Ped fans, I recently returned from my biannual pilgrimage to New York, Paris, and Milan to attend the shoe shows and catch up with old friends! It’s always a blast to combine shopping for Ped with sightseeing and people-watching—I learn so much from simply walking around these fashion-rich cities!

While I was in New York, my dear friend Kimmy became the most beautiful 50-year-old on the planet! It was fantastic to be able to celebrate with her and several of our longtime friends (including Nicole, who worked for Ped back in its Seattle days).

A collage of the big fun we had at  Kimmy’s birthday party!

Then I was off to Paris!

At the Parisian shoe show, the emphasis was on oiled and brushed leathers, and the big colors were red, grey, navy, forest, and mocha. Metallics were also still running strong, so you can expect a lot of sparkle next fall and winter! As for styles, the must-haves were ankle boots yet again, but they’ve become both sexier and more practical. One of my favorite trends was unusual color combinations—the Chie Mihara designs, in particular, really packed a punch, so get ready!

Of course, we can never get enough of Cydwoq:

So much beauty to look forward to! (By the way, the lovely gal with Rafi and me up top is Margaret, the proprietor of Traipse, a fantastic shoe store in Chicago.)

After hours, it was fun to talk shop over dinner with friends in the biz!

People I’m always happy to see: (l-r) Rafi from Cydwoq, Claudia from Trippen, Louise and Hailey from Gravity Pope, and Michael from Trippen.

After my brief sojourn in France, I flew to Italy for the Milan Micam show, which is one of the biggest shoe shows in Italy.

Booth after beautiful booth of shoes at the Milan Micam show!

While in Milan, Ped’s Fiorentini + Baker representative, Eliza, invited me to her home for a meal! One word: DELICIOUS!

This was just the beginning of our dinner. How come the tomatoes and burrata are so amazing in Italy?

After working two weeks straight without a day off, I finally took some time for myself. Milan is a wonderful place to roam around!

Various sights from my day of Milan meandering.

Then it was back on the plane to fly to home sweet home, Ped HQ!

In addition to lining up gorgeous new styles from all your Ped favorites, I discovered a wonderful new sock line while in Europe! Plus, look for the return of Vialis next fall! Such whirlwind traveling is exhausting, but I love finding things that I know will thrill you Ped fans. So stay tuned, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months!

Happy Spring, Ped fans! To welcome the season we’ve all been waiting for, we’re offering an extra delicious Sweet Treat this week,: Fiorentini + Baker’s Elios Boot! Just click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left at Ped’s main site to reach the Elios, where all you have to do is add it to your bag to receive 20% off at checkout! Lace it up and play all day!

Brrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We get goosebumps just thinking about the frigid temps many of you Ped fans have endured! Ice, ice, not so nice.

And that’s why we thought we’d turn up the burner under Ped’s sale prices to give you something warm and wonderful! Below are just a few of the delicious deals that might make winter a bit more bearable—snag ’em while you can because they’re going like hotcakes!

Before we get down to the frosty ground, let’s make sure your neck stays nice and cozy! We’ve put all of Ben Alder’s woolen goods on sale, including the stripe-a-licious Aberdeen Scarf:

Facing cold weather is much more fun when you have something pretty keeping you toasty! Tempting at $78, the Aberdeen Scarf is irresistible at $58!

If you love one-of-a-kind pieces, perhaps Sophie Digard’s Velvet Soleil Scarf is the way to add spark to icy, grey days:

Wool and velvet combine to make a work of wearable art! Splurge-worthy at $348, it’s a must-have at $278!

What’s that you say? “Boots, give me boots!” Then boots you shall have! First up, Trippen’s well-named Treasure:

Fun and funky, the Treasure looks fantastic on! (Check out Peggy R’s Tale of the Sole to see last year’s brown Treasure in action.) Cutting-edge at $358, it’s super sharp at $179!

Another ankle boot sure to turn heads (but not ankles) is Pep Monjo’s Cora:

The indigo blue leather is such a gorgeous shade! Tasty at $442, it’s scrumptious at $342!

For you urban cowgirls out there, kick up your stylish heels in the Argila Madrid:

You’ll get compliments ’til the cows come home! (We also have the Madrid in black.) Sassy at $468, they’re seriously kickass at $234!

Hoping for a bootie with more feminine wiles? Then turn up the heat in Cydwoq’s Caution:

Faux croc leather in luscious green + slingback styling + 2″ resin heel = steamy sex appeal! Spicy at $326, it’s sizzling at $163!

If you’re thinking, “Perfectly lovely, but what I need is a tall boot,” then Trippen’s fantastic Mexico might be just the ticket:

Red boots are GO! (But in case you prefer brown, we have that, too!) Stellar at $458, they’re out of this world at $229!

Of course, the best remedy for the cold is nature’s insulator: fur! Consider cozying up to the fur-lined version of Fiorentini + Baker’s Emmy:

Look gorgeous AND have toasty toes! A treat at $648, it’s truly a treasure at $324!

We offer a be-furred version of Fiorentini + Baker’s Eliza oxford, too:

Talk about luxe! This beauty is so soft, you’ll have a hard time not constantly petting your shoes! Fantastic at $498, it’s beyond marvelous at $249!

Feel the fire of desire for something cozy and new? Well, we have plenty more bargains to spark your interest over at Ped’s main site! It’s the perfect time to treat yourself to something you ardently want without burning down your bank account!

(Psst, speaking of Fiorentini + Baker, this week’s Sweet Treat is F+B’s perennial favorite, the Emma Boot! Just click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages to arrive at the Emma, where all you have to do is pop it in your bag to receive 20% off at checkout!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Ped fans! Everyone here at Ped HQ hopes your 2014 is off to a fantastic start! Thanks to longtime Ped fan, Peggy R., ours certainly is!

Peggy’s Tale of the Sole is simply beyond wonderful to us—it’s like a giant hug sprinkled with sugar! Here is what she sent:

In 1998, I got my first pair of shoes from Ped, a pair of Giraudon oxfords, and I was immediately hooked on wearing cool shoes! Whenever we were in Seattle, we headed to Pioneer Square to visit Ped and, hopefully, make a purchase. There was just something about wearing great shoes that made me smile and feel so good! Once Dayna opened Ped online, it was hard to pass up the incredible styles. So…. I have a lot of fabulous shoes, handbags, and treasures from Ped!

Peggy’s first catalog from Ped! (We’re so flattered she kept it.)

I decided this fall to document my Ped collection on a daily basis. The challenge was to wear a different pair of shoes or something that I had purchased from Ped for the entire month of December. I called it “The 31 days of Ped.”

The first 12 days of Peggy’s “31 Days of Ped.”

Being a nurse, the workdays were a bit of a challenge—lots of Trippen, a few Cydwoq, and sometimes just my beautiful Antipast socks. Many of my coworkers, as well as patients and their family members, commented on my shoes. I’ve shared Ped with a lot of people!

Days 13-23 of Peggy’s “31 Days of Ped.”

On my off days, it was easier to wear my boots, heels and—thanks to the warm December we had in Sacramento—even a few of my sandals. And every day I smiled!

The final eight days of Peggy’s “31 Days of Ped.”

Dayna and I have had many conversations on the phone over the years. She knows what styles I’ll like and what shoes will fit my feet. I appreciate Ped’s quality and the incredible customer service—but mostly, I like knowing where to get the most fabulous shoes! Dayna has said to me, “Fashion starts with the feet.” And I believe it’s true! Thanks Ped for making me smile!

Oh, Peggy!!! Your smile can’t be any brighter than ours after reading your Tale of the Sole! THANK YOU for starting our new year off with a big burst of Ped love!

We’re delighted to give Peggy $100 in Ped credit as a small token of our HUGE appreciation!

Do you have a Tale of the Sole? Tell us—and show us (we LOVE pictures!!!)—what happened to you while wearing something from Ped, and you, too, might be the recipient of $100 in Ped credit. We’d love to share your sole-ful story on the blog, so let us know what in the world you’ve been doing in your Ped!