January 22nd, 2012 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

I went to a party recently, a fancy Saturday night cocktail party, and the hostess opened the door, greeted me, and said, “We don’t wear shoes in this house.” This was not cultural. These people don’t have a baby. The girl just likes a clean house. So, I took my shoes off, a beautiful pair of Corso Como heels, and carefully set them to the side of the hideous shoe pile. Then I joined the party in the kind of mood that demanded I have a drink right away or I would stay annoyed for the entire night.  What I really wanted to do was thrust the bottle of champagne I’d brought into the hostess’s arms, yell out, “No thank you! Taking off my shoes will ruin my outfit, so I don’t care to stay! Plus your house seems warm enough without me!” And then run out of the building.

I had a fine time at the party, despite my cold feet and ruined outfit, but I would have had a way better time with the shoes on. There’s nothing you can do in this situation. Or maybe there is. Now, every time I go to a party, I bring a pair of really cute socks.  Don’t get me wrong, they’re not going to make up for having to take off my heels (socks are never butt/thigh/calf-flattering) but it will be better than nothing. Some girls were going around in their raggedy white gym socks– I felt worse for them.  Check out some cute party socks here!

Of course you can get the shoes you wear over the socks at Barefoot Tess!

January 17th, 2012 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

We love catching glimpses of our favorite women of Hollywood skipping around LA and New York in their “regular people” clothes. Some of them actually have terrible style, but here are some who look fabulous as always.  Getting their look would be pretty simple, especially considering you can get shoes just like theirs at Barefoot Tess!

Sarah Jessica Parker

Miz Mooz ‘Renee’ ($119), Bloch ‘Arabian Ballerina’ ($119), Miz Mooz ‘Renee’ ($119)

Eva Mendes

Matisse ‘Grifter’ ($269)

Jessica Biel

All Black ‘Banded Flat’ ($49)

Beyonce

Gwenyth ‘Paisley’ ($149)

Frieda Pinto

FSNY ‘Brickle’ ($219)

January 14th, 2012 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Everyone is always excited for the first snow. It’s clean and white, everything’s quiet and still, and maybe just maybe we get a snow day, woo! The problem is the next day, and the day after that, and those following months where grey snow lines the street and black ice makes you trip and fall into the grey snow and it’s hard and dirty and now your tights have ripped and you’re so cold! I can’t help you with this. I can however, help you feel better about it and your life in general. You have to wear snow boots for weeks on end, but if the snow boots are cute and your outfit matches them, you’ll be a little happier.  The boots are of course available at Barefoot Tess. Check out some of my best out suggestions.

One more cold-weather tip: Scarves are the new hat. If your scarf is warm, you’ll be so much better off.

January 13th, 2012 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

So this “Sh*t [insert classification of person] Say” youtube trend is basically my favorite thing since Kittens on a Roomba. Just kidding– Baby Kicked by Breakdancer is way more my speed. Regardless, I don’t want to say too much more about youtube or I’ll just stop writing this post and watch it.

My new favorite video is this one.  I think you’ll be able to figure out why I’m sharing it with you guys. Enjoy!

January 11th, 2012 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Online shopping is full of perks. We avoid the crowds of vicious sale shoppers and really really vicious teenage girls having tantrums at thier mom in the fitting room. We can do it pajama-clad from the comfort of our nice warm bed. And we don’t have to try anything on. This is my favorite perk, considering last week at Arizia, I was so lazy in trying on a pair of pants that I decided to leave my shoes on while doing so, thereby ripping the pants with the heel of my desert boot wedge. I bought them anyway. Citizens of Humanity bell-bottoms for $75– you would have bought them too. Luckily my friend is an expert sower and she’s going to stitch the tear when she hems them. I digress.

Lately more and more online clothing stores have been popping up.  They’re way cheaper than their mall chain-store counterparts and the clothes are among the trendiest available anywhere.  Check out some of my favorites!

Mod Cloth is the first of the online stores to grab my attention as a serious clothes-shopping destination.  They have a combination of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces and vintage-inspired new stuff. Their dresses range from cute and kicky daytime to sultry evening, with the vast majority of them in the $34-$80 price range. There are also some splurges on the site. Their outerwear section is also not to be missed, with coats in shapes and patterns you’ve been craving and searching for for seasons on end. Their Be the Buyer section is also awesome. Free ground shipping over $50!

Lulu’s has all of your hot going out clothes, your edgy pieces, and the trend of the moment. They stock hundreds of dresses, ranging from gorgeous to sexy all between $30 and $70 and then of course the obligatory reason to visit them is that they have the best selection of sequined shorts anywhere. (also $30-$70) And free shipping over $75!

This is simple. Do you love Anthropologie, but wish it were way cheaper? Here it is! That’s the aesthetic. That’s the inspiration. That’s where you need to shop. So much lace and big scarves and jewelry that looks like an heirloom. Countless dresses under $80, plus a truly inspiring collection of affordable blouses and purses. Go! Go now!

Of course if you’re on the market for shoes rather than clothes, Barefoot Tess is the place to go!

December 30th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

New Years Eve is on the horizon and let’s face it, nobody likes this night.  Cheap champagne tastes bad. Things are expensive. It’s impossible to get a cab. You spend all this time trying to think of something fabulous to do or you rebel and stay home drinking wine and playing Scrabble. Either way, there’s always that looming feeling that you’re supposed to be doing something awesome. You know what can be awesome? Your outfit.  No matter what you’re doing, if you’re dressed in the best possible thing, how bad a time could you have, right? Well, some amateur partier could throw up on you, but otherwise, the night will be a little better if you’re outfit is bangin’.

Here are some suggestions ranging the full casual-to-dressy spectrum.

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

Time to give people stuff for Christmas and Hanukkah and that holiday grab bag at work. It’s not easy. You don’t know people’s life. You don’t know what they want.  Some people are easier than others, but no gift is a sure-fire hit.  Well, some are, but if you’re on a budget, it’s hard to buy people a Caribbean cruise for instance.  Here I’ve categorized the kind of people you might be buying for and some suggestions.

1. The Sister-Friend: You’ve got her style locked down and you even know her various sizes (pants, shoes, bra.) You can get her anything and shopping for her is going to be tons of fun and nothing of a search.  You’ll probably just see something and think, “OMG, that’s so her.” Gifting advice: Get her something you’d want.

The BFT ‘Phoenix’, Barefoot Tess, $59

2. The She-Has-Everything: Moms are the worst culprit in this category, but also bosses, older coworkers, etc. They have beautiful things and they’re more expensive than your beautiful things, but you still need to get them something. Gifting advice: Get her something that she probably wouldn’t buy for herself, the kind of thing people never think to get, but always love having.

Hand-Enameled Bracelet, J.Crew, $68

3. The She -Likes-Nothing: She’s picky and every suggestion is a failure in some way. She won’t want to wear anything you pick. Don’t feel bad– she’s just not into that. You have to get her something though. It doesn’t matter that maybe you don’t like her that much. Gifting advice: Get her something any woman would have to like a little bit– a gift set!

A Lavender Spa, L’Occitane, $58

4. The man. Hm, this one is tricky. Bothers, dads, other men you know…I have no idea what they’d like.  Probably something like tickets to a sporting event or a video game? I’m not going to be that helpful in this situation, but here’s something I’d want if I were a man– gloves you don’t have to take off to use your smart phone. I think it’s a brilliant idea and the most convenient thing to come around since the invention of the smart phone.

Isotoner smarTouch Gloves, $31.50

Holidays are stressful for many reasons and gifts shouldn’t be one of them. Nonetheless, they totally are. Don’t worry though– even if you give someone a gift and they do the fake “I like it” routine, it’s the thought that counts. And the gift receipt.

December 15th, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

The office holiday party: It happens every year. People bring in their mediocre baked goods, everyone gets drunk, and your boss gets a little too handsy. Or if you work at a really nice place, the party is catered, everyone gets drunk, and your boss gets a little too handsy.  Either way, it’s a blast. And in the really fun cases, body parts get xeroxed. Woo!

The best part about the office holiday party, aside from finally getting to flirt with that cute guy from the tech department, is that it’s your shot to show everyone, “Look! I’m cuter than you think!” because Holiday party-wear is much more festive than drab office-wear.  Still, you have to make it through the day at work before the party, so you can’t show up in a sparkly red tube top or a green velvet minidress. It’s a fun fashion challenge! You have to dress in something that transitions effortlessly from workplace to partytown.  Check out some of these suggestions with BFT shoes to match!

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

C. Wonder, 72 Spring Street, NYC

I walked past C. Wonder a bunch of times in the past month and thought, “I’m not going in there.  It’s going to be way too expensive.” But then the other day, I  was passing in the midst of a Starbucks run and the draw of the warm lights and bright colors was too much to pass up.

C. Wonder had me pleasantly surprised. Founded by Tori Burch’s ex-husband, it’s strikingly similar to her aesthetic, only so much cheaper. I kept looking at the prices and thinking, “No, that can’t be right. Oh, that’s right.” Bucket bags at $68, stacks of bangles $28, requisite striped sweaters at $78. Plus, I thought the idea that post-divorce, a husband would say, “Oh yeah? Well, I can make really popular preppy stuff too. Just watch me!” And then he did!

The best part about this store, though the jewelry gives J. Crew a run for its money and the dressing rooms are not to be missed, is the home section. The tableware is comparable to Anthropologie, but also way cheaper, with mugs at $8 and plates at $10. In terms of gift shopping, you could get it all done here– they have frames, throw pillows, free monogramming, a floral Vespa, and the list goes on.  It could have been my caffeine high, but I loved this place.

fab tableware

obsession-worthy accessories

December 2nd, 2011 by The Barefoot Blogger: Laura Kleinbaum

Christmas and Hanukkah are coming and we all know what that means– tons of people are getting iPads! I personally don’t feel like I need one because I have an iPhone and what is as iPad really, just a bigger iPhone that doesn’t make calls, right? I don’t really know. This isn’t a tech blog. However, I’ve been noticing recently that there are thousands of really chic iPad cases out there. Almost every designer makes them.  With a brand new accessory available that you can only carry if you’ve got an iPad, I have to admit, I’m now kind of into the idea of getting an iPad.

Check out some of the best iPad cases I’ve found and shoes from Barefoot Tess to match!