September 16th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Everyone has those days when she looks in her closet and thinks, “Ugh, I hate everything I own.”  So she dresses herself in something plain and unexciting and trudges out the door like she hasn’t much to live for that day.  And then the day itself is bad.  The subway leaves just as she gets onto the platform.  The salad place runs out of her favorite topping.  And then it starts to rain. You know she doesn’t have an umbrella.

You know what would have spiced that plain outfit right up?  A pair of patterned accent shoes.  They’re a little wild and you might think, “what am I going to wear those with?” Basic shoes are great, but accent shoes will save you outfit and your day.  Pair them with a basic outfit and they’ve made your look.

Check out some of BFT’s best accent shoes paired with basics.

April 5th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

There are some stars whose style is just so-so.  They are celebrities after all, and so we look up to them style-wise, but it doesn’t make them fashion icons.  For instance, I don’t run and put on cropped leggings and Asics every time I see a picture of Hillary Duff leaving the gym in US Weekly.  Similarly, there are also some celebrities for whom this is true: Every time I see her, I want everything she’s wearing because not only is each individual piece amazing, but she combines them in creative and inspiring ways.  Often I feel this way about Blake Lively.

Topsides have long been on my must-have list for this spring. Seeing Blake in them affirmed my conviction that indeed, I must have them.

Luckily, these versatile boat shoes have just become available at Barefoot Tess. P.S. Blake is a tall girl with (probably) big feet, so I feel especially proud introducing them to the BFT crowd.

April 3rd, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

These gamine-chic wedges are ideal for riding your bicycle around Paris with flowers in the straw basket and the Eiffel Tower in the background. Très jolie!

March 29th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

They’re easier to walk in than pumps. They’re comfy and supportive and give you height without pain.  They slim your legs and flatter your butt. I really can’t say enough nice things about them.  Really though, wedges are great for when you want to look put together and current without looking too dressed up.  Often I think, “I want to look amazing, but I don’t want to wear heels because it will seem like I’m trying to hard” or “I want to look like I just threw this on, but I want what I just threw on to be the best casual look ever worn.”  This winter I wore heeled booties to solve these pesky problems. This Spring, it’s all wedges.

All of these wedges and more and available at Barefoot Tess!

March 21st, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Shoes available at Barefoot Tess!

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 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…

January 27th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Jeffrey Campbell Shoes really need no introduction. The man behind the jeweled moccasin craze, rainbow sequin flats, and lace-up boots, Jeffrey Campbell is Mr. Shoe of the Moment. And the thing is, we love his wares. Somehow, he has an uncanny knack for knowing how to incorporate current trends into shoes that are wildly fun and actually surprisingly wearable, making any outfit pop.

His newest creation is the Hoyt, a lace-up, leather sandal-oxford hybrid that has the potential to become your go-to edgy staple.

For the perfect Spring Sunday, pair these oxford-sandals with a belted vintage dress or ankle-length dark denim, take in brunch at a sidewalk cafe, and people watch the day away. In early spring, they’d also look cute with socks! For the perfect Summer Sunday, pair them with some menswear-inspired shorts or a simple cotton mini for a picnic at the park and a walk along the water. You must live near a river or a lake or something. Also, you can wear them on other days of the week.  Enjoy!

January 21st, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

I love Christmas gifts and the sale season that follows, but suddenly at the end of January something happens. I’m sick of being cold,  strategically skipping over puddles of slush, and having a runny nose and red face when I arrive anywhere. And of course the nose is particularly runny and the face is at it’s most red when the place I’m arriving is fancy or important or I’m late and everyone else is already there with normal-colored faces watching me sniffle and struggle to take off my circle scarf, inevitably messing up my hair. In other words, I’m ready for the new season.

I can’t wait to wear my Ciao Bella ‘Moxie’ Mocs. I think of them as a driving moc with a girlish twist. They’re versatile in terms of style and their color makes them a staple shoe. Check out my favorite looks.

January 12th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

They’re finally here!

In 1990, Steve Madden was crafting custom shoes in a factory in Brooklyn, asking women exactly what they were looking for and designing to please. Today, the Steve Madden is pretty much a shoe god.  He makes every staple style we could dream of. Behold the staple of all staples, the ballet flat!

These slimming staple ballets will be so incredibly cute and useful that people will say things to you like, “Wow, you never take those off–you’ll be wearing those in your coffin!” And those people will be annoying.Still, you’ll know they’re right. They match everything!

And you know where to find ‘em up to size 14! Barefoot Tess!