Ped fans, it’s been a while since we’ve posted a Tale of the Sole, and since summer makes us long for a vacation, it’s the perfect time to tell the following tale. Let’s join Ped fan Anna for a vicarious jaunt to London. Here’s her report about her Ped-happy trip:

This fall I travelled to London. Black Trippen Casanovas were the perfect choice for spending hours on a plane and at the airport, as well as for extensive walking on stone-paved streets. I felt stylish yet comfortable even when I was on my feet all day.

Wearing her Casanovas, Anna takes in the ornamental monkeys at the Tower of London. (Luckily, wire-mesh primates can’t get their paws on her Flap Bag!)

The Casanovas are a great shoe since they can be easily slipped on and off.  They are casual enough to be worn all day but can also be dressed up in the evening.

Anna’s Casanovas go for a whirl and take in the view on the London Eye.

I carried all of my essentials in my black Cydwoq flap bag, which was roomy enough to also store small souvenir purchases, maps, and, of course, snacks.  The leather and style of both the shoes and bag go with just about anything in my wardrobe!

London calling! Anna looks cracking in her Trippen and Cydwoq!

I received compliments from several women who teach fashion design in the University Arts London. They immediately recognized my Trippens and wanted to know where I got them (and, of course, I shared with them my source!)  Thank you, Ped, for keeping my travels fun and stylin’!

THANK YOU, Anna, for spreading the Ped love across the pond and making us smile!

As a token of gratitude for sharing her travel tale, Ped is delighted to give Anna a $100 gift certificate!

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!

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again (and again): We love a beautiful wedge! Let us count the ways: 1) they give our height a boost; 2) they provide solid support; and 3) they’re easy to wear (no balancing act required)!

Now with the retro rage for all things 1970s, the wedge has gotten even better by extending into a full platform under the forefoot and toe. The lift up front offsets the inches in back, so you get all of the height without the steep pitch! High style + high comfort = A tall drink of happiness!

Here are just a few ways to step up this summer:

As we mentioned, most of the platform wedges rock the retro look, but Accessoire’s knockout Babeth exudes less 1970s glam and more 1940s Hollywood glamor:

The navy suede is positively luminous, and the tie at the ankle makes this sandal super chic! Can’t you just imagine a pinup queen like Betty Grable breaking hearts in this beauty? (In fact, check out the sandals in this photo of 1940s movie star Yvonne De Carlo!)

What would happen if a designer took the best of  the 1940s and mixed it with the boldness of the 1970s? Coclico has the answer: the Mori!

The design of the suede upper flirts with the ’40s, while the chunky yet lightweight cork platform echos the ’70s, all in one sweet modern package! We love the versatility of the taupe suede version pictured, but the Moris comes in a lustrous cobalt blue, too!

Coclico also uses this comfortable cork sole for the equally wonderful Melania:

The wedge platform slopes from 2.75″ at the heel to 1.5″ under the toe, making the pitch an easy-peasy 1.25″. If you’re looking for something a little brighter than this rich hazelnut version, consider the Melania in sunny dandelion!

Vialis adopts the same heel:toe ratio as Coclico for its two cork-soled lovelies. First up, the Vialis Jacinta:

How cool is this sandal? We can’t get enough of how the heel strap curves up from the inside arch and then laces diagonally through the two bands over the foot! Plus, the asphalt grey suede pairs easily with most any outfit.

The Vialis Francyn is also worth writing home about:

Several designers are extending the uppers down onto the soles this season, but Vialis goes one better by taking the suede down and around the back! (Not to mention the woven work on the toe band is magnificent!)

Wood also makes a wonderful wedge platform, as demonstrated by the Trippen Strahl:

So much to love here! From the twice-dyed leather to the rubber on the outsole that echoes the underside of the leather to the radiating strap design to the smooth sanded wood, the Strahl is a height-enhancing treat!

But perhaps our favorite platform wedge this season comes from those Italian shoe maestros at Fiorentini + Baker. Feast your eyes on the stunning Dany:

Now this is how to rock the ’70s retro look! The bold suede t-strap with its stud-a-licious good looks is guaranteed to make you the center of attention! The dark grey “asfalto” version pictured is both unique and versatile, but we also have the Dany in a winner-takes-all mattone red!

So many great ways to wedge your way into summer. Get high on shoes! Power to the platform, right on!

(By the way, don’t miss this week’s fantastic Sweet Treat: Fiorentini + Baker’s Nicky ankle boot! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to be whisked to the Nicky, where you’ll find the magic code that takes 20% off at checkout.)

It’s that time, Ped fans—our Spring Special is GO! Take 20% off any and all full-price goods by entering code “SPRING ZING” at checkout! The code expires at midnight PST on Friday, May 17, so you have four days to collect some spring treasure! On your marks, get set, shop! Most of all, have fun!

Clockwise from the top: Chie Mahara Sandia, Cydwoq Link, Accessoire Bonheur, Argila Delilah, Fiorentini + Baker Pilly, Chie Mihara Obara, Trippen Todi, Cliff Dweller Runner, Fiorentini + Baker Dina, Cydwoq Elect, Fiorentini + Baker Eliza Oxford, Vialis Zarita, Accessoire Bahia, and Cliff Dweller Mary.

It’s the dead of winter. Holiday parties are long past. It’s weeks before the first crocuses sprout. And daylight is still in short supply.

Time for a little pick-me-up, wouldn’t you say?

Well, that’s just what we at Ped Central have in mind! Welcome to the Ped Winter Sale, where those shoes you’ve been drooling over for months suddenly have a nicer price! Here’s just a taste of the sweet deals we hope will brighten your smile on even the greyest day!

First up, one of our favorite ankle boots this season: Argila’s oxford-inspired Lauren!

Argila serves up a lot to love, from the perforations on the toe to the leather’s pinked edges to the sculpted wooden wedge! Drool-worthy at $418, it’s even more delicious at $209!

Another wonderful suede style, unlike anything else on the street, is Accessoire’s Euro-chic Ulrich:

Here at Ped HQ, we just can’t get enough of that luscious cassis color! Plus, the tie in back is so distinctive! Fabulous at $358, the Ulrich is off the charts at $179!

As long as we’re on the topic of gorgeous suede shoes, take a gander at the Chie Mihara Pasion:

We heart this heart-embellished t-strap! Because it’s from Chie Mihara, you know it will baby your soles with comfort! Lovable at $358, it’s simply irresistible at $179! (Anybody else suddenly have Robert Palmer singing in their heads?)

At least six more weeks of winter awaits (we’re making the prediction ahead of Punxsutawney Phil), so every Ped fan could use a great new pair of boots! Our suggestion? The Cydwoq’s Bend!

Crafted from Cydwoq’s a-maz-ing double-dyed leather, we love the way the red underside of the black outer reveals itself in the top flaps and along the seam that runs down the front and snakes over the toe! Sizzling at $458, the Bend is burning down the house at $229!

Maybe a saucy little ankle boot is more up your alley? If so, one of the best this season is Cydwoq’s Artisan:

The mod look of this heeled bootie is smashing! We’re wild about the ultra-cool and subtle plaid pattern of the textured leather beneath the brown leather overlay! And you can’t beat a zipper up the back for sexiness! A looker at $368, it’s a head-turner at $184!

If you’re looking for a bootie that’s less femme and more rock ‘n’ roll, consider the Trippen Brace:

The steel leather is fantastic, and the industrial embossing of the cut straps around the ankle is cooler than cool! (In fact, it’s ice cold, a la OutKast’s “Hey Ya!”.) Rocking at $318, it blows the roof off at $159! (Shake it like a Polaroid picture!)

Finally, we know many Ped fans wait with bated breath for us to put anything Fiorentini + Baker on sale! Well, rejoice because the “Bordeaux Wine” and “Blue Moon” versions of F+B’s Emmy Boot temporarily have a sliced price that’s oh-so nice (act fast because only a few sizes remain)!

Fantastic Italian construction is always in style! Boots to love for a lifetime! Worth every penny at $518, they’re the bargain of the century at $399!

As always, these are just a taste of the delicious deals awaiting you in Ped’s sale section! What a way to give your puppies a little extra woof during these icy three-dog nights!

(One more special to tempt you: the Sweet Treat this week is Cydwoq’s stupendous Regiment Boot, which is much more interesting than the rank-and-file boots out there! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to be whisked to the Regiment with the magic code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)

We hope all Ped fans in the U.S. enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving last week, and our Canadian friends, last month! We at Ped are truly grateful you’re out there!

Since our fridges are now stocked with turkey leftovers (the pumpkin pie is already devoured), it can only signal one thing: the holiday parties have started! Which means we all face the annual dilemma of what to wear to sparkle and shine? Ped is here to help with shoes that will have you looking stellar and feeling like a million bucks through hours of cocktail-fueled mingling! Just add your favorite LBD, and you’re all set to dazzle!

When you want to amp up your feminine charms, Chie Mihara is always your best friend. One of the prettiest party-ready shoes this season is her Insomnia:

So romantic, the lovely application of rhinestones calls to mind the gorgeous beaded dresses worn by flappers in Paris in the 1920s! And the 2.5″ heel will keep your dogs from howling even if the celebration lasts until sunrise!

The truly amazing thing about Chie’s designs is that no matter how high the heel, they remain comfortable! Case in point, the fun and flashy Uja:

Sure, the heel is a statuesque 3.75″, but both the 1″ platform up front and Chie’s anatomically designed footbed make the Uja a breeze to wear! With its retro styling and red faux-croc embossed leather, this shoe is a party all on its own—what a way to sass up a cocktail dress!

Feel like going arty to the party? Consider letting your funky light shine in the Trippen Leaf:

Glittery, bold, and sexy, this decidedly Euro-chic wedge will have all eyes on you wherever you go! And wherever you go, you’ll be comfortable, thanks to Trippen’s t-shaped rubber wedge sole.

Speaking of attention magnets, check out Cydwoq’s new Science:

The buckles take this strappy shoe from Cydwoq to a whole new level! Gorgeous and incredibly sexy—the heat of the Science may cause you to be declared a fire hazard! (Worth it!)

Looking for something in a bootie to spice up the festivities? How about setting off some sparks with the Cydwoq Seek?

The antiqued wine-colored leather has a lovely sheen and black undertones that look luscious with evening wear! Plus, the zipper up the back is so saucy!

Another Cydwoq ankle boot that’s ideal for tripping the light fantastic is the elegant Elevate:

Talk about a femme fatale—Cydwoq’s fluid combination of patterned and matte leathers is sure to generate a lot of oohs and aahs as you mix and mingle!

Ready to go all in for all-out glam and romance this holiday season? Then step out in the Cydwoq Rescue boot:

Cydwoq takes its spectacular burnt-out paisley pony leather, used so effectively in the Elevate, to even greater lengths in this knockout. The Rescue  is sexiness x 2 with its lace-up front and zip-up back! (Once you get the lacing the way you like it, you need only use the zipper to get in and out of this beauty.)

If your social calendar calls for something else, there are even more head-turning styles to help you kick up your heels over at Ped’s main site! Here’s to dressing up and enjoying the Holidays in high (heeled) spirits!

(This week’s Sweet Treat would also make a funky addition to any party: the rockin’ cool Trippen Wicked Put on your red boots and dance for 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” on any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Wicked with the code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)