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!)

Ped fans, remember when I told you last spring that I was bringing several new lines to Ped? You’ve already met Couple Of! Now let me introduce you to the wondrous Ellen Verbeek!

Based in Belgium, Ellen Verbeek designs eye-opening shoes and boots, which she entrusts to master craftsmen in Italy to make, knowing they will meticulously attend to every detail. She takes a playful attitude to creating feminine shoes designed for real women—i.e every style feels as good as it looks! She uses only vegetable-tanned leathers and is a stickler for details, paying attention to clean lines and balance in her designs. Known for her wooden heels, Ellen Verbeek has mastered the ability to combine elegance, sex appeal, and innovation!

See for yourself!

Ellen’s Angeline Bootie left us gobsmacked at last spring’s European shoe show:

Unlike anything else we’ve seen, this ankle boot radiates modern sophistication! The lines are so clean, and the cutouts perfectly placed for a flirty flash of skin, colorful tights, or funky knee-highs. But the thing that really makes this boot work is Ellen Verbeek’s exquisite wooden wedge heel with its leather detailing. Delicious!

This lovely heel also spices up the Elise Bootie:

The caramel leather of this lace-up is so supple that it’s almost sinful (but it’s not, so no penance required!). The collar folds down just so, and we’re crazy about the brass grommets and rivets that structure the lacing.

If you’re looking for a taller boot, Ellen’s signature wedge heel also supports the mid-calf Karlina Boot:

We are always on the lookout for minimal black boots that have something extra to keep them from being boring. The Karlina illustrates just what we mean because it’s quiet yet explosive with style! Utterly elegant and versatile, this is the boot to wear everywhere.

Another wonderfully versatile boot in Ellen Verbeek’s lineup is the Camille:

A chunkier wooden heel gives an air of ruggedness to this caramel beauty’s sophisticated styling. Meanwhile inside, the leather lining and padded footbed give your foot the posh treatment it deserves!

As we said, utterly gorgeous! We are so glad to welcome our Belgian sole sister, Ellen Verbeek, into the Ped family! Trust us, you’re going to love her!

(In case you haven’t checked it out yet, the “Sweet Treat” this week is Couple Of’s Ava Oxford! Get 20% off this shoe that gives wrinkles a good name by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page, which will magically take you to the Ava, where you will find the discount code! One of the coolest oxfords in the Ped house!)