Last week I went down to Granville St. (it’s a long way from Richards St.) and bought myself some shoes from John Fluevog Shoes. Fluevog has been something of a Vancouver institution for as long as I can remember. Locally, his popularity took off with those gothy, super-pointy shoes in the early eighties.
I’m pretty happy with my purchase–they’ve got a funk factor of about 4. However, they hurt my feet like a mofo. In fact, despite the best efforts of 2nd Skin, I’ve got little sores on the tops (!) of my feet. Ah well, I guess we all have to suffer to be beautiful.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
I still have a pair of ten hole derby style patten leather docs I bought from there in about grade ten. They’re more comfortable than any shoes I have ever owned, and the soles protect me from satan!
The Fluevog angels got my back! Errr, feet!
I am so proud of you for going Fluevog. Those shoes rock. I love the swirl. Who cares if they hurt for a while. Hang in there. Colour is sooo stunning. You continue to amaze me Darren. 🙂 M.
Try moleskin. It sticks to the shoes and softens the hard, pokey bits that hurt your feet.