Hey Ped:

It’s been a while since I set off on my “Adventures with Harriet,” but since she’s been browsing through your new Trippen styles and catching up on the blog, I thought I’d tell you about a near disaster that happened to me over a year ago.

In the fall of 2007, I found myself on Harriet’s feet A LOT! (That woman wears me everywhere.) But one night she laced me up to install a piece she made for an outdoor art exhibition called “Let There Be Light” that celebrated the Winter Solstice (sorry, she didn’t take any pics of her piece). Of course, she wanted to wander around to see the other artists’ work. Well, one piece by Bree and Geoff Luck involved ice candles, which they invited visitors to place along a path.

Constellation - Bree and Geoff Luck (Photograph by Rosita Gonzalez)

Harriet decided to take her candle a little ways off the beaten trail, not realizing that a small ravine was waiting in the dark. Suddenly, we were stumbling and falling with FIRE about to slip out of her hands! Yikes! Harriet was trippin’ in her Trippen! Fortunately, I’m pretty reliable, so I got us stopped—no burns on the skin, no flames in the brush! Whew. But I did come out of it with a few permanent scars that show how I suffer for Harriet’s love of art. Here I am chilling at home, fully recovered:

But let’s take a closer look at my left side:

Harriet says she thinks it makes me look more interesting (something about “rugged beauty”). I’m just glad she gave me a break in 2008 and wore her worn-out hiking boots for her recent installation in the woods. Her photographer friend, Stacey Evans, took an image of her piece, “The Waiting Room”:

The Waiting Room — Harriet Arthur (Photograph by Stacey Evans)

Hope the hiking boots had fun dragging chairs through the trees! Me, I was glad to sit this one out at home.

Say hey to all the shoes for me,

Harriet’s Liebchens, Charlottesville, VA

We were wowed last month by Michelle Obama’s unfaltering style and grace throughout the long day of inaugural festivities. The fact that she was on her feet in heels for hours got us thinking about her tired tootsies and what kind of shoes might make her White House life a lot more comfortable! In our first set of proposals, we nominated several Cydwoq Vintage styles as winning candidates for Ms. O’s (and your) wardrobe. Now, we’re back with Round 2, this time turning to Chie Mihara, with a dash of Coclico and Trippen(!), as possibilities for keeping the First Lady well-heeled.

First up, the Chie Mihara Frieda:

With spring just around the corner, this sling-back could well be Ms. Obama’s perfect shoe. Its palette is dignified enough for welcoming heads of state, and yet its design has uncommon zing, thanks to the faux ostrich leather and the way Chie has overlapped the leather petals. The heel is not too high–but even if it were taller, those who’ve worn Chie Mihara know that her shoes achieve the nigh impossible: heels that are comfortable enough to stand in all day.

Next up, the Chie Mihara Enko:

We know Michelle O. is not afraid of spicing up her outfits with color, and since we think she looks especially great in green, why not the Enko?  This t-strap is so fresh and sophisticated—a lot like the First Lady herself. Again, the heel is perfectly manageable for touring facilities or walking to and from Air Force 1.

Another fabulous walk-all-day shoe ideal for springtime in D.C. is Trippen’s new 40s.

Standing on Trippen’s deliciously comfortable x-shaped wedge, the 40s’ interwoven design is simple yet ingenious. And the cobalt blue color is luscious. With its riveted ankle strap, this peep-toe offers a bit of European flair, which would win Ms. Obama style points when she meets French President Nicolas Sarkowzy or German Chancellor Andrea Merkel.

Since we’ve heard the President likes to keep his Friday nights free for “date night” with his wife, we think Coclico’s Chiba would be an ideal choice for Ms. O. when out on the town with Mr. O:

I ask you, have you ever seen a prettier sandal? It’s absolutely perfect for an evening stroll along the canal beneath the cherry blossoms (which we’re sure the Obamas will do since it’s the best part of spring in the Capital).

Finally, for those kick-back weekends at Camp David, Michelle Obama can’t go wrong with Chie Mihara’s Moisson:

The First Lady is famous for her love of J. Crew separates, and we think this lace-up flat would look fab with her casual wear. After all, a sandal that’s cute and comfortable always gets everybody’s vote!

Hey, Ped fans, do you use Twitter? Well, now Ped does, too! So, if you want to be the first to know when we receive new styles or put something particularly wonderful on sale, follow us at http://twitter.com/PedShoes. 

Speaking of wonderful, last week we opened a box from Spain and found one of our all-time favorite Chie Mihara styles: the Jane!

Ay caramba, this beauty is so many good things all at once—retro, glam, practical, sexy, and demure. Not to mention comfortable. (And, needless to say, we love a red shoe!)

It also got us thinking about all the variations on the classic Mary Jane that Ped carries, each with its own personality and charm. So, meet a few of the girls:

The Trippen Tidy from Germany walks around town with an edgy and sophisticated European flair.

Cushioned by a cross-shaped wedge, she’s equally comfortable being all-business or going casual. This Mary Jane speaks in an unforgettable accent that we at Ped HQ could listen to all day.

Then there’s her sweet Portuguese cousin from Giraudon:

The lacing on the cross-strap is what makes this shoe so charming. And the Giraudon Mary Jane is the best companion when you need to run a gajillion errands. She’s also fun to hang out with over Sunday brunch at a cafe. 

Meanwhile, Cydwoq’s Carry is a Mary Jane with the heart of an artist:

The way the positive space of the leather appliqué on the toe echoes the negative space of the cutout formed by the strap is a treat for the eyes! Lovingly designed and handcrafted in California, this gal is a head-turner but so relaxed about it all! The Carry’s beauty, just like the other Mary Janes’, is more than just superficial—her construction and sole make her beautiful inside and out.

Finally, we love a Mary Jane with a flair for color, like the Chie Mihara Bas:

That’s some serious sass! But this stunner is surprisingly versatile and adds ‘zazz to almost any dressy outfit on any occasion.

Mary Jane, you truly are every woman’s best friend!

As Ped dances, skips, and runs into 2009, I’m making a solemn resolution—right here on the Web (so no backing out)—to blog much more often!!! I know the posts have been pretty sporadic up to this point, but my plan is to entertain you Ped heads with news and stories at least twice a week. So, definitely, stay tuned. Also, tell us what adventures you’ve had in your Ped shoes, and we’ll include you in “Tales of the Sole.” Pictures of you sporting your Ped purchases are always welcome! We love finding out what happens to Ped things once they’re out having fun in the world.

Looking ahead to 2009, the new year is shaping up beautifully at Ped! I’m especially excited about all the new Trippen and Giraudon styles we have coming in, plus Sophie Digard is crocheting away to make us lots of lovely things for spring. There’s a new bag line in the works, too, so head’s up (I don’t want to say more just yet). Plus, I’m jetting off to France and Italy again to scout for more goodies to make you smile.

In the more immediate future, Terry and I are heading back to our old stomping grounds in Seattle (birthplace of Ped) to celebrate New Year’s. We love Berkeley, but we miss our old friends and haunts. One place we’re definitely going is Tavolata, which makes me hungry just thinking about it. Next time you’re in Seattle, you must must go there! The restaurant serves clean, fresh Italian food, including homemade pasta, in the most beautiful space. See for yourself:

Terry is really looking forward to the grilled octopus salad, which he highly recommends! 

Here’s hoping your New Year’s celebration will be equally wonderful! Get ready for more Ped when we return fat and happy to Berkeley!

Yes, it’s been toooooo long since I’ve posted a bit of Ped goodness here. But now that spring is springing, I feel fresh and ready to gambol about in the warm weather–in new shoes, of course! Here at Ped, we LOVE everything green. So, behold three of our favorite ways to show off the color that comes with spring.

First up, Chie Mihara’s seriously juicy Vespa. I ask you, could this shoe be any more glamorous? Besides the gorgeous color, I particularly love the slight curve to the heel.

But maybe you just want a run-around-town sandal that can take you from the dog park to the farmer’s market to the hammock on your porch for a little siesta. In that case, Cydwoq’s Fence is your perfect companion. I know we say it in every description, but the great thing about Cydwoq is every shoe molds to your foot and truly gets better the more you wear it.

Finally, if you’re feeling extra sassy (and you should be–why not? It’s spring already!), then Trippen has just the shoe to match your mood: the Donna. Ankle straps are going to be big this spring and summer, and Trippen gives them quite the European twist!

Step out in any of these shoes, and people are going to ooh and aah over your footwear. And a few might just be “green” with envy (quit groaning–spring makes me punchy!).