November 30th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Yoga Class is a funny place to travel.  You’re in athletic-wear, but you don’t need sneakers and it’s not really the same kind of athletic-wear that you would sport, say on your way to Spinning.  And since the sneakers aren’t mandatory, you’re really blessed with endless possibilities in the shoe department.

Now listen, I’m not saying you shouldn’t wear athletic sneakers to Yoga class.   Maybe you want to run there (I’m too lazy for that, but good for you.)  And they’ll look perfectly appropriate, as your wearing matching clothes after all.  But yoga has its own style.  You’re not wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  You’re wearing sleek leggings or flowing fold-over pants, or tiny shorts if you can pull them off-I cannot.

Yoga is supposed to relax you, and so looking cute to and fro should not stress you out.  It’s just that sometimes the instructor is really hot and you want to impress him, sometimes the other girls in class are really annoying and you want to show them up, and sometimes you just want to look nice because when you look better you feel better. And isn’t that what yoga is all about, doing something for yourself? Yes, it is.  So here are some suggestions on how to incorporate cute footwear into your practice.

With leggings (cropped or full-length): A ballet flat always looks delicate and feminine.

The All Black ‘Woodstock’

With a wide-leg yoga pant (full-length): A moccasin is in keeping with the peaceful tone of your practice.  They’re of the earth.  You could be taking a vinyasa on a riverbank.

The Manitobah ‘Trapper Moc’

With wide leg yoga pant (cropped): These are the most athletic-looking pant in the yoga-wear family.  A stylish sneaker completes the look.

The Ed Hardy ‘Low Rise Dubai’

With tiny yoga shorts (short): A big boot is an adorable contrast and warm feet will enable you to walk around with bare legs even when it’s not warm out.  Additionally, wearing bulky boots is always a great way to make your legs look tinier, not that you need to!

The Australia Love ‘Short Nomad’

Namaste.

P.S. Barefoot Tess is offering 25% off all day (a few exclusions apply) -So you can get your cute yoga footwear on sale! Use code ‘CYBER’ at checkout!

November 25th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

As the truncated workweek is winding down just as fast as it started up and Penn Station is filling to capacity with disgruntled commuters, duffle-dragging students and a couple of lost toddlers, I can’t help but think about how much I love Thanksgiving.  This thought occurred to me while pushing my way through a crowd of Washington DC-bound Amtrak patrons on my way to good ol’ NJ Transit.  The stress level in the station was palpably high, and I smiled sympathetically at passers by, all of whom were stressed over meeting in-laws for the first time, how their very first pumpkin pie would turn out, or their parents’ reaction to their new bright red facial piercing.  The holidays are such a wonderful time.  And Thanksgiving is more than just a day-it’s the kick-off to a solid month of family togetherness, cocktail parties complete with eggnog and carols around the piano, and multiple events to which it is appropriate to wear velvet.

Penn Station is my favorite place to be before Thanksgiving because you know everyone is going home for the same holiday.  And it is the same holiday by definition, but more than any other holiday, I find people have the most unique family traditions on this day.

I know you know where this is going.  However you spend your Thanksgiving, you inevitably need the perfect shoes.

Hosting your own Thanksgiving: It is often said that the hostess may be barefoot.  I think this is cute in theory, but why, when there are so many beautiful shoes available and food service involved?  Go for cute comfort, and if you’re going barefoot, give yourself a pedicure.

The Maloles ‘Zoe Luxe Hair’ Flat

Thanksgiving at the club with grandma: It’s a little stuffy and a little conservative, so take this opportunity to wear those really sophisticated shoes for which you’re always trying to find reason to pull them out of the closet.

The Andrea Carrano ‘Boston’ Flat

The Thanksgiving Day Parade: It’s cold out there and crowded too.  You’ll want to be warn and comfortable to enjoy it.  By comfortable I mean, your feet feel good and you feel good too, because you look cute.

The Barefoot Tess ‘Sweater Boot’

Touch football with dad and everyone else before dinner, where you’ll likely sit at the kid’s table, which has grown larger than the adult table: You’ll want a sneaker.

The Bensimon ‘Les Basiques’

The First Thanksgiving: You’re either a clueless Pilgrim or a well-informed Native American:  Maize will be served.

The Corso Como ‘Zola’

The Manimal ‘Vintage Button Moc’

While we’re at it, what do YOU do on Thanksgiving?  (I’m feeling sentimental.)

November 23rd, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Thanksgiving is nice, but the best holiday of the week is Black Friday!  The door busters, the crowds, the utter pandemonium that occurs while waiting outside of WalMart at 6am.  It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  As a seasoned shopper, I hold strong to the rules of Black Friday.

1. Hydrate Properly (with coffee.)

2. Be Well-Read (The ad flyers in the paper will tell you where to get a flat screen TV for $100 and power drill for your dad.)

3. Dress comfortably (Don’t annoy your sister with your incessant  complaining about how it’s too hot in Macy’s- layers, ladies.)  This is not permission not to look cute, but you can do it in a hurry!

4. Wear the proper footwear (It’s a long day at the mall and nobody wants to wait while you sit on edge of the fountain rubbing your feet.)

You’ll be all set in these great shopping shoes!

November 20th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

We love their style on screen and off!

Cameron Diaz

The Madden Girl ‘Tandem’

Emma Watson

The Blowfish ‘Sherbert’

Jennifer Hudson

The All Black for Barefoot Tess ‘Japanese Bootie’

Jessica Szohr of Gossip Girl

The Dolce Vita ‘Dante’

The best part is they’re all at Barefoot Tess.

And Barefoot Tess is offering FREE SHIPPING on all domestic orders ALL NIGHT LONG!!!

November 19th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

It happens over brunch on Sunday morning, in the locker room after yoga, by drunk-dial at 3am, and via text, causing me to ignore the red hand and walk blindly into traffic: I find out about an upcoming event.  It could be a house party, or a dinner party, or a fondue night, or some fabulous gala that requires a gown.  Whatever it is, once I get word of it, my mind jumps immediately to what I’m going to wear.  Of course, there are endless contributing factors to consider.  The most basic are the occasion, its venue and of course, the season.  Some of the more minute considerations however, include, who else will attend, if there will be dancing, and whether or not I’ll be drinking red wine. (Its stains have notoriously ruined dresses forever.)

Occasionally, I hear of the event and an outfit that I own and have been meaning to wear pops into my head straightaway.  It’s perfect and I’m golden, despite the fact that I’ve almost been hit by a taxi.   More often though, I have to spend a good half hour-who am I kidding? An hour and a half-trying on clothes and shoes and scarves and bracelets to construct the perfect look for the party.  Once in a great while, I hear of the event and the perfect outfit simply appears.  I know what it looks like and how to accessorize.  It will be flattering and flawless.  The only problem is that I’ve invented this outfit-it’s merely a product of my imagination.  I might own a few pieces of the look, but I certainly don’t own the majority of it.

At this point I should say, “Well, that would be nice.  Too bad it doesn’t exist.”  Instead, I start taking a mental inventory of all the stores in the area, who carries and what, and hours of operation. The quest begins: building the nonexistent look.  If it’s made of separates, the task is easier, but the journey is long.  If I’ve designed a dress in my head, the mission is in serious risk of ending in failure, through no fault of my own.  I’ll take a second to brag here.  If it exists, I will find it.  E-mail me!

I find that when I’m going crazy to build a look, the thing I am most thankful for is my shoe wardrobe.  A shoe wardrobe full of staples will never let you down.  Here are some I think every girl should own so when she’s built the perfect outfit, she can rush home from the stores, just in time to get ready in a hurry, and the shoes will be waiting in her closet to complete the ensemble.

The Black Patent Flat (All Black for Barefoot Tess ‘Banded Flat’)

The Riding Boot (Corso Como ‘Rachel II’)

The Accent Flat (Barefoot Tess ‘Edie’)

The Metallic Party Shoe (Gwyneth ‘Princess’ Heel)

Speak up! What are your favorite staples?

And speaking of dreaming up styles, are there any that you’d like BFT to carry?  Tell me what’s missing!

November 17th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

So, sometimes I want to wear these:

(The Bernardo ‘Blondie,’ The Blowfish ‘Humvee,’ The J. Shoes ‘Bridle)

But when I go to pull them on, my jeans get all scrunched up under my boots.  They bunch at the knee and rub against my ankle and put me in an all-around foul mood.  That’s why I was psyched when I caught wind of these:

Jean Straps!

They clip onto your jeans and keep your pants tucked into your boots.

Not to be dramatic, but I feel as though these are going to revolutionize my boot-wearing and improve my quality of life.

Weigh in, ladies.  What do you think?

And don’t forget! Follow me (Barefoot_Tess) on Twitter for exclusive steals and deals!

November 16th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Congratulations for JL, the winner of these very awesome Jeffery Campbell mini-wedges!

Here’s the winning post!

“Who doesn’t love free stuff? I’m highly competitive, so I absolutely love free stuff from raffles or dumb contests at family gatherings, etc – stuff that you don’t pay for but that you feel like you deserve since you ran a little faster or found more Easter eggs than someone else. How does it make me feel? Awesome!

The best free thing I ever got was my grandpa’s old jacket. It’s really well-made and after a trip to the cleaner’s it looked awesome. Whenever I wear it I always get compliments. And when people ask where I got it, I just reply, “Oh, it’s vintage” and walk away trying to look as chic as possible.”

Great job to everyone else– there will be countless contests in the future and tons of chance to win many more free things, so keep commenting and look out for Jeffery Campbell at Barefoot Tess in February!

P.S. Follow me (Barefoot_Tess) on Twitter for daily promotions and exclusive deals!

November 13th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Hot looks from the girls we love.

Kate Moss

The Delman ‘Mona’

Michelle Obama

The Corso Como ‘Adel’

Gwen Stefani

The Cosmosis ‘Alaska’

Mary Kate and Ashley Olson

The Toms ‘Classic’

The Corso Como ‘Santorini’

Get ‘em all from Barefoot Tess!

November 12th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Walking through the East Village today, I passed a pack of street urchins.  They were in their teens and twenties, dirty and disheveled, and something just told me they owned the street.  Sure, they looked like they might steal a loaf of bread at any moment and bring it back their leader at his abandoned subway station office– accessible only through the sewer system– a loaf of bread that he would then distribute to the kids at the tent colony under the bridge. But they were so cool.  I see them every once in while and I always make the same observation: Their style is rough and dark, but they’re great about balancing this look by contrasting its hardness with long flowing strawberry hair or a blousy floral top beneath a worn leather motorcyle jacket.

And they don’t just walk, they saunter such that when you think of them after they’ve passed, your mind converts the memory into slow motion and “All the Young Dudes” plays in the background.  They’re perfect, beautiful creatures, modern New York City icons.  Today as I passed them, the oldest boy smiled.  I, of course, smiled back.

Get the Look with J. Shoes:

November 10th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

When I wrote about The Eternal Battle: Cute vs. Comfy and the daily struggle that accompanies it, I got a lot of feedback about the difficulty of getting ready in a hurry.  Very few of us have the will to wake up two hours early to straighten our hair, construct a flawless outfit, and make sure we don’t dash out the door without our iPhone.  It’s tempting to throw on sweats and schlep through your daily activities.  And sure, they’re comfortable, but they belong on the couch.   When you look better, you feel better and it completely changes the way you go about the day.  Here are some insider’s tricks for pulling your look together in seconds and feeling great for hours.

*The Headband: Tempted to twist your wet hair into a bun and check that off your list?  Part it on the side, twist it into a lower bun, and wear a headband.  All of a sudden, you’ve got yourself a hairstyle.

*The Accessories: A set of bangles, a strand of pearls, or a cocktail ring will polish a work outfit and dress up even the plainest white t-shirt.

*The Cardigan: If it’s chilly, it’s true, a big hoodie would be comfy and keep you warm.  But a cardigan will show your shape, pull your look together, and keep you just as warm.  Again, even over a plain white tee, it adds something.  In an ideal world, you’d have one in every color, but an easy alternative is having a black one and one in your favorite accent color. (Mine is yellow.)

*The Structured Boot: It’s tall and it’s elegant.   Wear these over skinny jeans, tights, or your leggings and a plain tee (and cardigan.)  They add sophistication and style to any outfit, and you only need one pair.  They define staple.

*The Soft Jean: Often women don’t want to wear jeans because they’re uncomfortable, cut into their side, etc.  Try a soft, dark pair with some stretch or a pair of jeggings. You’ll be more willing to put them on if they’re comfortable and the Lycra will keep them from looking stretched out and sloppy.  Jeans are infinitely more stylish than sweats (even if they’re juicy velours.)

*The Makeup: No time for applying a full face? Me neither.  Take 30 seconds to apply a bit of blush, a swipe of mascara, and a dab of lip gloss.  All of a sudden, you’ll look 10 times brighter.

*The Flats: Don’t stuff your foot into a smelly gym sneaker unless you’re actually planning on working out.  A simple ballet flat matches everything and adds a touch of femininity.  Black patent is my dear old standby, while metallic or a leopard print is a great accent.

*The Coat: I know it’s cold outside.  And if you live in one of those cities whose weather requires the floor-length down parka, you’re out of luck.  As for the rest of you, fleeces are sloppy, ski jackets are not glamorous, and nobody likes a girl who wears a way-too-tiny jacket while shivering and sniffling her way through the day.  A coat will keep you warm and you’ll look pretty while you walk.  A trench, a pea coat, anything with a bit of structure and you’re great to go. Pair it with a matching scarf (maybe a hat and gloves) and you’ve got your outdoor look.