When I wrote about The Eternal Battle: Cute vs. Comfy and the daily struggle that accompanies it, I got a lot of feedback about the difficulty of getting ready in a hurry.  Very few of us have the will to wake up two hours early to straighten our hair, construct a flawless outfit, and make sure we don’t dash out the door without our iPhone.  It’s tempting to throw on sweats and schlep through your daily activities.  And sure, they’re comfortable, but they belong on the couch.   When you look better, you feel better and it completely changes the way you go about the day.  Here are some insider’s tricks for pulling your look together in seconds and feeling great for hours.

*The Headband: Tempted to twist your wet hair into a bun and check that off your list?  Part it on the side, twist it into a lower bun, and wear a headband.  All of a sudden, you’ve got yourself a hairstyle.

*The Accessories: A set of bangles, a strand of pearls, or a cocktail ring will polish a work outfit and dress up even the plainest white t-shirt.

*The Cardigan: If it’s chilly, it’s true, a big hoodie would be comfy and keep you warm.  But a cardigan will show your shape, pull your look together, and keep you just as warm.  Again, even over a plain white tee, it adds something.  In an ideal world, you’d have one in every color, but an easy alternative is having a black one and one in your favorite accent color. (Mine is yellow.)

*The Structured Boot: It’s tall and it’s elegant.   Wear these over skinny jeans, tights, or your leggings and a plain tee (and cardigan.)  They add sophistication and style to any outfit, and you only need one pair.  They define staple.

*The Soft Jean: Often women don’t want to wear jeans because they’re uncomfortable, cut into their side, etc.  Try a soft, dark pair with some stretch or a pair of jeggings. You’ll be more willing to put them on if they’re comfortable and the Lycra will keep them from looking stretched out and sloppy.  Jeans are infinitely more stylish than sweats (even if they’re juicy velours.)

*The Makeup: No time for applying a full face? Me neither.  Take 30 seconds to apply a bit of blush, a swipe of mascara, and a dab of lip gloss.  All of a sudden, you’ll look 10 times brighter.

*The Flats: Don’t stuff your foot into a smelly gym sneaker unless you’re actually planning on working out.  A simple ballet flat matches everything and adds a touch of femininity.  Black patent is my dear old standby, while metallic or a leopard print is a great accent.

*The Coat: I know it’s cold outside.  And if you live in one of those cities whose weather requires the floor-length down parka, you’re out of luck.  As for the rest of you, fleeces are sloppy, ski jackets are not glamorous, and nobody likes a girl who wears a way-too-tiny jacket while shivering and sniffling her way through the day.  A coat will keep you warm and you’ll look pretty while you walk.  A trench, a pea coat, anything with a bit of structure and you’re great to go. Pair it with a matching scarf (maybe a hat and gloves) and you’ve got your outdoor look.

I’m not usually one to jump on the band wagon of passing trends.  Harem pants, for instance, no way no how.  But somehow this seems right.  J. Crew (right), whose stylists have been my utterly genius idols for the past few seasons, rocks the trend with casual elegance, ever maintaining its classic aesthetic.

Like any great look, it’s pictured often on The Sartorialist (below) as well, at least more often than Harem pants.

In real life, I’d sport the trend with closed or open-toed pumps.  I’d wear a contrasting colored sock, and I’d take care to make sure it came up at least an in past my ankle.

Try dark denim shorts and the Madeline ‘Vitality.’

So what do you think? Can you get behind socks with pumps?

Sienna Miller

The Barefoot Tess ‘Spice’

Ashley Olson

The Corso Como ‘Fargo’

Rachel Bilson

The J. Shoes ‘Meadow‘

Taylor Momsen, or shall I say, Jenny Humphrey

The J. Shoes ‘Empire’

Angelina Jolie, or shall I say, Mrs. Smith

The Hunter ‘Original Wellie’

Get them all from Barefoot Tess!

We caught a fabulous break and we can’t help but share the wealth! We’re thrilled to bring you J. Shoes with a once in a lifetime offer: world exclusive sizes at world exclusive prices. These boots, beautifully constructed and meticulously detailed, define modern elegance. We’re offering them at a fraction of the retail price just for you, but act quickly. Supplies are extremely limited and J. Shoes have a knack for flying off the shelves and onto the feet of fashionistas!

The J. Shoes ‘Empire’: Fastidiously designed with an eye for beauty and a mind for practicality, these lace-up boots demand admiration and reverence for their perfect construction, undeniable versatility, and exquisite style.

The J. Shoes ‘Meadow‘: These leather lace-up boots combine industrial innovation and femininity, all the while hearkening back to the days of flannel, tattered cut-offs, and “My So-Called Life.” Luckily, the flannel and the cut-offs are back in style!

The J. Shoes ‘Bridle’: These equestrian inspired boots are classic, beautifully crafted, and perfect for a weekend fox hunt in the country, complete with a mink stole and a brandy nightcap.

They’re new and hot at prices that are almost sinful.

Tomorrow on Blogging Barefoot

Style Tips for Girls on the Go: Quick fixes for looking cute in a hurry!

Here’s what I found :

The Koolaburra ‘Plume’: They’re very “It Girl.”

The Australia Luxe Collective ‘Angel’: A little intimidating, as they’re so bad ass.  The trick is, you don’t just wear them. You ROCK them.

The Australia Love ‘Corset’:  And you thought these boots couldn’t be feminine.

The Muk Luks ‘Sweater Knit’:  The perfect Sunday brunch boot.  (Fit Tip: They’re great for supple calves.)

The Australia Love ‘Spat’: Fashion forward and uniquely interesting. You won’t see yourself coming and going in these boots.

I can’t promise I won’t want to grow old with my original ratty Uggs some day, so for now I keep these new boots in a seperate closet.  They’re young.  They’re hot.  They turn heads.  And I feel better than ever!

Get them all from Barefoot Tess!

But wait– there’s a boot for you yet!  It’s cute.  It’s comfy.  It’s warm for winter.  And the sweater material fits narrow and supple calves alike.  This boot can fulfill all of your needs! (Unlike that deadbeat boyfriend you used to have—good thing you got rid of him.)

Take a look at the Barefoot Tess ‘Sweater Boot’ Video.

Run, don’t walk, to get your wallet, so you can sit back down at your computer with it, and snag a pair of BFT ‘Sweater Boots’ for just $99 at www.barefoottess.com.

Jessica Simpson

The Delman ‘Janis’

Lauren Conrad

The Corso Como ‘Rachel II’

Hillary Duff

The Faryl Robin ‘Dahling’

Anne Hathaway

The Corso Como ‘Boca’

Get them all from Barefoot Tess!

And don’t forget to check out our video! CLICK HERE

Barefoot Tess has the perfect solution:

The Poetic Licence ‘Persuade’ me.

They’re chic.  They’re edgy.  They’re glam.  Rock these and you can dance all night and still skip off to a diner at dawn.  You’ll be exhausted when stumble into your apartment and flop into bed by the light of the morning sun, but as for your feet, they’ll be just fine!

Check out the Poetic Licence ‘Persuade Me’ video on YouTube!

Here are the top 5 Reasons that Halloween is Awesome

5.    I grew up a few doors down from a couple, empty-nesters, who had the best trick-or-treating house in the neighborhood.  They played a cassette of scary noises and invited us in for cinnamon sugar doughnuts, apple cider and apple bobbing in their foyer.  Reason number 5 that Halloween is awesome: Those people. (Update: A few years ago, some jerk in our neighborhood complained that bobbing for apples wasn’t sanitary and poor Mr. and Mrs. Empty Nest had to close up shop.  Dear Jerk, You’re the worst.)

4.    The Candy: Halloween is the one day of the year that you are allowed, nay expected, to consume candy for the entirety of the day.  (Shout-out to Valentine’s Day for the candy as well.)

3.    The decorations: Sure, Christmas decorations spread cheer and joy like Swine Flu in a state-school dorm, but Halloween decorations are just SO MUCH FUN.  The battery-operated ghost that you hang above your doorway so it shakes and boos when you walk under it: spooky.  That doormat with a haunted house on it that screams and cackles when you step on it: scary.  That fake spider’s webbing that sticks to your clothes and the carpet and your dogs paws: Well, it looks cool when you first put it up.

2.    The parties:  There’s so much to look forward to when going to a Halloween party.  Your long-fated lover could be walking around in a mask all night, which he or she will remove at the party’s end, then kiss you and say, “It was always you.”  (Well, now we know what I’m hoping for on Saturday night.)  There’s also witch’s brew to drink (essentially green Jungle Juice.)  There’s the hope of winning the costume contest.  The hostess will have baked cupcakes with orange frosting and “Thriller” will come on at least three times.  You’re also going to get some of that spider web stuck in your wig, but you’ll pick it out semi-successfully and have another cup of witches brew.

5.    The Costumes!  You can be anyone you want.  You can be sexy.  You can be clever.  You can be scary. And you can most definitely be offensive.  Remember, it’s never “too soon.”  SO, rummage through your closet (and your grandma’s,) scour the racks at the Salvation Army, or Party City, or Home Depot, depending on what you’re planning to be, and win the contest!

A lot of people have told me they didn’t know what to be this year, so I’m going to give you a few ideas.

Ideas: Eloise, Amelia Bedelia, Carmen San Diego, Daria, Margot Tenenbaum, Lady GaGa, Freida Khalo, Jane Goodall, Amelia Earhart, Mrs. Smith, Betty Draper, Elizabeth Bennet, Annie

I’d like to hear your ideas as well.  What are you going to be for Halloween?

For the first Halloween post of the week (in enough time for you to order these shoes and receive them on time) I will match the costume to the shoe.  As someone whose mom used to compromise her costume every year by forcing her to change into something more sensible for trick-or-treating, I know the importance of detail.  Annie would never wear a hoodie over that beautiful red dress and Dorothy would never wear Keds.  Trust me, girls.  I’m here to help.

I don’t know what you’re planning to be, but if I don’t post a good shoe suggestion for your particular costume, comment and I’ll give you a personal recommendation.

The Barefoot Tess ‘Spice’: Bride, Sexy Nurse/Candy Striper, Alice in Wonderland, A Ghost.

The Corso Como ‘Carro’: Witch, Sexy Schoolmarm, Flapper, (Pregnant) Nun, Hester Prynne

The Manitobah ‘Trapper Moc‘: Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Tiger Lily, A Trustafarian who attends a small, secluded liberal arts college and smokes cloves.

The Cocobelle ‘Bahia’: Ninja, Sexy Scubadiver, Charlotte (of Web Fame)

The Dolce Vita ‘Olive’: Cleopatra, Princess Jasmine, Aphrodite

I don’t know what you’re planning to be, but if I don’t post a good shoe suggestion for your costume, let me know and I’ll give you a personal recommendation!