October 30th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
Love their looks? Look no further!
Jessica Simpson
The Delman ‘Janis’
Lauren Conrad
The Corso Como ‘Rachel II’
Hillary Duff
The Faryl Robin ‘Dahling’
Anne Hathaway
The Corso Como ‘Boca’
Get them all from Barefoot Tess!
And don’t forget to check out our video! CLICK HERE
October 29th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
Let’s face it: dancing all night is fun, but it’s hard work. You can’t just shake it for hours in any shoe. Heels are uncomfortable after a while regardless, and it the winter, forget about it. Your feet and legs are cold, despite those black tights you’re wearing under your minidress.
Barefoot Tess has the perfect solution:
The Poetic Licence ‘Persuade’ me.
They’re chic. They’re edgy. They’re glam. Rock these and you can dance all night and still skip off to a diner at dawn. You’ll be exhausted when stumble into your apartment and flop into bed by the light of the morning sun, but as for your feet, they’ll be just fine!
Check out the Poetic Licence ‘Persuade Me’ video on YouTube!
October 27th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
Give me something good to eat. If you don’t, I won’t care. I’ll pull down your underwear.” Ah, the song that never gets old when you’re between the ages of 5 and 12. I imagine when an adult hears it ringing from the pack of children traversing the sidewalk out front, they think, “I wonder if those are the kids that T.P.ed my front lawn and egged the garage door.” So maybe Halloween isn’t so fun for the homeowner set. I loved it as a kid, the party in homeroom, the peeled grape witch’s eyeballs, the fun size Snickers.
Here are the top 5 Reasons that Halloween is Awesome
5. I grew up a few doors down from a couple, empty-nesters, who had the best trick-or-treating house in the neighborhood. They played a cassette of scary noises and invited us in for cinnamon sugar doughnuts, apple cider and apple bobbing in their foyer. Reason number 5 that Halloween is awesome: Those people. (Update: A few years ago, some jerk in our neighborhood complained that bobbing for apples wasn’t sanitary and poor Mr. and Mrs. Empty Nest had to close up shop. Dear Jerk, You’re the worst.)
4. The Candy: Halloween is the one day of the year that you are allowed, nay expected, to consume candy for the entirety of the day. (Shout-out to Valentine’s Day for the candy as well.)
3. The decorations: Sure, Christmas decorations spread cheer and joy like Swine Flu in a state-school dorm, but Halloween decorations are just SO MUCH FUN. The battery-operated ghost that you hang above your doorway so it shakes and boos when you walk under it: spooky. That doormat with a haunted house on it that screams and cackles when you step on it: scary. That fake spider’s webbing that sticks to your clothes and the carpet and your dogs paws: Well, it looks cool when you first put it up.
2. The parties: There’s so much to look forward to when going to a Halloween party. Your long-fated lover could be walking around in a mask all night, which he or she will remove at the party’s end, then kiss you and say, “It was always you.” (Well, now we know what I’m hoping for on Saturday night.) There’s also witch’s brew to drink (essentially green Jungle Juice.) There’s the hope of winning the costume contest. The hostess will have baked cupcakes with orange frosting and “Thriller” will come on at least three times. You’re also going to get some of that spider web stuck in your wig, but you’ll pick it out semi-successfully and have another cup of witches brew.
5. The Costumes! You can be anyone you want. You can be sexy. You can be clever. You can be scary. And you can most definitely be offensive. Remember, it’s never “too soon.” SO, rummage through your closet (and your grandma’s,) scour the racks at the Salvation Army, or Party City, or Home Depot, depending on what you’re planning to be, and win the contest!
A lot of people have told me they didn’t know what to be this year, so I’m going to give you a few ideas.
Ideas: Eloise, Amelia Bedelia, Carmen San Diego, Daria, Margot Tenenbaum, Lady GaGa, Freida Khalo, Jane Goodall, Amelia Earhart, Mrs. Smith, Betty Draper, Elizabeth Bennet, Annie
I’d like to hear your ideas as well. What are you going to be for Halloween?
October 26th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
It’s the week of Halloween, y’all! I love this holiday and I think it deserves more than just one post, so you can expect me to uphold the Halloween spirit all week. Boo! Mwahahaha! OK, I’ll stop that right away.
For the first Halloween post of the week (in enough time for you to order these shoes and receive them on time) I will match the costume to the shoe. As someone whose mom used to compromise her costume every year by forcing her to change into something more sensible for trick-or-treating, I know the importance of detail. Annie would never wear a hoodie over that beautiful red dress and Dorothy would never wear Keds. Trust me, girls. I’m here to help.
I don’t know what you’re planning to be, but if I don’t post a good shoe suggestion for your particular costume, comment and I’ll give you a personal recommendation.
The Barefoot Tess ‘Spice’: Bride, Sexy Nurse/Candy Striper, Alice in Wonderland, A Ghost.
The Corso Como ‘Carro’: Witch, Sexy Schoolmarm, Flapper, (Pregnant) Nun, Hester Prynne
The Manitobah ‘Trapper Moc‘: Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Tiger Lily, A Trustafarian who attends a small, secluded liberal arts college and smokes cloves.
The Cocobelle ‘Bahia’: Ninja, Sexy Scubadiver, Charlotte (of Web Fame)
The Dolce Vita ‘Olive’: Cleopatra, Princess Jasmine, Aphrodite
I don’t know what you’re planning to be, but if I don’t post a good shoe suggestion for your costume, let me know and I’ll give you a personal recommendation!
October 23rd, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
There’s a feeling I get: it’s part anxiety paired with an intense need and a voracious yearning. I get this feeling when there’s the possibility of receiving free stuff. I used to work as the personal assistant to a tiara designer. She was old and fabulous and lived in a Park Avenue pent house ever surrounded by the most beautiful things, scarves, bags, jewelry, and shoes shoes shoes! My job was crazy and odd. Sometimes I felt like a Park Avenue Princess, sliding into my town car in dark sunglasses and three bright orange bags full of Hermès in toe. And sometimes I felt like a Park Avenue maid, like when my boss asked me to tie the newly purchased Hermès scarves in her hair and clip her toenails. For the record, I refused to clip her toenails, but I tied many a scarf–I’m very good at it.
Clipping toe nails sounds awful, but the job had a great many perks as well, the biggest one being the SWAG. (I take it back actually. I came to adore my boss and consider her somewhat of a third grandma slash purveyor of sex stories and advice. We remain very close.) The second best thing about the job though, was most definitely the spoils I scored over the year I worked for her. Some of my most coveted hand-me-downs include Tod’s driving mocs, a Bottega clutch, and a Fendi gym bag from the 80s. They’re fabulous, they’re timeless, and not to be materialistic, but they make me happy. And you know why they make me happy? Because aside from being amazing pieces, they were free free free, wheeeeeeeee!
So whenever my boss talked about getting rid of old things to make room for new things this feeling I get would rise up in me and I would become a different person. My heart would race. My palms would sweat. In short, I was becoming hysterical. She couldn’t tell. Outwardly, I was very composed, a skill I learned from this very job.
Now that I think about this feeling, I feel a little ridiculous. I should be embarrassed for you to find out that I’m materialistic, but come on. I write a shoe blog. What did you think? So make me feel better and tell me the feeling you get when free loot might be on the horizon, or the feeling you get when you receive it. And also, what’s the best free thing that’s ever been bestowed upon you? Don’t say love– I’m talking STUFF.
Surprise! THIS IS A CONTEST. With your comment, leave your shoe size. The commenter with the best description of the ‘Free Stuff Feeling’ wins these beautiful, woven leather Jeffrey Campbell micro-wedges. FYI, this is a celebration of his return to our site this February, so if you love him for his beautiful designs, unique aesthetic, and all-around hot style, you can snag him once again from Barefoot Tess.
Now I need to clear the air: I just have to let you know that despite my love for free stuff, I never once tried convincing my boss to get rid of something I thought she needed. I only ever accepted the things she truly cast aside on her own accord (and poor judgment– that stuff was awesome!) Just had to clarify.
October 22nd, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
You love their looks–look no further!
Lauren Conrad
The Corso Como ‘Adel’
Kourtney Kardashian
The Corso Como ‘Benita’
Vanessa Hudgens
The Barefoot Tess ‘Slouch’
Rachel Bilson
The All Black ‘Cross Toe’
Get ‘em all from Barefoot Tess!
October 21st, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
I was invited to my very first wedding at the age of seven, that of a distant cousin whom I had no recollection of meeting but I knew, from the wedding invitation, that he existed. Upon learning of my cousin’s existence and his imminent nuptials, I began dreaming of a beautiful gold dress, with ruffles and taffeta, lace and brocade paired with a tasteful tiara and black patent leather ballet flats. (I was seven, living in New Jersey, and it was the early nineties—there’s no accounting for taste.) I related my pageant-worthy costume choice to my mother, but only got as far as the taffeta before her face fell into an “I feel sort of bad for you, but you’re ridiculous” grimace. “Laura,” she said, somewhat gently, “This is a daytime wedding.” What that had to do with anything, I hadn’t a clue, but the point was that my dress was not appropriate. “You’ll wear a suit.”
She whisked me away from my cartoons the following Saturday morning to shop at Saks for this ill-fated suit. I sat in the back seat, pouting all the way for the loss of my delusions of grandeur, and maybe a little because I wasn’t allowed to sit in the front. We were greeted at Saks, with offensive enthusiasm by Carol, who had gone ahead and picked out a bunch of suits for me. As we walked through the beautiful party dresses in a parade of crushed dreams, I couldn’t help but wonder why anyone else didn’t find it preposterous that a child would wear a suit. At seven, I looked up at two grown adult women and thought, “You want a child to wear a suit. And I’m the ridiculous one? ” But sure enough I began trying on suits. We finally go to one that had a nice top (a cream vest lined with black satin) but I was wearing pants with it and worked up the nerve to put my foot down. “I saw a skirt out there that goes with this. Can I please wear the skirt?” My mother agreed and I handed her the pants.
“Carol,” she called. “Would you mind bringing the skirt for this top?”
“And which top is that?” Carol called back.
“Oh, come in and see it,” my mother answered without a second’s hesitation.”
“What? Mom, no!” I pleaded. I was in my underwear. Carol was not allowed to see my underwear. First these women were robbing me of a beautiful party dress and now my dignity? Absolutely not! But in Carol came. I stood there awkwardly feeling my face getting hot and trying desperately to pull the vest down to cover myself—in vain. Carol acted like the sight of my underwear wasn’t no thing, but the damage had been done. I got that “my throat is hurting because I’m trying not to cry” feeling. My mother paid for the suit and a sensible headband and off we went to Stride Rite.
I still had hope for the black patent leather ballet flats, which I fondly referred to as ‘big-girl shoes.’ (My favorite shoe to this day is the black patent ballet flat.) I made my wish known to my mother, who agreed, assuring me they would definitely have those. I spotted them the second we walked into the store. Perfect. I sat on the bench shaken by the panties incident, but thankful that at least I wasn’t afraid of the metal foot measurer. The salesgirl came over, measured, looked down at my dream shoe, then up at my mother. “She has a very broad foot,” she stated. “These aren’t going to work, but those will.” She pointed to a Mary Jane. My heart sank. “But what about another size?” I asked. “What about something you have in the back?” I was grasping. “PLEASE!”
I couldn’t believe it. My last chance for some semblance of elegance and they were sticking my stupid broad foot in a Mary Jane? A Mary Jane is the opposite of a big-girl shoe! It’s a little-girl shoe! “Sorry,” the salesgirl said—still no sympathy, and in fact, maybe a taking some sick pleasure in all of this. “These are all we have.” My mother agreed and she bought the Mary Janes. I was so depressed I didn’t even want to stop at Mrs. Fields. I hated the mall, I hated my life, and I hated my fat fat fatty fat foot.
This feeling, being denied the shoe you want because of the size of your foot: avoid it. Shop Barefoot Tess.
Now, you know I want your traumatizing childhood stories. Let’s hear ‘em. And mind the contest!
October 19th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
I spend the vast majority of the winter months tucked up into the folds of many layers of blanket on my couch, watching DVR’ed television and sipping cocoa. Fine, that’s not true, but often I wish it were. Instead I spend my winters shivering, traversing the sidewalk hunched over with my head down, and complaining about the inexorable cold the second I arrive at my destination with chapped hands and a runny nose. New York winters are brutal, but as I understand, I’m actually spoiled having to put up only with this. Here the temperature rarely plummets below 0˚ F, whereas in other cities, they’re dealing with temperatures below zero on a daily basis—I’m talking to you, Minneapolis.
Here they are:
The Top 5 Things I Hate About Winter:
5. When you’re in someone’s home and they just don’t have the heat high enough. You hint. You chatter your teeth. They don’t offer you so much as a cup of tea and they inevitably have one of those cold leather couches.
4. Falling on the ice. (This happens to me a lot because among my favorite winter pastimes is “ice skating,” though it’s most always met with the response, “Stop sliding around on that black ice, Laura- you’re going to fall!” And then I do and I hate it.)
3. Runny noses and teary eyes. (Every time I come inside I have to wipe the tears from my eyes and blow my nose. Even then, it never really stops running. And do I ever carry tissues? Of course not.)
2. (a.) The great heaps of gray snow that are a permanent fixture on every sidewalk until mid-March. Upside: when the pile gets really tall, you can climb on it—it offers a sizable deal of fun in the cold while you’re waiting for the bus and you’ve grown tired of ice skating on the sidewalk.
2. (b.) Falling off of the gray snow pile into the street—people stare.
1. Cold feet. If you don’t wear the right boots, your feet are cold for months straight. And once they get cold, they never get warm, especially if you’re hanging out at this person’s house: See 5.
There’s just one solution and I’ve got it: Appropriate winter boots. Now, appropriate very seldom implies cute and fashionable, but I would never suggest something that wasn’t. I’ve got your backs, girls.
The Cosmosis ‘Alaska’
The Sorel ‘Caribou’
The Australia Love ‘Corset’
Obviously, I want to hear what everyone else hates about winter—you know I love your stories. And remember commenter of the week wins $50.
October 16th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
You know when you’re hanging out with a bunch of friends, having a great time, and then all of a sudden conversation turns to YouTube? “How awesome were Jill and Kevin dancing down the aisle?” “Did you see that girl in a leotard in Times Square singing to Beyonce?” “Oh my god, what about those kittens on a Rhumba?”
I call it “YouTube Party Kill.” There’s a time and a place and it’s not at a party. But listen, I’m not judging and I love me some YouTube.
Here are the videos I would make us watch if we were all at a party together and I wanted to kill the mood.
Stop the music, turn on the lights, and everybody look at my laptop.
Don’t tell me you haven’t ruined a party that way at least once. What are YOUR favorite videos?
Stay tuned for the Barefoot Tess video contest– Coming next month!!!
And follow me on Twitter: Barefoot_Tess !!
October 15th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum
There’s nothing like opening a box of new shoes, planning your outfit around them, and gallivanting around town all stylish and chic. You feel amazing, bopping along the sidewalk to meet your friends, who are absolutely going to shower you with compliments. You can tell that guy you just strutted past totally checked you out. And then you remember the ever-unavoidable ‘New Pair Dilemma.’ So what if you look great when the tender skin of your heel is being brutally shredded with every step you take? Or your poor defenseless pinky toe is undergoing cruel and vile torture that can only result in an abrasion and subsequent precarious bandage placement? Or your grand and elegant big toe is experiencing dignity-robbing chafing by a relentless leather strap?
I’m familiar. You’re familiar. BLISTERS. Now, I don’t mean to be a downer and I know we all love shoes. But let’s face it—this business of new shoes, it’s not all fun and games. Sometimes it’s blood pooling under your heel or a tender white bubble, warm to the touch.
Here are some of the products I’ve found to combat these problems and enjoy my beautiful shoes anguish-free.
And now let’s help each other out: What have you found that works and what have you found that doesn’t? As per usual, I’d love some stories too, preferably of the blister variety. I’d adore some funny ones and the kind that would have your little sister shrieking, “Ew, now I’ve lost my appetite!”
Don’t forget the contest!
Find these styles and many more at www.barefoottess.com!
