July 30th, 2011 by admin

I love boots. I own at least twenty pair – some as old as 15 years, some so new the toes are still stuffed with the paper they came with. High boots, low boots, over-the-knee boots, stilettos, flat soled, pull-ons, zippered, and my favorite – a pair of knee high, chocolate suede, stilettos with studs around the cuff that must be at least 8 years old. I have white, taupe, camel, grey, navy, and all shades of brown and black. Yep, I’m obsessed. This year’s lineup of boots caters to each and every one of us – there’s no one dictating that “this” or “that” will be “THE” boot of the season. The boots at fashion week ran the gamut from high to low in both heel and height so we can all have the boots are hearts desire – not to mention we won’t have to shave our legs nearly as often. That’s a win/win if I ever saw one. ☺

July 20th, 2011 by admin

Calling All NYC-area Shoenistas, sizes 11 and Up!

Our friend Leslie, over at the Women Shoe Wearers: Size 11 and Up Meetup Group, is hosting a swap/consignment event in New York at the end of the month.  What a great idea for women who wear larger sizes to get together to share their shoes collections and fit tips!  We know it can be so hard to find the perfect fit in the right style, so this is a fantastic way to get rid of those not-quite-right pairs that you kept anyway but never really liked, or styles you simply no longer wear.  And hopefully you’ll find a couple pairs you really love to take home!  Barefoot Tess has provided a large collection of gently worn styles as well as never-been-worn samples, so we guarantee there will be a GREAT selection to choose from.

See the details below and don’t forget to sign up on their website and bring cash or shoes to trade with. Happy swapping!

WHEN: July 30th

WHERE: NYC, Uptown

TIME: 2 pm – 4 pm

WHAT: Selling and/or swapping lightly used or new shoes with other 11&Up Shoenistas (including fabulous shoes provided by Barefoot Tess)!  Bring shoes and/or just bring yourselves and other 11&Ups!   Event is FREE but you must RSVP!

Contact Organizer, Leslie, at D5Inc@hotmail.com for specific information and/or to RSVP. 

July 7th, 2011 by The Barefoot Intern- Maggie Tennis

Summer- and sandal season- is here again. But, even after months of chilly cold and covered toes, sandals may not be enough to celebrate the warm and sunny weather and the parties and outings it brings.

Sometimes, especially in the summertime, a girl needs to take it to the next level—and that’s where wedges come in. They are sandals with a lift! Even better, wedges are more comfortable than heels, so there’s less time worrying about stumbling and more time spent enjoying everything the season has to offer.

photo courtesy of www.TallSwag.com

Many women wonder how a pair of wedges will fit into their wardrobe. Are they too casual for work, too extreme for the everyday? When and where, exactly, does a girl wear her wedge sandals?

Wedges work well with wrap dresses at the office for a comfortable and stylish ensemble.  Unsure if they are appropriate for your workplace?  Stick to closed toe styles to be safe, unless you see other women wearing open sandals.  On the weekends, wedges look great with just about anything in your closet.  Trust me. Skinny jeans, boot cut, and all different shades of denim pair well, and if you’re feeling bold, try a high-waisted flare to really embrace this season’s trends! A skirt is always an easy option, and believe it or not, wedges also look fantastic with shorts.  Shorts may seem too casual for anything other than the beach or running errands, but with a pair of funky wedge sandals, they are suddenly fashionable and will take you easily from your daytime BBQ to a night on the town!

July 3rd, 2011 by admin

For this month’s fan profile, we talked with Karen Stephens, one of our favorite Facebook friends. You’ve probably read her comments, many times, on the BFT page. Karen is a little slip of a thing; standing a mere 5’9.” She’s single and lives in Brooklyn, New York. This 40-year old, shoe lover works for the New York City Transit Authority making sure the denizens of the Big Apple arrive on time. She does her absolute best to help us sell out all our size 14 styles, and we love her for it. She doesn’t have any children yet, but shares her home with a parakeet named Socrates. She says she “used to be afraid of having girls but, now with Barefoot Tess, I wouldn’t mind. At least they won’t have the kind of trouble finding shoes I did growing up.”

She hasn’t a clue how she came by her foot size, as her mother and father were average height, but her mom does wear a size 10WW – when she can find them.

BFT: Who is your favorite shoe designer?

Karen: Not to suck up or anything but it’s Barefoot Tess! Second is a tie between Gwyneth and Blowfish.

BFT – Oh, Karen, please, feel free to suck up. That’s just fine. Can you tell us, do you have a favorite clothing designer?

Karen: I’m plus-sized, so right now I’m loving the styles at Torrid.com. They make very stylish clothing in plus sizes.

BFT: How would you describe your personal style?

Karen: I’m very casual most of the time. I was kind of forced into it due to only wearing sneakers all thru High School and College. Now I’m branching out, spreading my wings!

BFT: What shoe is on your radar right now? Are you actively on the ‘hunt’ for a specific shoe?

Karen: Boots! I love boots! Mainly because they are so feminine and I wasn’t able to buy them for most of my life. I recently bought the Gwyneth Urbana for the summer. Summer boots! How perfect!

BFT: Which designer do you wish would make larger sized shoes?
Karen: I don’t follow shoe designers that don’t make shoes in my size. My goal is to support any designer that realizes that not everyone can wear a size 6.

BFT: You’ve discovered the secret. Support the designers who support you. Eventually, more designers will figure it out and get on the larger sized bandwagon. Now – our last and favorite question – how many pairs of shoes do you own?

Karen: I own thirteen pair, not including my work shoes. I’ve bought 10 pair, just this year, from Barefoot Tess! You guys are killing my discretionary income! Thank God you have great sales!

Karen and Barefoot Tess. Can’t you just feel the love?