who flaunted them in the 1991
movie Truth or Dare. It was the
first shoe I made completely from
scratch, from sketch to mould,
back in 1988, and it became the
symbol of the 1990s house/club
underground DJ scene. Now known
as the Mega Munster, the Original
is best remembered in classic
suede and special edition glitter,
and has been joined by variations
like the T-strap Elektra and Clique.
“Groove is in the heart.”
3
Swordfish
As dangerous as it is dashing, the
Swordfish dates back to the late
1980s, a rebellious, pointed-toe
shoe that’s been reimagined with
a distinctive toe bump. These are
the rock star royalty of the Fluevog
lineup, with descendants like the
Imperial and Marquess lines. Comes
in every style from dagger-sharp
lace-up shoes to chukka and
knee-high boots. Alice Cooper has
rocked the Swordfish for decades,
and Lady Gaga sported the
Cubist Cupcake version, a smooth
women’s lace-up boot with buckle,
in fall 2016. “Stay sharp!”
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4
Mini
Small in name but huge in impact,
the Mini was the shoe that turned
everything around for Fluevog
Shoes in the early 2000s. It’s
cute, but it’s also tough and
comfortable, the favourite choice
of women who have to be on their
feet all day and want to make a
statement while they do it. The
Mini and its clan can be identified
by their sturdy medium-height
hourglass heel and, as often as
not, bright, whimsical colours
and patterns. The Gorgeous, for
instance, is a durable, round-toed
Mary Jane, while the Babycake is
an adorable buttoned boot named
for our baker friend who makes
the best cupcakes in Canada.
“Go on, fall in love. We dare you!”
5
Angel
One thing we know for sure, Angels
walk among us. The original Angel
sole, designed around 1992, has
begat many cherubs, all handcrafted,
clean-lined and floating on all-natural
latex soles that have been called the
most comfortable on the planet. In
fact, it’s the sole that makes this shoe
an Angel, because there are many
different styles. There are Angels
for men and Angels for women. City
Angels and Urban Angels, Future
Angels and Guardian Angels. The
Little Wing is a moccasin-stitched
boat shoe Angel. The Manhattan is
an asymmetrical lace-up derby Angel.
The 7th Heaven family is descended
from the original Angels and adds
rubber to the mix; it features
offspring like the Michael, a classic
brogued wing-tip derby, and the
Supervog, a classic style with Super
Swirl details on each side, a padded
tongue and collar for comfort and a
snug fit. “Angels resist alkali, water,
acid, fatigue and Satan.”
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Lasts and firsts at the Brooklyn store,
including the Cubist Cupcake bootie
(opposite page, far right) and a snapshot
of a famous fan
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Every shoe starts with a sketch, like
these drawings that would join the
Kitschy Kitschy Boom Boom, Bellevue,
Fairway
