Introducing the Tari II – An Elevated Barefoot Chelsea Boot

Last updated: August 19, 2025
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Reviews
Women's

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Close up detailed view of a pair of taupe barefoot chelsea boots from Xero Shoes. The elastic and buckle detail are in the forefront of the image, and the inside zipper is just visible on the boot in the background. The zero drop outsole is also featured. A pair of chunky brown socks are being worn and are peeking out above the boot.

For years I’ve been sketching on napkins the shoe designs I’d love to wear but that didn’t exist yet. Because I have a dream to change the status quo of footwear.

So it’s my pleasure to introduce to you my most recent collaborative design, the Xero Tari II – a sophisticated barefoot Chelsea boot that is both classy and kind to your feet!

The Backstory

A woman squishing a Tari II barefoot buckle chelsea boot from Xero Shoes into a U shape to demonstrate the flexibility of the zero drop outsole. A floral blouse is blurred in the background.

A chest down view of a woman leaning against a tree with fall yellow and brown leaves scattered on the ground. She has a green leather bag resting on her waist, and her front foot is propped up on the tree trunk. On her feet are a pair of taupe leather barefoot chelsea boots from Xero Shoes. In collaboration with Anya, the Tari II worn here has an inside zipper and outside buckle detail with elastic. Wide leg dark denim are being worn by the model, along with a khaki jacket.

When Xero Shoes brought me on to help design their flagship Chelsea boot, I knew exactly what I wanted to see in the final product. I love a good old barefoot Chelsea boot that doesn’t hurt my feet, but I wanted to make something that excited me every time I put them on and every time I caught my reflection in the mirror. There’s no reason we can’t take better care of our feet and love what we wear too!

Xero’s design and production team brought the magic of marrying a pleasing aesthetic with the practicalities of barefoot shoe production, and before I knew it we were on to sample testing.

A woman walking down a shady road looking off to the side with a red patterned dress, paired with a pair of black barefoot chelsea boots from Xero Shoes with a ankle buckle and zipper detail. The Tari II boot featured a wide anatomical toe box and flexible outsole for foot health.

It’s incredible how many small decisions have to be made to pull together a final product. There are countless shades of leather, metal buckle finishes, and lining materials to choose from. And then there’s the question of fit.

The Xero team may have gotten more than they bargained for bringing me on for this project, because I had a lot of opinions on this topic. The ankle opening needed to be more sleek, the heel needed to be more secure, the toe box shape had to be just right. I have a shelf full of prototypes from each step along the way!

We all wanted the best fitting boot possible, so the product team went back to the drawing board again and again. But in the end it paid off! Because the Tari II is the versatile, stylish, and foot-friendly boot we set out to create.

Meet Tari II

A close up view of a person in Tari II black leather buckle anke barefoot boots by Xero Shoes and Anya crouched down adjusting the buckle on one boot. The boot in back in flexed and the camera is focused on the front boot, which has been paired with a patterned sock.

Leather | US sizes 5 – 12 | Ships from US or EU

Tari II Boots

EU residents can shop the Tari II here.

The Tari II is a barefoot Chelsea boot that has elastic goring and an inside zipper, for easy on and off. They do the double duty of being both a closet staple and adding something extra to your outfits.

They come in the basics of black and brown (basic, but not boring) and have a velvety microfiber interior for all-season breathability. The outside buckle is functional, and can be loosened for more ankle room. They also come with a removable insole for a little more adjustability.

But we didn’t stop with just black and brown…

Extra Special Taupe

A woman's legs visible from the knees down standing on grass with one foot kicked out in front, wearing cozy knit socks and taupe doeskin Xero Shoes Tari II barefoot chelsea boot co-designed with Anya from Anya's Reviews

In addition to helping behind the scenes with the Tari II boot, I also had the chance to design my own colorway – complete with special details and finishing touches. Doeskin is the final member of the Tari II collection, so you can have that something special in your shoe collection! Still practical and wearable, but a cut above in terms of style. Currently Doeskin is available only on the US website, but worldwide shipping is available.

A woman standing on the dock of a lake, with her arms resting on the railing. She is wearing a short plaid skirt and baggy olive green sweater. She is looking wistfully off into the distance. On her feet is a pair of taupe Tari II barefoot chelsea boots by Anya and Xero Shoes. A pair of light colored socks is just visible peeking out the top of the boots.

A woman in cropped dark denim and a burnt orange long sleeve top, standing on the dock of a lake with a handbag over her shoulder. She is looking off to the left with a slight smile on her face. On her feet are a pair of barefoot chelsea boots from Xero Shoes, a collabration with Anya's Reviews. The wide toe box taupe Tari II finishes the woman's outfit with a quiet elegance.

I knew from the beginning I wanted to make a taupe boot. There’s something about taupe that catches the light and brings subtle sophistication. Especially with gold detailing. It’s the extra touch I crave in my barefoot shoes.

Besides the visuals, Doeskin also differentiates itself from the other colors with its more breathable microfiber lining that is suitable for transitional weather (think early fall and even into spring) and doesn’t make you sweat. Then when temps drop, add in some wool socks to keep wearing them all season.

I would recommend spraying them with a protectant before wearing (and every so often throughout the season) so that any scuffs or spots are easy to buff out. Pretty shoes aren’t meant to sit in the closet!

Fit & Sizing

A line of Tari II barefoot chelsea boots in 3 leather colors - brown, taupe, and black. A woman is sitting cross-legged behind the line-up and is holding the back of the boots. All 3 pairs show the wide, anatomical toe box shape.

The Tari II will fit best on feet that are:

Average to wide width (not likely to work for extra wide feet)
Medium volume at the arch – They also fit my low volume feet well, and there is a removable insole for higher volume feet
Medium width at the ankle – the buckle and elastic goring provide some adjustability for thicker ankles

The sizing is true for these – I am wearing a size 6.5, which is equivalent to an EU 37. This is the size I most often wear in Chelsea boots, and they fit with enough room for medium thick socks.

A close up of a woman's feet and lower legs crossed at the ankles. She is wearing white socks and Xero Shoes Tari II x Anya doeskin chelsea boots

In my opinion, Chelsea boots have got to fit wide enough in the toes to work for a wide variety of people, but tailored enough so you aren’t slipping out of them. I worked with Xero to hone in on a more feminine fit type for the Tari II that is more secure through the heel while still retaining a natural shape.

One thing to watch out for if you have sensitive skin – the top edge of the boot can feel hard when they’re brand new if you wear low cut socks/no socks. I found that it softened after a couple of wears, and you can also wear socks that go above the top of the boot (my preference).

If you need a little more help getting the fit just right, I have some fit hacks here to help.

Ordering

Tari II is available on the main US Xeroshoes.com website, as well as at Xero EU. My Doeskin colorway is only available on the US website, but international customers can have it shipped to them from the US site. You can return or exchange your new, unworn Xero Shoes within 45 days if you get the wrong size or change your mind.

And Xero also provides a 5,000 mile sole warranty! If the outsoles of your Xero Shoes wear down to less than 1mm thick, they will provide a 60% discount on a new pair of the same style at full retail price. You can read all the details about this warranty here.

Styling

I style the Tari II the way I would any Chelsea boot. They can be worn casually or dressed up. Because the leather on all 3 colors has a matte finish, they blend in well with just about any style.

The height is designed to be versatile with many different cuts of jeans and skirts/dresses. Not too tall, not too short. My favorite combo is cropped wide leg pants with cute socks peeking out the top (I’m a toe sock girlie). Check out the gallery below for outfit inspiration!