During the first week in October, I made my biannual trip to Paris for the international shoe show (and, of course, for a dose of Parisian culture, shopping, and food). I had so much fun! Although I didn’t notice any overriding new trends—just a lot more black—I do have some wonderful tips about things on tap from Cydwoq, Trippen, and Fiorentini + Baker.

At the show Cydwoq and Trippen had their booths right next to each other, which makes sense since they both appeal to customers who appreciate edgy, arty, and comfortable shoes that have an ethical and environmentally aware sensibility. Michael of Trippen bought a new espresso machine, which he set up in Cydwoq’s booth, so you can guess where everybody gathered!

The beloved new espresso maker on the left, and Cydwoq's Rafi and Trippen's Michael enjoying its output on the right.

Cydwoq has gorgeous washed leathers for spring and summer in beautiful shades of caramel, dark brown, and yellow. Trippen, meanwhile, fulfilled my constant quest for green shoes, plus I discovered great silver and steel metallics at Trippen. And, yes, the popular wedge and cups soles will be coming your way again for spring (we love them).

The Baker in Fiorentini + Baker, Deborah Baker has one of the best smiles in the business!

Meanwhile, over at Fiorentini + Baker, I fell for the relaxed tall boots and low ankle boots in suede. And get ready for the F+B triple-buckle sandal that’s coming to Ped for warm weather!

Plus, Fiorentini+ Baker is offering styles in lovely new greens and blues. Ped fans, you will swoon!

When I wasn’t working, I shopped and ate and ate and ate some more. My shoe pals and I noshed on great Lebanese food at Noura, and we made our regular pilgrimage to Fish La Boissonnerie for homemade bread and, yes, fish. And, needless to say, we all drank a lot of coffee!

The weather was beautiful the first two days, so I took time to visit the Jardin de Tuileries.

Jardin de Tuileries.

Unfortunately, it rained the rest of the time, but since I had to be inside anyway, it didn’t really matter. After all, who can complain when my walk home every evening offered this view?

We can’t help it—whenever August rolls around we get nostalgic for back-to-school shopping. We used to love picking out notebooks, pens and pencils, and three-ring binders. But the most important item, of course, was the lunchbox and matching thermos! At Ped HQ, we’ve been talking about how we might recapture a little of that magic, and we thought, “Well, every grown-up gal could always use a new bag to get her fall off on the right foot!” So, voila, we bring you the Ped Bag Sale!

From now until August 19, all of the beautiful slings, totes, and satchels from Cydwoq, 49 Square Miles, and Jutta Neumann are all 25% off!!! Here are just a few of the lovelies we’re offering at “back-to-school” prices:

When we laid eyes on the Kerouac Satchel from 49 Square Miles, it was love at first sight! It is one beautiful bag—large enough to hold everything you need but not oversized and awkward. The way the handles lace through the accordion-pleated sides is just so cool. And the leather, aahhhhh, the leather is so deliciously supple, you’ll have a hard time not touching it (but why resist?). Well worth the original price of $548, it’s a steal at $411! (But we love you, so it’s okay.)

For those of you who like a lighter bag (and who manage to leave the kitchen sink where it belongs in the kitchen), Jutta Neumann’s Oslo Bag is simplicity incarnate. It has room for the necessities you need in a day but won’t weigh you down. Plus, we love the surprise of the contrasting suede lining—see that glimpse of brilliant turquoise up there? And Jutta’s craftsmanship is unparalleled. Pretty at $318, it’s positively radiant at $199!

Maybe you really are heading back to school as a teacher, grad student, or professor, in which case Cydwoq’s Bright Bag makes a great campus companion. A Ped classic, loved by so many, the all-rivet construction—not a stitch to be seen—makes this bag an endurance queen, and its capacious interior is large enough for files, a few books, and even a small laptop. Smart at $358, it’s brilliant at $268!

Jump on over to Ped’s main site to see all the other beautiful bags waiting to tote your goods around town! But remember, to bag your favorite before the sale ends on August 19. What a way to say “see ya” to summer and “hey there” to fall!

The Dog Days of summer are here, and as much as we love dogs at Ped, it’s so hot that all we can think about is spending a day at the beach, cooling off in the waves and relaxing in the sea breeze. Happily, Ped has quite a few things to make the sand-and-surf experience that much more pleasurable. (And stylish!)

Seaside tip of the day: Don’t leave home without 49 Square Miles’ Carryall Tote:

Four words: Best. Beach. Bag. EVER!!!!! Everyone at Ped HQ is crazy about this sturdy canvas bag because it’s spacious enough to hold a beach towel, paperback, snack, sunscreen, binoculars, frisbee, water bottle, and whatever else you need to make your day in the sun fun. And despite being a workhorse of a bag, it’s so dang cute! The leather appliques are whimsical, and the colors sing of warm weather. We love. We love.

Another great way to haul your beachwear and wares from your house to that umbrella in the sand is Mia Zia’s Parisian Market Tote.

Beautifully woven out of natural raffia, this bag is casual yet undeniably chic. Traditional Moroccan construction means it’s sturdy enough to take on whatever rough-and-tumble adventures you care to carry it on, looking sassy all the while with its colorful tassels.

Another must-have beach accessory is a pair of kick-on, kick-off sandals. Cydwoq’s Lizard is just the ticket!

There’s not much to them, but what there is packs a serious style punch! The ultimate in Zen-like simplicity, these beauties will keep you from burning your tootsies’ tender soles as you skip across the blazing sand.

Finally, every day is sunnier with the beach-inspired dazzle of Jamie Joseph’s Starfish Necklace.

The perfect way to add sparkle to your beachwear—whether you’re baring it in a bikini or keeping covered in a kaftan—this necklace is so sweet with its gold-set diamond twinkling like a star within the silver starfish. And what a way to maintain your beach frame of mind the rest of the year!

So, stretch out on the sand and, with Ped’s help, beach all you can beach!

It’s mid-July, and the mercury is soaring (at least in the Northern Hemisphere—perhaps Ped’s Aussie and Kiwi fans are bundling up in sweaters as we’re skipping around in skimpy sundresses). Wherever you are, we’re out to make the season a little sweeter by adding a little sugar to our sale prices. There’s plenty of summer left to enjoy Ped’s airy heels and strappy sandals, but as much as we love them, we need to send these beauties out into the world in order to make room for the chic fall styles that have started to arrive at Ped HQ.

Here are a few treats that just got a little more tempting! Why resist?

If you’ve never experienced the comfort and vintage-inspired ‘zazz of Chie Mihara, the Rula wedge is the perfect place to start. Nice enough for office wear without sacrificing an iota of style, the Rula features the loveliest cut-and-stitch work up front (click “zoom” at the Ped site to check out the intricate craftsmanship). Well worth it’s original price of $358, it WOWS at $199!

Another Spanish beauty is Argila’s Harper, which is a favorite here at Ped Central. The color is so fresh, and the leather is simply luscious. No longer $364, it’s as welcome as a clear blue sky at $199.

Speaking of color that sings, nothing hits the high note like Coclico’s knockout Chiba heel. The grass green suede makes us sigh “Aahhhhh!,” and so does the comfort of this easy-to-wear sandal. Lovely at $292, it’s even more gorgeous at $169.

So add some sizzle to the sidewalk by slipping on a pair of smokin’ hot sandals at the coolest prices of the season!

Of all the words that rhyme with kale, gale, and tale, we suspect your favorite is “sale”! (It’s definitely ours.) There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than that four-letter word—it’s like a rainstorm that cools things off and leaves the air smelling sweet. Although we’re not exactly twiddling our thumbs while Dayna’s away, we thought we’d juice things up by marking a few things down! So, we’ve made it even more fun to amp up your warm-weather wardrobe with Argila, Chie Mihara, Coclico, and Giraudon.

Behold just a few of Ped’s summer sale treats:

The color of Argila’s Harper sandal reminds us of clear Caribbean waters. We love the femininity of the softly gathered leather and gentle curves of the design.

Beautiful at $364, it’s now even lovelier at $291.20 $239 (that’s right, things are getting sweeter by the day).

We’re head over heels for Chie Mihara’s Rula‘s retro-licious vibe. The cutwork and stitching on this easy-to-wear wedge are truly dazzling.

$358 no more! It’s now $286.40!

When you really want to turn heads, simply slip on Coclico’s Mussel platform sandal in poppy! ZING! Instantly, every eye is admiring your cute feet walking down the street!

Zesty when it was $352, it’s irresistible at $281.60.

Have you ever fantasized about hanging out in Paris in the 1920s? If so, Giraudon’s romantic Hemingway is right up your alley. Suitors are sure to vie for your heart when you wear this flirty, vintage-inspired beauty!

It’s original price of $282 is a thing of the past. Say hello to thoroughly modern $225.60 $199 (the cat’s meow)!

These tasty temptations are only the beginning of the summer sale feast we’ve laid out for Ped fans. Enjoy!