It’s no secret that at Ped we are big fans of wearing boots year-round. I’ve mentioned before how much I love the look of a breezy summer dress paired with boots. The only drawback is on days that are scorchers, your tootsies may feel, how shall we say, a smidge claustrophobic.

So, you can imagine how much I smiled when I discovered a number of our favorite designers created sandal-boot hybrids this season! What a great idea! The edgy look of a boot with the breathability of a sandal—what could be cooler, in every sense of the word? Below are just a few of the many variations.

No sooner did the Trippen Stream arrive in the warehouse, than it flew out the door! Fear not, though, because we just received our second shipment!

When you step out the door in this German head-turner, you are guaranteed to be the hippest thing on the street! Even better, you’ll be über-comfortable because the Stream features Trippen’s famous t-shaped wedge!

But if you prefer a flat with a closed toe, Trippen’s Omen may just have your name on it:

The style is cutting-edge, but the easy-to-wear grey color let’s you pair it with almost anything. For instance, how terrific would these look with a floaty, yellow cotton dress?

If you want to get even funkier, check out Argila’s Elizabetta:

Ped fans have snapped up this sexy-tough-grrl style, but we have more on the way from Spain, so let us know if you’d like to be on the list!

You say you’d like something that’s a little more sandal and a little less boot?  See what you think of Argila’s Jolene:

The airy leatherwork is amazingly intricate on this lace-up ankle “boot.” Also, the olive green color reminds me of Italian gardens. Gorgeous!

Perhaps the award for Most Balanced Blending of Ankle Boot and Sandal, though, goes to Giraudon’s Riley:

Oh my, this wooden-soled sandal (it’s really a sandal-boot-clog) is something else! The gold lining, the ankle lacing, the tiny square cutouts—there’s so much to love about this beauty! When you slip on the Riley, everyone’s going to want your shoes!

And  there are even more sandal-boots to consider at the Ped site. What a great way to amp up your style and flash a little summer skin!

Speaking of summer skin, have you checked out Ped’s “Sweet Treat” this week? It’s Fiorentini + Baker’s fabulous Tessa Sandal!

Not a sandal boot exactly, but a buckle-tastic, open-air cousin of F+B’s Eternity Boot! (It also comes in black.)

Unfamiliar with Ped’s “Sweet Treat”? Here’s how it works: Just click “be sweet to your feet” up there in the upper right corner of this page (or any Ped page), and you’re instantly transported to the treat of the week, where a magic code entered on the last page of checkout gives you 20% off! Just like that! Fun, eh?

The “Sweet Treat” changes every week. You never know when your favorite thing—you know the one you’ve had your eye on?—may suddenly be 20% off! So, be sure to click “be sweet to your feet” on every Ped visit to see what treat awaits.

We Ped-sters tend to resist trends, but I admit we’ve fallen hard for the latest “in”: platform sandals! Wedges and sky-high heels have dominated the runway for several years, but now they’ve received a jolt of retro power via the addition of platforms á la the 1970s (and before that, the 1940s). This vintage kick has more going for it than just being cute; it makes adding a few inches of height oh so comfortable. With a 1.5″ platform up front, a 4″ heel suddenly becomes a cinch to wear because the pitch is only 2.5″. No pain, all gain!

We went a little crazy with the platforms this season, but we think you’ll agree each one is something special. Here are just a few to whet your appetite for height.

There’s no better way to welcome warm weather than with a big pop of color! So, say, “Good day!” to Chie Mihara’s Hito:

You’ll be walking sunshine in this curry suede number! Make that tall walking sunshine because the wedge is a sassy 4″—but figure in the 1.25″ platform, and the pitch is an easily manageable 2.75″. You’ll have your head in the clouds from all the compliments swirling around you!

Another platform that seems like summer incarnate is Cordani’s Erin:

Who doesn’t love an espadrille? The combination of the braided raffia on the platform and the pistachio green suede is so fresh!

These shoes may look substantial, but all of them are light on your feet. Case in point,  Coclico’s cork-soled Metalmark:

We love the modern, urban edge the straps and rivets bring to this sole that’s reminiscent of disco days.

Speaking of 1970s vibes updated for the 21st century, check out Chie Mihara’s Riana:

The laser-cut circles that form the straps on this chunky-heeled platform really come to life once this beauty is on your foot. The 3″ heel—which would be fine even without the platform—is super easy with the 1″ lift up front.

But if you’re a little more ambitious about enhancing your height and setting fire to the streets, then look no further than Chie’s Voy:

Ay, caramaba! This knockout is so hot it just might give the sidewalk blisters (but never your tootsies)! You’ll be a modern-day disco inferno walking on the Voy’s 4.5″ heel, but the 1.25″ platform in front will keep your stride cool and confident.

Head over to Ped’s main site for even more ways to stand tall while staying comfortable. We’re sure you’ll find a platform to believe in!

Spring has arrived in Ped-land, and although we love how the leaves are leafing and the buds are budding, the daily variations in the mercury make getting dressed a challenge. The forecast may call for a warm afternoon, but, brrr, that first step out the door in the morning can be brisk. Which is why at this time of year, a scarf is our constant companion! Not only does it keep us cozy, but it also spices up outfits with a little extra zing. Once the temperature rises, we can either loosen it or take it off and tie it around our handbag’s strap (that way, we keep the zest).

Luckily, Ped has new scarves from both Mia Zia and Sophie Digard, ideal for navigating the transitional season. Here are just a few of our favorites:

We are wild about dots here at Ped, so Mia Zia’s Dotti Scarf is high on our list! It’s such an instant pick-me-up. Loomed from ultra-soft cotton, it feels so good against your skin.

You say you’d like a little texture  with your dots, thank you? Then say hello to Sophie Digard’s Gumdrop Scarf! Ms. Digard, our favorite Parisian textile artist, wows with this playful design that charms with multicolored velvet hemispheres hand-sewn to the prettiest colored linen (it also comes in grass green).

Speaking of green, the Mia Zia Willow Scarf received an invitation to join the Ped family the instant we saw it:

Doesn’t the color make you think of sunny days in the garden? Mia Zia’s woven fabrics are so exquisite that they have to be touched and seen in person to be fully appreciated! And if green isn’t your scene, the Willow also comes in go-with-everything grey.

Another grey beauty is Sophie Digard’s Bauble Scarf, created in linen for warm-weather wear:

Every tiny sphere adorning this crocheted masterpiece is a world unto itself—no two baubles are the same. Truly, Sophie’s creations are labor-intensive works of art!

Plus, we admire how she’s always changing things up and venturing in new directions! One of the most innovative scarves this season is Sophie’s Serendipity Scarf:

This striped wonder incorporates an organic-shaped curve in its design that makes it especially easy to twine around your neck or drape across your shoulders. And the colors? They make us daydream about beach cabanas under a Mediterranean sun by an azure sea.

Of course, if you long for a classic Sophie Digard scarf that expresses her unique approach to crochet-work and color, the linen Maccaron will make you smile:

In a word, tasty!

More wonderful scarves await at the Ped site! Settling on one may be hard, but, luckily, there’s absolutely no way to go wrong. So, wrap up and rock out!

Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister … (Sing it!) Okay, we admit we’re feeling a little slap-happy here at Ped. Chalk it up to spring fever and the fact that we’re dizzy from all the beautiful things arriving in the warehouse!

No sooner did I get back from Paris than Paris came to me in the form of Accessoire, yet another line I first discovered during Ped’s days as a brick-and-mortar store in Seattle. Designer Avril Gau began her career with Robert Clergerie and then spent seven years overseeing the shoe collections at Chanel. That’s quite a pedigree! These days she designs for Accessoire, creating sophisticated yet comfortable shoes that meet the demands of modern women. Accessoire styles wow with an unmistakable French flair; the shoes are never over-designed yet they command attention and admiration—effortlessly chic! But why take my word for it when you can see for yourself?

Platform wedges are all the rage this season, but Accessoire gives its Izard a distinctive French twist by replacing the buckle with a soft tie. The caramel brown color of the suede is Luscious with a capital “L”!

Ped fans know how much I love green, so you can imagine how my heart raced when I saw Accessoire’s amazing, metallic, cactus-green Iseult! Iridescent and interesting without being over-the-top, these buttery soft sandals are to. die. for.

Sure, jewel-embellished sandals have been “in” for a few years, but unlike the gaudy ones flooding the market, Accessoire’s Julien is sparkly but still tasteful. It’s got just the right amount of bling to be fun without being obnoxious. And the grey color is ultra-versatile!

Oo-la-la—I saved Laura’s favorite, the Island, for last! She’s been walking around in a dreamy daze ever since these came out of the box. I can’t blame her because this platform wedge is something special with its aura of old-school glamour. The color of the suede is so juicy, and the rosette is the perfect detail! Parisian style to the max!

So slip on a pair of Accessoire beauties, and let your feet speak with an unmistakable French accent!

Sure, at Ped we spend most of our time thinking about cool shoes and accessories, but the truth is we simply appreciate beautiful things! Especially beautiful things that are GREEN! And that’s how we fell in love with Flora Grubb (no relation, but I do like her name) and her wondrous garden shop! Flora Grubb  Gardens, along with local favorite, Flowerland in Albany, are responsible for the beautiful environment that surrounds Ped Central. When we step outside for a break, it’s such a treat to relax amid their gorgeous plants, which Mika of Mika Matsui Gardens has arranged into a wonderful landscape. Here are just a few things from the Flora Grubb website to show you what we mean:

Isn’t this “vertical garden” created with succulents fantastic? Art that’s green and growing!

We love Flora’s imaginative approach to creating a bouquet of a dozen roses!

Flora simply knocks our socks off with the drama of her plants and their artistic presentation. We feel so lucky she’s right here in San Francisco, but she does ship all over (although she cautions that the Xerographica, pictured above, won’t survive a trip to a very cold state).

Flowerland doesn’t have an official site, but here’s a pic of the shop, which we’ve snagged from Yelp (check out the rave reviews):

Thank you, Flora Grubb, Flowerland, and Mika Matsui, for making Ped such a beautiful place to be!