We just heard, from a little bird….

Ped fans, we know how it is. Sometimes a style will catch your eye, but you can’t quite envision how it would work with your daily wardrobe. Maybe you think gold is strictly for after-five, or those edgy zippered boots seem too out there for running errands. Or maybe you want to snazz up what you wear, but you’re not sure where to start.

We’re here to help! Below are a few ideas for how to make the most of some of our best autumn boots.

Whether you’re walking the dog, meeting friends for a casual lunch, going to a parent-teacher meeting, or doing all three in the same day, Trippen’s Onion Boot makes a great companion:

The Onion is sassy with this laid-back outfit, but it works equally well with the following throw-it-on-and-go look, which we’ve paired with another zipper-iffic Trippen boot, the Helix:

As we often say, the shoes don’t have to match the outfit, they just have to “go.” We love the interplay of textures and patterns among the sweater, skirt, and Sophie Digard Puzzle Scarf, and the Helix fits right in, even though it’s brown!

If you want to play up its edginess, though, the Helix would work well with this arty casual outfit we put together with the Trippen Amber:

The Amber is such a comfortable way to make a statement that it would also sing with the following outfit, ideal for college students and profs, graphic designers, architects, or anyone else who likes to get creative with what they wear! We’ve pulled out the stops by suggesting either the Trippen Foam or Cydwoq Pitstop as boot options!

Are we getting too edgy for your taste? Well, you might be surprised to discover both the Trippen Foam and Cydwoq Pitstop also work with this more subdued (but still fun) outfit, which we’ve put with the Argila Katniss:

But what if you have a job that requires something dressier, you ask? Well, the Katniss would be equally at home with the following look, guaranteed to wow clients, which we’ve enhanced with Chie Mihara’s stunning Dalatchi:

How cool does the wool-and-leather woven shaft of the Dalatchi look with that skirt? Of course, Cydwoq’s Bright Bag in black is welcome at any meeting!

The Chie Mihara Dalatchi and Cydwoq Bright Bag would also be sensational with the following ensemble, which epitomizes how you don’t need a lot of bells and whistless to look impeccably chic! Ideal for going straight from the office out for cocktails and dinner, this outfit is the perfect setting for Cydwoq’s Involve ankle boot:

Is your imagination sparked? We hope so! There are so many terrific ways to wear Ped’s styles!

Incidentally, all of the outfits above were created using Polyvore, which is a great way to try out wardrobe ideas without having to try everything on.

The rule to remember: Always have fun with how you dress!

(Psst, this week’s Sweet Treat is Coclico’s beautiful Valentine bootie, which would look fab with every single outfit in this post! To receive 20% off the Valentine, simply click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages. When you land at the Valentine with the Sweet Treat designation, choose your size, add it to your bag, and the discount will occur automatically at checkout.)

Every season it happens. Shoes we absolutely adore here at Ped HQ seem to go unnoticed and wind up sitting on the shelf rather than heading out the warehouse door on new adventures.

Often it’s because Ped fans can’t quite envision out how a certain style might fit into their wardrobes. We’re here to help! Below are some of our overlooked favorites put together with outfits that show off their potential! And did we mention that all but one are on sale?

First up, the fantastically comfortable Trippen Rom:

The Rom is bold and, yes, a little masculine, so it works especially well with relaxed feminine pieces, like a drop-waist sundress or an airy top and jeans. We added Sophie Digard’s Alpine necklace for extra fun! The Rom was great at $328, but it’s even better at $164!

Heading in a more feminine direction, Chie Mihara’s Calanta sandal has a dual personality:

This heeled lace-up is the definition of “versatile.” It looks sophisticated and urban worn with the modern outfit on the left but instantly becomes retro-chic with the vintage-inspired look on the right. We’ve accented the left ensemble with Epice’s Girasole Scarf and the right with Cydwoq’s Bright Bag (which would also look terrific with the outfit on the left). The Chie Mihara Calanta was gorgeous at $368, but it’s even lovelier at $184!

Another deliciously versatile sandal is the Argila Marisol:

 

Metallics are so of the moment, and the silver and black Marisol looks spectacular with lots of outfits, as demonstrated by its loveliness with the three different looks pictured! The Cydwoq Bright Bag in black is another goes-with-everything winner. The Marisol sparkled at $428, but it really shines at $214!

The cheeriest flat sandal in the Ped warehouse this summer is definitely Chie Mihara’s Elio sandal:

The curry-colored suede is fantastic, but it’s also what makes some would-be wearers hesitate. However, the Elios is not as hard to pair as you might think! It looks great with flowing feminine summer clothes, picking up any bit of yellow, but it’s also splendid with more structured casual wear, like this great plaid shift, with which it simply “goes.” Fun at $378, the Elios is a party at $189!

Speaking of color, some people think a red shoe, like the Trippen Zen, requires thought to wear, when they prefer everything to coordinate effortlessly.

What could be cuter or easier than these six pieces? The tops and skirts are completely interchangeable (mixing prints is on trend), and the Fine and the Trippen Carola bag match perfectly! The Zen was bliss at $248, but it’s heaven at $198!

Matching, however, is not necessary! As Stacy and Clinton used to say, “It only has to ‘go,'” which is demonstrated well by the unusual olivine color of the Trippen Magnolia:

None of the prints and colors above precisely match, but they all play well together, and the sweet Magnolia wedge looks stellar with both outfits!

As you browse through the ideas above, note that many of the shoes would go wonderfully with other outfits shown. We say if you love a shoe, you can make it work for you! Be adventurous and always have fun getting dressed!

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!

Ped fans, you may not think of us as a “one-stop shop,” but if you have daughters, mothers, aunts, sisters, or simply female friends you want to make smile this season, we’re confident of the pleasing power of Ped presents! Here are just a few ideas to brighten your favorite gals’ holidays:

When you’re mystified by your recipient’s size, there’s no need to scratch your head. Simply give her something toasty to wrap around her neck, like Ben Alder’s Edinburgh Scarf:

Such stripe-tastic fun, this soft scarf is knit from the finest Scottish new wool! One size makes everyone look stylish! We’re in love with this smashing Blue/Lemon/Fuchsia version, but Ped also offers the Edinburgh in three other great color combinations!

Word to the wise gift giver: Ben Alder also knits wonderful striped gloves!

Make her fingers festive and protect them from frostbite! If purple and green don’t float her boat, perhaps Ben Alder’s other color combos will make her heart set sail.

As long as we’re keeping the extremities warm, let’s make sure the tootsies stay toasty! Socks can make a sensational present, especially when they come from Antipast:

Everything Antipast designs is like a party for your toes, but we are especially crazy about the Winter Skier Socks. They are so clever! Beneath a snowy sky of polka dots, a tiny skier whooshes down a mountain of stripes!

We also have a new kid on the sock block: Bonne Maison! Why not give your gal the gift of a garden walk with Bonne Maison’s Autumn Flower Knee High:

This carmine version makes our hearts sing, but perhaps the honey or aged green options are more in tune with your gal.

If you want to up the ante with heating things up, a Sophie Digard work of wearable art is an excellent way to express your affection.

Sophie’s hand-crocheted Cercle Pop Scarf, for instance, is guaranteed to thrill! When she’s not wearing this stunner, your lucky recipient may opt to keep it out where she can simply look at it!

Another gift every woman welcomes is a fantastic bag. Cydwoq offers beautiful ways to help her haul it all through the day!

We just got in two new versions of Cydwoq’s terrific Leather Market Sack! Isn’t this navy and rust argyle pattern to die for? (We’re adding it to our own wish list!) The olive herringbone option is equally gorgeous!

Of course, if you really want to “wow” her, something sparkly from Jamie Joseph is just the thing!

The gold and diamond treatment of Jamie Joseph’s 14kt Gold Organic Circle Necklace is a sure-fire way to kiss holiday doldrums and winter blues goodbye!

As always, there are more goodies at Ped’s main site, so let your stylish thoughts count as you spread the love!

By the way, if you want to make absolutely sure the women in your life will like their gifts, invite them to browse the Ped site and click “add to favorites” for whatever strikes their fancy. Once they’ve finished making selections, they can share the list with you via email. That way the pressure’s off, and happiness is on!

(Psst, the Sweet Treat this week, Sophie Digard’s Velvet Lune Scarf,  would make a fabulous gift, too, even if it’s just to deserving you! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left at Ped’s main site. When you land at the Velvet Lune Scarf’s page, just pop it in your shopping bag to get 20% off!)