February 28th, 2011 by admin

Next up, in our BFT Friend Profile series, is a lovely lady from down under by the name of Julie Purcell. She is a petite 5’9” blonde, wears a size 12 shoe, and hails from Brisbane, Australia. This 29 year old, soon-to-be bride lives with her fiancé and two puppies named Bosley and Wookie. They are currently living with her “Mum” while they save for their July 30th wedding.

She says she is “the rarity” in her family when it comes to height. “My family is all relatively short. I towered over my Mum from the age of 15 and was the same height as my Dad by that stage, too. My brother is about the same height as me, probably just a little bit shorter. Everyone says I get my foot size from my Grandfather. They always say I have a “strong grip on the world.” The rest of my extended family is quite short as well. Growing up, I was always the tallest of my friends.”

Julie works in employment services helping people that have been out of the workforce, for an extended period of time, transition back into a full time job. “It’s very demanding work and you have to do it for the “love of it.” There are some really tough days but there are some amazing days, too. Seeing people make a real, positive change in their lives is heart warming.”

Our blushing bride favors a casual wardrobe when it comes to clothes; possessing an eclectic mix of styles. “I have everything from long maxi dresses to denim shorts, skinny leg jeans and big woolen tops. I love having a lot of different styles because I can dress to my mood. I do love black. Most of my wardrobe is black with accents of color. My ideal outfit is a black top with some color splashed across it, skinny leg jeans and a killer pair of heels. I like to use shoes for the element of color, they make an outfit! I love a dramatic shoe, especially those by Poetic License. I figure I am in a good position to really make a statement. I wore men’s shoes for too many years to shy away from a gorgeous pump now! I love the bright colors they use and they really design ‘outside the box’.”

Although ‘crazy busy’ with planning her wedding, Julie loves to shoe shop (don’t we all?) so we asked her if she has any particular shoe on her “radar.” She says she has several. “Since I’ve discovered Barefoot Tess, I actually feel that finding my dream shoe is a real possibility. I am actively looking for red glitter heels, but I would definitely settle for some in silver. I have always dreamed of having a pair and calling them my “Dorothy Shoes.” Also, seeing as our wedding is coming up soon, I’m always on the look out for some awesome statement making bridal shoes. I have been looking at Allan Pinkus recently because he makes AMAZING bridal shoes but of course they don’t make my size. I use them for inspiration instead. I have my eyes on the Queenie by Gwenyth in white with the black lace overlay. I just need to find a way to convince my fiancé that they are a must to compliment the dress.”

Whatever she said must have convinced him because as you read this, Julie’s Queenies are on their way to Brisbane. We’ve asked her to take pictures of herself, in her beautiful dress, with her gorgeously edgy, new shoes. We bet she’s going to make a beautiful bride. Congratulations, Julie!

February 25th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

February 24th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Like many trends, they start on the runway. They’re featured by magazines (and blogs!). They catch on in big cities, first the fashion capitals, then the others ones, and a season later you can buy them at the mall.  Or magazines report on them ferociously and they fizzle and die.  Socks and sandals definitely didn’t fizzle.  First it used to be a thing only weird old men did.  There was also a brief stint in my middle school years where people would pair ankle socks with Adidas shower shoes, but that was more of a suburban trend. (What up, Florham Park, NJ!) And now it’s time to decide: are you in or are you out?

Luckily for BFT customers, I think this trend is especially flattering on long-legged/tall girls.  But anyone can pull it off if she looks adorable.

February 19th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

February gets long and dreary and sometimes it seems like it will never end. Valentine’s Day doesn’t exactly put everyone in a fun mood. (Notice there was no post about it?) So at Barefoot Tess we tried to think of something that would put you in a good mood until the weather breaks.  We thought, “Hm, what puts us in a good mood?” Chocolate’s good, but too much and you can’t zip your jeans.  A party in your honor is good, but if you’re not a February baby, you’re out of luck. Oh, we know! New shoes! It’s cold out, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on Winter shoes, but you would wear them clear through March and depending on what they are, they transcend season.  Here’s an idea: we’ll put them on sale and then there’s no guilt, your spirits are lifted, and suddenly you have the urge to leave the house again.

February 18th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Most celebs have personal stylists, so copying them is sort of like stealing the service of someone else’s personal stylist, i.e. free personal styling! I love getting things for free. Right?

Amy Smart

Dulce Oxfords, $189

Lea Michelle

BFT ‘Tahoe,’ $56

Natalie Portman

Tess by Barefoot Tess ‘Scrunch,’ $89

Ashley Tisdale

Dolce Vita ‘Bronco,’ $119

Bridget Moynahan

Corso Como ‘Sire,’ $299

February 10th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

When it comes to weekend travel, many of us are the same. We say we want to pack light because last time our weekender weighed more than we did, but it’s tough. We want to have a lot of options because god forbid we think of something we need and it’s at home. Just bring it to be safe! Right? Right. But it really does get tiresome lugging around a bag after you’ve realized you don’t need half of the stuff in it.  The trick is to pack versatile staple items.  The Tess by Barefoot Tess Huron is a perfect choice.

So let’s say you’re leaving work, going directly to Grand Central or La Guardia or the helipad on the West Side Highway , hopping a train/plane/chopper to your destination, and then staying in a casual setting but attending a cocktail party. First of all, if this is you, your life is fabulous. Second of all, this still applies to you if you live in a different city. Third of all, you can do it all with one pair of shoes! You think it’s impossible, but you haven’t seen the shoes.

Disclaimer: I didn’t include pajamas, but bring slippers for them.

February 8th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

You know that great feeling you get when you’re watching a dance movie and you feel so moved that you think if you just up and danced you’d be that good?  I know that’s not just me. Everybody loves a good dance movie and I’m thinking if you wear Bloch shoes while watching, your chances of getting up and doing the dance will be just a little higher.

10. Saturday Night Fever–John Travolta is a loser in life, but the king of the club on Saturday nights. There’s a dance scene with Fran Drescher .

9. Flashdance–A girl who works as a welder by day and a dancer by night lives in a warehouse and wears sweatshirts cut at the neck. This is actually where that trend came from.

8. A Chorus Line–A bunch of Broadway dancer wannabes compete for some parts in a Broadway musical. They all want it real bad and they all dance real good.

7. Hairspray–A chubby girl who dances very well fights for integration on her favorite after school dance show. The original is smarter and funnier, but the remake is a musical, so tie.

6. Save the Last Dance– A ballerina moves to a rough area where the dancing is better than hers– and cooler. She gets a boyfriend, learns the cool dancing, and attains all of her life goals.

5. White Knights–Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Jerzy Skolimowski, Helen Mirren and Isabella Rossellini dancing. What’s not to like?

4. Stomp the Yard–Step and some really amazing hip hop will make you want to transfer to Truth University. Too bad it’s fake (the university, not the dancing.) I’m pretty sure they try to say Dr. Martin Luther King went there.

3. Black Swan-- A beautiful virgin ballerina with an overbearing mother slowly goes crazy to the story of Swan Lake. And it’s beautiful. Also, Natalie Portman is currently pregnant with the choreographer’s baby.

2. Dirty Dancing– Baby, her obnoxious sister, and their parents all go to summer camp together.  Baby falls for Patrick Swayze because like duh.  He teaches her how to dance dirty and spends a lot of time lifting her out of the lake.

1. Center Stage– A crew of young dancers compete for spots in a workshop that feeds into a company based on American Ballet Theatre, but they have all sorts of other stuff going on like bulimia and crushes and having to do that thing where you scrape the bottom of your toe shoes with a razor then wet them then light them on fire then sew ribbons on.

February 4th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Founded in Sydney, Australia in 1932 by Jacob Bloch, Bloch is a pioneer in the technical dance market. Since its inception, the renowned footwear brand has produced hand-made ballet and pointe shoes for esteemed ballet dancers worldwide.

Ballerinas don’t mess around and neither should you. Their shoes just have to be supportive, elegant, and made from the finest materials. We hope your time in these is little more Center Stage than Black Swan if ya know what we mean.

The best part about these shoes is that you’ll be hard pressed to find anything they don’t look cute with.  Seriously– pants, shorts, skirts, rompers, a tutu…

February 4th, 2011 by admin

We are starting a new series for our Barefoot Tess Blog. Several times each month, we’ll be spotlighting a Facebook friend we feel personifies the Barefoot Tess Woman. Today we are featuring one of our favorite friends. She’s a shoe lover and active participant on our daily wall. You’ve probably seen her comments and responses many times. Today, we feature Lilka Adams. She is 26 years old; a single Ad Sales Coordinator residing in the Big Apple. This self-described “lover of basketball” capitalized on her height at an early age, playing the game throughout her high school and college years. When asked about her size shoe, she says she fluctuates between wearing a size 13 and a 14, depending on the brand and style of shoe; suiting perfectly her 6 foot, 2 inch frame. Lilka inherited her tall genes from both sides of her family; a 6’5” father and a 5’9” mother. Although she’s the middle child, she is the shortest of her siblings; a 6’5”younger brother and a 6’3” “big sister.”

Style-wise, she considers herself a “casual chic kind of girl. Blouses with draping detail, a nice pair of jeans, and a blazer make my day. I indulge in Banana Republic, The Gap, and J.Crew…I really keep it simple.” She loves Matt Bernson and Dolce Vita shoes, but her favorite “designer of the moment” is Faryl Robin. “Her shoes are quite comfortable, and provide an edge that you can dress up or down.”

Wearing a size larger than a 10, Lilka knows how hard it is to find the perfect shoe. We asked her what shoe was on her radar. She said that she is currently on the hunt for several booties, one that “is trendy and edgy; with studs, platforms, and a high heel” for New York nights, and the other, “a nice, classic, casual bootie in black, cognac, or olive green for work but one that will be stylish enough to wear to events following my work day.” For the upcoming summer season, she’d like to find a classic thong sandal with a touch of bling, something with “small rhinestones or glitter going up the middle and the sides; that would be SOO dreamy!! I can picture it now with my loose flowing white dress.”

We all have designers we love. We also have a list of designers we’re lusting over. When we asked Lilka what designers she’d love to see make bigger sizes, she cited the “tall girl’s lament, “Honestly I don’t think I own that many pairs of shoes maybe 40-50, if that. With the look that I want, my pickings are slim, so I get what I can, when I can. Whenever a new pair of shoes gets delivered, my mom will say, “Another pair of shoes, Lilka?” Hey, when I find something I like, and it’s in MY size, how can I say no?? I may never have the opportunity to find a shoe of that nature EVER again. Right now, I’d love to find a pair of Jessica Bennetts, Corso Comos, Dolce Vitas, or Sam Edelmans. Honestly, I just want the cute trendy shoes that I see in size 6, in a size 14. I know I don’t want this tall stylista walking around in Magdesian’s all day. No disrespect, but I’m only 26. I don’t need my shoes to look like I’m headed to Tuesday Night Bingo.”

And that’s why we love Lilka. Thanks for being our friend.