January 13th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

On my ‘About Me’ page I offer to dispense fashion and particularly footwear advice to anyone who e-mails me.  Now, I typed this feeling really excited about the prospect of spreading my own fashion knowledge, but knowing full well that no one was going to ask me a damn thing. Well, guess what!  After months of nothing, Annie D. finally spoke up.  She wrote,

“Dear Laura,

A bunch of my friends have been wearing Frye boots and I like them, but the big sizes are mens’ and way too wide.  Plus, I borrowed my sisters and despite the fact that they’re already broken in, they gave me a huge blister.  Frye is too expensive to get a blister from.  Do you know of any cute boots, like Frye that are cheaper? FYI, I’m a narrow 12, so that complicates the matter.  I want WOMEN’S shoes!

I’m sad,

Annie D.”

Woo, I’m practically the footwear version of Dear Abby!

Dear Sad Annie D.,

I have the perfect solution for you.  Check out J. Shoes from Barefoot Tess.  They have the same great utilitarian feel as Frye’s, but they also have feminine touches, like pretty ribbon laces.  BFT actually offers them below the suggested retail value, so check ‘em out! They come in women’s sizes exclusively at Barefoot Tess.

Forget about Dear Abby.  Watch me turn into Oprah!

P.S. Annie D.,

Since you’re the first girl to write to me for advice, I am going to send you a pair of J. Shoes ‘Bridles’ in your size and the color of your choosing!

Anyone else have fashion/footwear questions?  Post them to the blog or e-mail me and I will publish and answer them! Don’t forget: comment of the week wins 50 bucks and your questions count as comments.