February 26th, 2010 by barefoottess

The entries were plentiful and awesome.  Everyone did an amazing job.  Here are the top 5:

4th Runner Up: Lynette

Ode to Caramel

(Caramel Heel by Something Bleu)

My sweet Baby Ruth–

You’re my Snickers-doodle and golden Butterfinger

I don’t want you for your millions

I’d pay 100 Grand on Pay Day,

Which is how you make me feel.

Ever time I slip you on, I feel like a Fireball

My Chicklet,

You’re only One Musketeer…

but that’s probably good–

I couldn’t choose which to wear if there were three pair!

You are a Jolly Rancher at the holiday party

Far from a Milk Dud,

You’ve Twixed me into falling for you, Blue.

I feel like I’m on Cracker, Jack, when I’m wearing you!

My comfy Gummi Bear–

It’s more than your Nutrageous glow,

but also your Nerdy devotion to making me

Watchamacallit,

that dance move that makes me go MM&MM

I’d give you Hersey Kisses all day long–

Just ask and I’ll Kit Kat and Crunch with you

Any morning, day or night

down any sidewalk, runway or still pose you choose.

I melt like Sweet Taffy each time I put you on.

I’m a Tootsie in a Roll!

You Rolo me to the Milky Way!

My scrumptious Goober–

You’re a golden Starburst in the dark,

Even if I choose another Whopper of a shoe,

I know you’d be at Warheads with it–

You’re the one I want to keep.

You’re no Runt in the closet!

You Dot my days with secret smiles,

Like Jelly on Beans.

My Long Lasting Gobstopper–

I’d Fun Dip up Fifth Avenue with you anytime!

You make me dance like a Raisinet.

I feel safe popping Bottle Caps with you,
Which says a lot, my Sweet Tart–

I don’t put my feet in just any old Mary Janes.

You, my Sugar Daddy, make me Twizzle, Razzle and dazzle!

And that drives me Skittles!

3rd Runner Up: Jo C.

Just to think that a boot could ever touch me where every other has neglected- my knee.  Beautiful boots that may finally give my feet the chance to look, dare I say it- delicate.  All the other boots hate my plump calves, they shrug themselves down against my skin.  But these boots will envelope every inch of my long legs and kiss the back of my knees with soft luxury, nuzzling them reassuringly.  I never knew the day would come that I could relish in the deliciousness that is an over the knee boot!  They call out to me- these saucy boots. I dream about them all day and night.  I visit them at least twice a day online.  My husband would go crazy to know I’m willing to cheat on our savings account for these Corso Como’s.  I have been in love with the Corso Como Duluth Boots since I first saw them on Barefoottess.com.  They are the most graceful flat boots I’ve ever seen.  It’s a love unrequited, they don’t even know my name.  When will they realize they belong with me, on my feet, in my closet.  I would care for them more than I’ve never cared for another.  No other boot has ever made me feel this way.  I await the day my dream comes true, when I open the door, and find them waiting for me.

2nd Runner Up: Madeline

There are so many shoes that I desire, however there can be only one (pair that is)! I choose you, Corso Como ‘Carro’ to cradle my size 13 feet. I feel that is it destiny that only size 13 is left, it seems that we are meant for each other. I imagine that Carro will lift me up 1 3/4″ to make me a stunning 6 feet tall, so that I can stand eye-to-eye with my boyfriend and say, “Who’s the boss now? It’s your turn to the dishes!” Only soon thereafter to give him a wink and say, “I love you!” giving up that power. Alas, I will have to perform a seductive and dangerous dance wearing these shoes, which might look something like the attached photo, only wearing Corso Como ‘Carro’ shoes, which would make this dance much more effective.

So as you can see, the Corso Como ‘Carro’ shoes in black, size 13, are needed- its a ” you complete me” type of situation, but without Tom Cruise. I can’t get things done around here, I need my spare part, the shoes that I love to make me whole again.

1st Runner Up: Halie

Pst “Leigh“!  Come here, Beautiful.  Let me take a closer look at you.

God, you are even prettier in person than on your internet profile.  Do you know that?  Awe, don’t look so embarrassed.  It’s ok.  A lot of people putting up profiles on the internet these days!  How else, could two busy sole’s like us meet?

Listen, I’m  gonna need you to keep this thing  between us, on the down low.  You see, I gotta another girl, “Holly“, she’s on the same site.  No, not it’s not like that!  She is great, really great!   She’s cute, reliable and when I’m with her things are just comfortable, ya know?  I mean her no disrespect.  She and I, we’ve done a lot together.  Truthfully she’s a little worn around the edges.  And I have needs!  Needs she can’t always meet.  But a girl like you, you are in a different “leigh” altogether.

Sorry, sorry!  No more terrible jokes.  I know this thing between us is no laughing matter.  Leigh, don’t think I don’t respect you.  I do.  I know  you come from a fancy tradition.  I know a girl like you has expectations.  And I got a better job these days, I’m making more money, I can take you to nice places.  Leigh, you deserve to go to nice places!!!

I know this great little French place.  I bet you’d look great there.  Even if we squeezed into a booth, there’d you be, twinkling and catching the candlelight.  No matter how I tried to keep you to myself, everyone would notice you.  It’s impossible not to.

So wadda ya say, Leigh?  You gonna give me a chance?  I think this could be the start of a beautiful life together.

And who knows?   I think you and Holly could really get along.

WINNER OF THE ALL BLACK JAPANESE BOOTIE: REGINA

Legend has it that there was once a renegade Geisha who lived during the ‘Tess’ dynasty two thousand centuries before time’s conception.  This is her story…

Winding, binding, white bandages crushing bone, suffocating skin,
Feet contorted and stifled.
tiny feet, tiny footsteps,
Enter the Geisha, Mistress Renegade…

There is a man with no name who comes to her village with a smile to greet the gatekeeper.  His forearms are rippled with muscles that only Buddha can replicate (no offense to the Buddhist…).  In those arms he cradles small, wrapped packages from exotic places in far off lands.  The gatekeeper signs the strong man’s tablet and the strong man walks away, mounts his regal, brown steed and rides off beyond the cherry blossom groves while I hide, unnoticed.

All evening I think about what must be in those small wrapped packages.  Tiptoeing from my door on tiny feet in wooden shoes, I sneak into the place where the small packages are stored.  Quietly tearing open the wrapping and then the boxes, and then the boxes within the boxes, I discover nothing new; the same wooden shoe, and I cry in disappointment.  Startled I hear a shuffle outside of the window and think to myself that I am surely caught, and I am.  I am caught by the sexy, strong, Package Man.

The man walks through the door and comforts me and tells me the story of how he sees me  peeking through the bamboo bush watching, wanting, waiting.  He says that he saved a special delivery just for me and asks to close my eyes, hold out my hands, and grab onto the package.  I comply but am surprised when I feel a four-sided box…not the ”package” I had in mind.  The Package Man sits in front of me while I open the box.  He takes out a box cutter and carefully cuts through the binding on my feet.  Meanwhile, I open the mysterious box and the smell of high quality leather fills the space between us.  Inside this box is a shoe that I could not have dreamed of.  I pull the soft, grey, suede bootie from its cradle and look at him, perplexed.  This is a size 11, I could never fit this.  What I didn’t realize was that while the Package Man was massaging my contorted feet, they had unfurled several inches.  That night I discovered freedom.  This beautiful suede beauty bootie became a sensual lover to my once tiny toes and the Package Man, a smokin’ hot, lust-beast!

He slipped the booties onto my feet, threw me over his shoulder (damn that an ass!) and launched me onto the back of his noble, brown steed.  I ask him to pause a minute so that I can flip the back of bootie to expose the golden “spurs” for our ride into the moonlight.  At that moment, I also proceed to remove the cumber bund thing from around my waist, pull those damn chopsticks from my hair, and free myself of the multiple garments that were once my armor.  I am naked, I am free, I am Japanese from head to toes.

February 25th, 2010 by barefoottess

Location: Kalamazoo, MI

Announcing the Grand Opening of

I’m always down to alert you guys of a hot new shopping spot.  This cool niche shop (and it is a very cool niche if I may say so myself) carries both men’s and women’s shoes in extended sizes.  The best women’s shoes they carry are, of course, from Barefoot Tess.  I wanted to give them a shout out and wish them good luck from one large size shoe store to another.  Their grand opening is tomorrow and promises to be tons of fun.

Stop By:

February 24th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Two weeks ago I blogged about the Boutique 9 Elation, and I was previously jazzed about the J.Shoes Meadow.  After writing about them, I got both comments and e-mails asking how to wear them in a more professional capacity.

I’ve been thinking about this, trying to come up with a way, but I think the difficulty here is that these shoes are simply never going to be professional.  That’s not to say no one can wear them to work.  If your dress code is Smart Casual, you’re all set with a pair of black skinny pants and a feminine top under a cardican or blazer–adorable.  But if you work in a law firm or you do some sort of financial planning or banking or something else for The Man, you’re going to have to save the boots for your pre-happy hour costume change.  The best rule of thumb I could think of was, if the men wear suits, you shouldn’t wear these boots.

P.S. Due to an overwhelming response, we got all held up– V-Day Giveaway Winner Announced Friday!

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

Valentine’s Day is on its way and there are countess ways to spend it.  We all know what that means: countless shoe possibilities.  Whether you’re in a 20-year marriage, single in the city, or something else in between, there’s a way to celebrate and corresponding footwear.  A disclaimer: by celebrate I mean acknowledge the “holiday” at all.  We all know it’s sort of made up and definitely hyped up.  But hey, one thing’s for sure-it’s gotta be more fun than New Years.

The ‘Putting some spice back into the relationship’ Romantic Evening: As per your subtle hints over the past month and a half, your significant other of who-knows-how-long-it’s-been has booked a couple’s massage and the presidential suite.  Room service and matching white robes are going to be involved.  He might have also hidden a little blue box in his overnight bag, so you’re probably going to want to put out.

The Single Girls’ ‘Burn Your Ex’s Stuff’ Party: After getting together for brunch and subsequently going to see Valentine’s Day, (Who am I kidding?  Everybody’s seeing that.) you and your girls will gather at someone’s apartment, ex’s stuff in hand, and  fueled by heartache, rage, and white wine, you’ll climb out onto the fire escape and burn a bunch of boxers, teddy bears, and probably a retainer.  By the time the firemen and your very angry super have left, you’ll feel ready for dancing.  Dress for that.   You’ll be making out with someone else’s ex in a dark club in no time.

The ‘I can’t believe he asked me out on Valentine’s Day’ Date: This is new, real new.  You’ve hung out a couple times and now he’s asked you out on this day of all days?  You may very well be too distracted analyzing his every move, word, and past text to enjoy your pre-fixe meal and the second least expensive wine on the list.  So at least feel confident in your shoes, beautiful but not too dressy.  And then come on, he did ask you out on V-Day after all.  He’s into you-enjoy it.

Hint: Don’t stress if you can’t return the sentiment.  There will plenty of time for meeting your single friends for dancing later.  They’re already wasted and smell like fire-they’ll be out all night.

The ‘Creative Boyfriend’ Date: He planned a surprise and you can bet it’s not just going to a restaurant.  Wear comfortable but very attractive flats, the kind that can transition from day to night.  Just remember to try and take a break from staring into each other’s eyes and petting long enough to enjoy the activity.  God, you’re so cute it’s making everyone else gag. Who even cares what you wear?!

The Shoes:  The All Black for BFT Crosstoe II, The Madden Girl Century, The All Black for BFT Quilted Flat, The Delman Anouk (All available at Barefoot Tess)

February 9th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

This is just one suggestion of how to wear these boots, and of course, what to do while you’re wearing them.

The Boutique 9 Elation by Barefoottess featuring Dogeared jewelry

February 8th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

We don’t have royalty in the US, but God knows we’ve got to be obsessed with someone!  Celeb stalking is the perfect outlet.  And we’re learning from them–get their looks here!

Christina Aguilera

The Blowfish ‘Summerfest’

Kate Winslet

The Paul Mayer ‘Titou’

Megan Fox

The Mukluks ‘Sweater Knit’

(Warning: Only a few pairs left, but we also have tan!)

Nicole Richie

The Havaianas ‘Top’

Rihanna

The J. Shoes ‘Empire’ (They also come with black laces)

February 4th, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Simply recycling just doesn’t do it anymore.  Now, if you want to be truly environmentally responsible, you have to eat local, carry your own reusable water bottle, and drive a hybrid car.  Actually, forget about driving entirely and get a bike…a used bike…rebuilt from the parts of other trash bikes.  There’s a lot to keep track of, and endless advice to be dispensed, but every vegan and her yoga teacher are qualified to do it.

I am not a yoga teacher.  I am not a vegan, nor do I ever want to participate in a recipe exchange with one.  I am however, a girl who knows shoes.  So I’m going to pass this little environmentally friendly fashion tidbit onto you.

Want to do your part?  Wear sustainable footwear!  Note: I would never be making this suggestion if these sneaks weren’t cute.  Sometimes I leave the lights on when I go out.

The Simple ‘Satire’: $69 at Barefoot Tess

February 2nd, 2010 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

After all that about how I hate to be a houseguest, I threw a bathing suit and some sundresses into a duffel and flew to West Palm Beach to visit my grandparents last weekend.  None of my complaints held true on this trip: I watched a lot of TV, I was never cold, and my grandma prepared every meal specifically with me in mind.

Here’s something that did bother me though.  Why do people think it’s OK to get on a plane looking like they’re actually planning to get in bed?  They’re not my style, but I’m all for cute sweats.  I’m not taking issue with those.  But pajamas?  On a plane?   Being comfortable on a long trip is of the utmost importance, but unless you’re an infant on an overnight flight, actual pajamas seem like overkill.  I’m not alone here-studies show that nicely dressed people are more likely to receive quality service from flight attendants and receive an upgrade at check-in.  PJ’s aren’t the answer to being comfortable on a trip across the Atlantic.  You know what is?  The world’s first fully reclining flat bed in business class!  So considering you’re way more likely to be rewarded with this when you’re looking snappy (and you’re nice to the check-in girl,) (and you’re also very late so that the rest of the plane has filled up,) you should look presentable whilst you fly.

A suggestion for a pair of go-to travel shoes:  The All Black ‘Crosstoe II’: Their elastic back allows them to provide comfort indefinitely.  Plus, they’re simple enough to match most outfits with just enough detail to make them an accent piece.