Your friends at Ped wish you and your loved ones joy and peace through the Holidays and into the New Year!!!!!! CELEBRATE!
(And just in case you missed it, through December 25, use code “Twinkle 10” at checkout to receive 20% off any full-price item.)
Ped fans, take a short break from holiday preparations or online ordering to watch this great video about our beloved Cydwoq, which we found posted at shoes.tv.
Isn’t Ari a doll? He’s the designer behind a lot of the latest styles coming out of Cydwoq, working alongside his dad, Rafi, as a true father-son team! Whenever we hear them talk about their philosophy and the effort they put into their shoes, it makes us so proud to carry Cydwoq! We’ve added a few new designs recently and gotten some of your favorites in new colors, so check out the freshest Cydwoq on the sidewalk:
You know by now that the oxford is the shoe of the moment, but Cydwoq’s Classic Oxford is really something special:
As Ari points out in the video, what sets Cydwoq apart is the cut and construction of the leather, as well as the internal architecture, which is so apparent in the way this oxford is put together. When I saw this design for men, I begged Rafi to adapt it for women, and he did! We love!
Another Cydwoq men’s design we cajoled Rafi into doing for women is the Sparta:
What a great lace-up bootie in beautiful washed grey leather! The Sparta’s so practical—easy to wear on all kinds of outings, and it’s sassy with skirts as well as stellar with jeans. (Bet you wish you’d had this number on when you went to pick out your tree!)
If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere unchallenged by wintry snow and ice (or if you carry your cool shoes with you to slip into after you’re out of your galoshes), you can’t beat Cydwoq’s brand new Smile Mary Jane for all-season cuteness:
Such a winner in every way, from the stylish ankle strap to the comfortable toe construction! If you have the good fortune to be going on a mid-winter vacation, this is the shoe to pack; it will take you through sightseeing during the day and out to dinner at night. Your tired feet will thank you for keeping them happy!
On the other hand, if what you really need is a good boot, you can’t go wrong with Cydwoq’s new Flood:
This Flood has everything to like: a practical mid-calf height; four adjustable buckles that require no fuss, thanks to an inside zipper; and twin exposed seams running up the back! Plus, the leather is emerald green!!! (You know how I love green…)
As for new colors, we now have the oh-so-chic Pi Bootie in antique silver (oo-la-la):
And the go-everywhere Buckle flat now comes in a to-die-for blue marble:
So whether you’re new to Cydwoq or a long-time fan, it’s a terrific time to indulge in a new pair! There’s nothing like shoes that feel good and that you feel good about wearing—which is the very essence of Cydwoq!
Ped fans, remember back in October when there was a lapse in blog posts? Well, part of the reason was that after shopping for Ped at the European shoe shows, my husband and I met in Barcelona, Spain, to celebrate our anniversary (and my birthday). Although we were only there for four days, we had the most romantic and wonderful time!
Our home base for our stay was the modern Hotel Claris, which is located right in the heart of the city and boasts a fabulous rooftop deck! (It even allows small dogs.)
Relaxing on the Hotel Claris's rooftop deck!
To get ourselves acclimated, we took a Barcelona City Bus Tour the first day. A two-day pass lets you jump on and off wherever you like. For us, that meant visiting places designed by that Catalan visionary of modernism, Antoni Gaudi, with whom I am obsessed!
One of the most spectacular stops was the Sagrada Familia, the elaborate Roman Catholic cathedral that Gaudi began building in 1882 and worked on until his death. (He’s buried in its crypt.) Still under construction, this awe-inspiring church is scheduled to be finished in 2026.
My husband shot this cool photo of the Sagrada Familia (note the ongoing construction) in a motorcycle mirror. The interior resembles a forest!
Other Gaudi destinations included the Casa Batilo and the Park Guell, my favorite, which includes Gaudi’s home (although the line was too long to go inside—if you’re going to go Gaudi sightseeing, go early). We loved it so much we named one of our favorite Vialis boots after the Park Guell!
I'm listening to an audio tour of the Casa Batilo, which has an interior inspired by the sea and an exterior that looks like leaves and bones. On the right is one of the many fantastical mosaic-covered sculptures in the Park Guell.
Everywhere you look in Barcelona, there is something amazing to see!
The guy on the left was performing a show with Beatles marionettes! On the right, I could not resist trying this random beautiful bench!
As Ped fans know, I revel in good food, and Barcelona did not disappoint! We had fabulous seafood at the tiny Bar MUT, delicious tapas at Tapas 24, and wonderful espresso at Il Caffe di Francesco. We also snacked at Mercat de Santa Caterina, a great market for meats and cheeses, and we ate paella on our last day at Cal Pinxo on La Barceloneta, Barcelona’s seafront promenade.
On the left, my husband beams over the best paella EVER on our last day. On the upper right, we enjoy some jamon at the Mercat de Santa Caterina, and on the lower right, the hub smiles over anchovies!
Of course, no trip is complete without doing one of the things I do best: shopping!!! We found all kinds of interesting stores, ranging from the original Vialis boutique to Vincon, which is a modern home store that’s kind of like IKEA but cooler, to Almacen Marabi, a wonderful shop full of felt toys. We also stopped by Nu Subates, my friend Roger’s all-Cydwoq store!
Standing in the doorway of Barcelona's all-Cydwoq store, Nu Sabates.
(Note the men’s Classic Oxford in the Nu Subates’ window—Ped just got this style for women!)
Our four days in Barcelona flew by! We’re sure to go back, though, because we fell head over heels for the food and culture (and, of course, Gaudi)—what a way to celebrate love!
"Buenos Dias!" with a smile from Park Guell!
Hello, Ped fans! Sorry to leave the blog untended for so long, but I have the best possible excuse: I was shoe shopping for you in Milan and Paris! And, wow, is there a lot to look forward to next spring! Not only will Ped have the latest from your favorite designers, but we’re bringing back NDC from Belgium and adding Vic Matie sandals from Italy.
I began my style hunt in Milan, where the shoe show had an ultra-hip, retro-70s aesthetic.
So fun to look for shoes at the Micam show in Milan!
Of course, I ran into several of Ped’s treasured designers. It’s always a treat to see Chie Mihara!
Chie Mihara has such a great spirit—you just have to smile with her!
And here’s the lovely Ellen Verbeek, one of the latest additions to the Ped family. (If you haven’t checked out her gorgeous wood-soled boots yet, you really must!)
Ellen Verbeek is as beautiful as her designs!
After Milan, it was off to Paris for another shoe show (tis the season).
The Paris show's aesthetic was streamlined and modern.
I managed to get three of Ped’s favorites in one shot! Check it out:
Cydwoq's Rafi Balouzian, Chie Mihara, and Trippen's Michael Oehler—what a design-tastic trio!
You may be wondering what trends I discovered. Well, next spring is going to be very colorful; I ordered shoes in red, yellow, grey, teal, navy, caramel, along with lots of metallics, which continue to sizzle. Look for studded detailing on bags and shoes. Also, wedge heels—both wood and cork—are all the rage. And Chie’s line for Spring 2011 features lots of contrast stitching and mixes of suede and leather.
Perhaps my favorite trend is oxfords worn with skirts or cropped pants and no socks! Love that! Two looks I don’t care for, though, are thick socks with heels and nylons worn with peep-toe wedges. Ugh!
I became a little obsessed with photographing the wide range of shoes the buyers and sellers were wearing at the show. Here’s a sampler of what the shoe pros were sporting in Paris:
Honestly, two of the best parts of the day were walking to and from work because my route let me stroll through the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries, which looked particularly spectacular blooming with fall flowers.
Aahhh, I love Paris in the autumn!
(By the way, in case you haven’t discovered it yet, this week’s “sweet treat” is Ellen Verbeek’s knockout Camille Boot! Get 20% off this Belgian stunner by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page, which will instantly take you to the Camille and the sought-after discount code!)
Sure, ankle boots are all the rage this season (and Ped has some of the best), but the knee-high boot’s lock on style is still solid! A tall boot always adds extra “oomph” to whatever you’re wearing. At Ped, whenever one of us is scratching her head (Terry is exempt from this) about what would look great with a particular outfit, nine times out of 10, the answer is a full-height boot. Effortless but full of impact, tall boots instantly amp up everything, including our positive attitudes!
Here are a few of the to-the-knee (and over) lovelies currently enlivening the Ped house.
Our arty new line from Israel, Couple Of, has one of the coolest boots at the party:
This Elon embodies everything Couple Of does so well: a clean design with a few key details that escalate the interest, all packaged in a meticulously crafted boot that’s as wonderful to wear as it is to see. We love the faux split spat with its topstitched detailing. So cool! Plus, the washed leather and the discreet elastic insert on the inside of the calf make this boot easy on the leg.
If you like your boot to shout a little louder, then take a listen to Cydwoq’s Alpha!
Get down with your bad self—how kickass is this boot? We’re down for the count over how the six nickel silver buckles complement the marbled black leather of this knockout. And word to the wise: adjust the buckles to get an ideal fit for your calf, and then use the inside zipper to whiz in and out of this boot in a flash. (By the way, I bought this one for myself, and I’m going to rock it on the streets of Paris later this week!)
Perhaps you appreciate the take-no-prisoners style of the Alpha, but you want something a little more feminine with a heel. Presented for your approval, the Cydwoq Vintage Kappa:
Be still our boot-loving hearts, this one is over the top! The color—unbelievably beautiful! The design (especially the back)—drop-dead gorgeous! And because the Kappa is from Cydwoq, its heel is placed in the sweet spot directly under your weight for maximum stability and comfort. So much to savor!
On the other hand, there’s a place in every closet for a simple black boot with a sophisticated heel. This season, Coclico’s got just the ticket:
The Niben boot may be minimal, but it’s far from plain! The design is ultra clean, and the stained wooden heel and platform sole give this buffalo leather boot just the right kick. This is a boot to work many ways on any number of occasions, and you’ll always know you look spectacular!
Some of you Ped fans, though, enjoy the high drama, so we’ve saved our true boot diva for last: Fiorentini + Baker’s Beck boot!
Yes, applause, please! What a boot! This gorgeous black number looks terrific cuffed and laced behind your knee, BUT you also have the option of unlacing the back and unfolding the top to create a true over-the-knee boot! So saucy! And so beautifully crafted because it’s from F+B, the Italian wizards of boot-making!
As always, there are many more tall boots to choose from at the main Ped site. So, go get high—it’s perfectly legal!
(Although it’s not up to your knee, this week’s “Sweet Treat” is still delectable! Get 20% off Argila’s Josephine Boot by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page, which will magically take you to the Josephine and the sought-after discount code! Laceless is riveting!)
