December 8th, 2009 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Your Neighbor’s Hanukkah Pot Luck: The first hour of this little get-together has the power to deceive you– it’s going to start out tame with the consumption of latkes and small talk about what you’re doing for the holidays, and maybe what you’re doing with your life.  But don’t be fooled.  By hour two everyone will be marveling at how much wine has been consumed by such a small group.  Pretty soon you’ll be flirting with the eligible bachelors, the menorah candles will have burned down completely, and the early-evening social gathering will have transitioned into a rollicking late-night soiree with additional mystery crashers from the building and dancing on the coffee table.

As a result of the ‘two parties in one’ nature of the evening, you’ll need something fun and flirty that can transition from Act I to Act II. No jeans. Try a sassy mini and tights paired with a plain tee to tone it down.  The ideal shoes, in keeping with the outfit and the evening, would have two contrasting elements one tame and one wild.

(The Shoe: The FS/NY ‘Adorn’ (Black leather studded with crystals), $239)