designer with boutique, upscale shops in key cities around the country. Luckily for me, there is a shop in Boston, so a few weeks ago, I used that as an excuse for a little day trip.

I have wanted to get to know Boston, but with a city that big, I don't just "go to Boston" on any given day. I need to learn my way around, and it helps to have a destination each time.

I decided to drive in, rather than take the T, because a coworker had mentioned that street parking is free on Sundays.

So many glorious shoes. 

Of course, this was a Sunday in June, when the weather was perfect. Parking may have been free, but everyone else had already gotten the available spaces. I drove around for a while, resigned to the fact that I would have to pay to park in a lot, when I actually got very lucky and discovered that Northeastern University rents out spaces in their garage for eight bucks as a flat rate all weekend, every weekend. The garage was only a mile or so walk to Newbury Street, which is where Fluevog plus other high end shops were located. Perfect!

Can't wait for these to go on sale. 

I found my way to the store, and walked in a little nervously. I knew that the shoes were high end (expensive) and on the more artistic side. Frankly, I didn't think I was funky enough to belong in there, and expected to feel super uncomfortable and leave empty-handed.

Ha! Not so. This is more than a shoe store; Fluevog is a business with its own culture. I don't know how they train the staff, but the two saleswomen on the floor that day were like my new best friends. One of them,  Zoe, essentially assigned herself to me, and after we talked about the shoes I had seen online and was interested in trying, she started bringing out the shoes. So many shoes. So many very beautiful shoes.

Just so pretty. 

I usually avoid wearing heels because I can only get about an hour in them before my feet hurt, but I feel like I could walk forever in these shoes. There is something special in how the shoes are made that makes them actually walkable.

I scored a coveted area
code button.

I spent some time trying on shoes, walking around the store, and chatting with other customers. As other people came in, we all started talking like one big family. Everyone was friendly and it was the most fun I have ever had trying on shoes.

At one point, a man came in to thank the staff for the water bowl they left outside for dogs, and the staff lady said that next time he should feel free to bring the dog into the store. Fifteen minutes later, he did just that! He came back with his bulldog to say hello and thank you again. Suddenly, all shoe stopping ceased while we all fawned over the dog.

Seriously, when does this kind of thing happen!? At Fluevog, apparently all the time.

I had a hard time deciding between two pairs of shoes, but finally made a decision to buy the more practical of the two. I love the shoes, but I regretted not buying the pair that I thought was more fun but less practical. Today, I got an email alert that the fun shoes are on sale, so I placed an order. Everybody wins!