I’ve been digging around the internet (because, let’s be honest, who has time to actually *go* shoe shopping anymore?), and I’ve stumbled across a few places that seem to have that “it” factor, y’know? That something different.
First up, John Fluevog. These guys? Total legends. They’re based in Vancouver, Canada, and their designs are just…wild. Think boots, sandals, all kinds of stuff, but with a serious funky twist. They say they design for “unique souls,” which, honestly, sounds a bit cheesy, but I kinda dig it. I mean, who *wants* to be a boring soul? Plus, they do belts and bags and socks, so you can go full-on Fluevog if you want to. Or, y’know, just grab a pair of their boots to spice up your usual jeans and tee combo.
Then there’s Mandarina Shoes. Now, these guys are described as “more Bond Street than High Street,” which immediately makes me think they’re gonna be pricey. But hey, sometimes it’s worth splurging, right? They’ve got everything from boots to slingbacks to flats, and they’re described as “quirky” and “fun.” Which, I’m all about. I haven’t actually bought anything from them yet, but their website is pretty tempting. NEW STYLES FOR 2025??? Already??? Kinda sus, but intriguing.
And speaking of interesting, I saw Unique Vintage mentioned somewhere. (Wait, was I actually looking for something else and got completely sidetracked? Probably. Happens all the time). Anyway, they seem to specialize in vintage-inspired stuff, which can be really cool. If you’re into that whole retro vibe, might be worth checking out. I’m more of a modern funky kinda gal myself, but I appreciate a good throwback now and then.
Oh! And here’s a weird one – ShoetwoKill on Etsy. They do custom-printed Converse. Like, seriously custom. Which is either totally awesome or totally terrifying, depending on your taste. I could see myself getting something ridiculous with, like, cats wearing tiny hats on them. Or maybe a picture of my dog. I dunno. The possibilities are endless, which is both exciting and slightly overwhelming.
