BAREFOOT CHIC

Proponents of earthing believe that we need to allow our bodies a bare skin connection to planet’s magnetic field regularly so we can release stress and electrical charge from our bodies. They say that barefoot walking is a fantastical way to release our energies into Earth leading to greater wellbeing and health. I’m pretty sure that’s true, since I always feel happiest in places I can slip my shoes off and dance barefoot ; sink feet into grass, wriggle toes into sand or sway legs in a refreshing body of water. Summer becomes a time when footwear becomes superfluous and I turn into a shoeless hippy, often a painful exercise like when you realize running across hot asphalt really does burn or when a monster bindi pierces your foot in dry grass. But being barefoot also means being free, yes, even for a girl like me who loves heels and thinks that she could outrun or outdance anyone in a pair of stilettos even if they were Louboutin Pigalle 120s, that sexy pump that makes me feel like a goddess on stilts. Yet who wouldn’t rather take them off and salsa onto the beach in wild abandon ?
For one of my last collaborations of the year, I paired with Eastland, the new shopping destination encompassing a state of the art cultural and library facility in the newly redeveloped Town Square. With over 100 retailers such as Mecca Maxima, Mac, Sass & Bide, Scanlan & Theodore, David Jones, Oroton etc, Eastland also unveiled a world-class level of art to Eastern Melbourne, with a series of works from celebrated artists David Bromely and Joost Bakker- David Bromley having revealed his largest mural project to date; a whooping 1,600 metres appearing throughout Eastland. I wonder if this state of the art culture, food and fashion hub allows bare feet, because I have gone and pulled my designer favorite barefoot outfits for this story; ones that shun shoes and relish summer in all it’s unstructured chaos. Just add a red nail polish for color pop!

Why wear a little black dress when a little blue one totally wins summer? Cinch in that waist and show some leg, because this silk baby will stay footloose all night long ( Rodeo Show dress )

I love a messy linen suit on a woman in the summertime, especially when worn with sandals off. Wear yours with nothing underneath or a little bralette for ultimate androgynous elegance (Skin and Threads pants and jacket )

With a cinched in waist and long, flowing layers, this Sass & Bide dress will work the breeze to it’s advantage

There is something about a simple linen pinstripe dress that spells relaxed chic ( Veronika Maine dress )

What would summer be without a good bikini and cover up? I have been loving everything Tigerlilly has been doing lately, including this version of the wrap around dress that doubles as a beautiful robe for the beach
Check out more about Eastland here!
photographed by Alice Wesley- Smith