Ped fans, we love winter, we really do, but this year’s was so llllloooooonnnnggg  that we have been chomping at the bit to peel off our socks and let our toes out to play! Spring fever is raging at Ped HQ!

It’s finally time to pick out a pair (or two) of breezy sandals and dance in the sun! Ped has so many dandy designs to choose from this season that we’ve decided to offer a three-post “tasting menu” over the next several days. Today, we sample flats (or nearly so) that will give you high style while keeping you grounded in comfort.

A sandal ready to slide into and go, that’s what we crave in summer! Cliff Dweller’s Athlete is just the thing:

Super easy, super comfortable, and super stylish—the Athlete hits the sandal trifecta! The berry color pictured is so juicy, but the Athlete is also a winner in biscotti brown. (Berry and biscotti? I’m suddenly like a snack…)

For those of you who prefer the security of a back strap and the stability of a toe ring , Cydwoq’s Train could be just the ticket:

Edgy, chic, and interesting, it’s as if a gladiator sandal went to art school! Plus the black leather with its blue variegation is to. die. for.

Fiorentini + Baker offers another modern variation on the gladiator sandal with the gorgeous Jeb:

Words cannot describe how lusciously soft and lightweight this sandal’s perforated skived leather is! Whether you opt for the mouse color shown or classic black, jaws will drop when you walk by in the Jeb.

Pep Monjo also knows how to make the most of a bold buckle strap, as he demonstrates with the knockout Angelina:

Practical? Yes! Gorgeous? YES! The Angelina embodies everything we’ve come to expect from Pep: luxe leather, signature details like the lipped collar in back, and style for miles! You can’t go wrong with a black leather sandal, but then again, you can’t go wrong with the Angelina in flint suede either. Win, win!

Just because a flat keeps your feet on the ground, doesn’t mean it can’t get a little high with funky fun. Case in point: the Trippen Eye!

Broad bands of metallic blue leather form the front, as a leather thong laces through two over-sized metal eyes to form the back strap and crisscross wrapping rising up your ankle! Too cool for school!

Looking for something a little dressier but still heelless? The Cydwoq Laser is ready to shine:

The metallic green leather is fresh and flirty, and the ankle-strapped minimal design is super sexy, so all we can say is, “Bring on the cocktails!”

Of course, if you really want to go girly, Chie Mihara is your best friend! Chie’s Izan proves you don’t need a high heel to be a femme fatale:

Five tiers of leather ruffles over the toe call to mind the swish of Spanish flamenco dresses., and the neutral camel color guarantees the Izan will dance with everything in your closet!

Ped fans, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the vast array of PHAT flat sandals ready to take on summer at Ped’s main site! Word to the fashion wise: flat is where it’s at!

(Unless, of course, you like a heel, in which case stay tuned for “Sandals for sunny days” Parts 2 & 3!)

Sweet mid-May flash sale, Ped fans! All Chie Mihara styles are 20% off through Sunday, May 11, in celebration of Mother’s Day! (Even if you’re not a mom, we’re sure your mother would want you to wear good shoes!)

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Ooh la la! What a sugary Sweet Treat: the Fiorentini + Baker Pansy. As Ped fans know, we adore the look of boots with sun dresses, summery skirts, and even shorts. So put some flower power in your stride for 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left at Ped’s main site! When you land at the Pansy with the “Sweet Treat” designation, simply add it to your bag to receive an automatic 20% off at checkout!

Take a shine to Argila’s Marisol sandal, which is this week’s sparkling Sweet Treat! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box at Ped’s main site to be whisked to the Marisol with the all-important “Sweet Treat” designation. From there, pop the Marisol into your bag, and—voila!—receive an instant 20% off at checkout!

Ped fans, did you celebrate Earth Day this past week? We’re all “tree huggers” at Ped, so we certainly did! Ped is proud to sell only goods from companies committed to ethical production, both environmentally and socially.

You can rest assured that the woods used for the soles of our many gorgeous clog styles are selected and harvested from sustainable sources. The result? Beautifully grained styles that you can feel good about wearing!

We love the lightness of wood for summer, and the cool smoothness of its sanded surface against bare soles feels soooooo good! Here are a few of our woody favorites:

Coclico is here to set straight the myth that clogs lack sex appeal. Fact: there is no hotter tamale than the Coclico Fabiana!

Whew, somebody hand me a fan! If you want to make ’em sweat, the Fabiana is a sure-fire way to do it, standing on a take-notice 3.5″ sculpted wooden heel (made easy to wear by the .5″ platform under the toe). Deadly sexy!

Another wood-soled sandal that’s a guaranteed to turn heads is Trippen’s Mikli:

The Mikli is the tallest heel in the Ped house at 4.5″, but because its supportive wedge platform slopes to a 1.25″ platform under the toe, it’s easy on your tootsies! We’re crazy about the combination of the saucy ankle strap and the figure-8 construction of the toe strap.

Trippen also makes gorgeous use of a criss-cross ankle strap on the Ritzy, which has the coolest wooden sole under the sun!

The way the back strap loops through the window under your heel proves why Trippen wins prize after prize for its designs! So fun! The Ritzy also comes in black, but we especially like how the blue rubber outsole of the espresso version matches the blue underside of the twice-dyed leather!

If you’re looking for a more traditional clog, Fiorentini + Baker’s Lamu may just have your name on it:

Ped fans know how I heart all things green, so this clog caught my eye right away, and the flirty star-shaped cutout sealed the deal! (If green isn’t your scene, we also have the Lamu in a rich copper brown.)

Bringing things closer to the ground, Cydwoq also offers a sweet closed-toe slide. Feast your eyes on the Cydwoq East:

It’s a woven-leather wonder that stands on a perfectly placed 1″ sculpted wooden heel. The berry color pictured is absolutely luscious, but the East also comes in a neutral slate that will work with everything in your closet.

Once the mercury starts to climb, though, we want to get strap-happy and give the dogs some air! One of the best wood-soled ways is the classic Cydwoq Rebel:

The Rebel was one of Cydwoq’s original designs! Its wooden sole is perfectly contoured to follow your foot, and all those straps  are a single masterfully cut piece of leather! (Don’t care for the dark graphite color? You can still rock the Rebel in a brown crackle-textured version!)

Of course, for sheer summer simplicity, the lean and clean wooden goodness of the Trippen Zen is the answer:

No words are needed. The Zen is perfection. (By the way, this perfection is also available in an ideal red.)

Aren’t these woods good? And there are even more ways to gain the grain at Ped’s main site! So take a walk in the woods, and embrace your natural style!