Whenever June gets close, we still get that giddy feeling we had when we were kids and counting down the days to summer vacation. (Here’s what’s running through our heads!) Whether your ideal holiday is hanging out in a Montana mountain cabin, shopping on the Champs-Élysées, or lounging on a Balinese beach, one thing is certain: the key to a happy getaway is comfortable shoes, good for walking all day or kicking back with a cocktail! So without further ado, here are a few of Ped’s ideal traveling companions.

One of the most charming styles this season is also one of the most practical: Accessoire’s Suisse!

Airy! Chic! But with added protection for your toes! This sandal easily transitions from day to night when you only want to pack one pair. We like black for travel because it goes with everything, but if you prefer a jolt of color, the Suisse is also available in summery green.

Another great sandal for meandering through bazaars or taking a stroll down the boardwalk is the Cydwoq Cobra.

As Vicky E. told us in her “Tale of the Sole,” Cydwoq sandals are great for ambling around ancient ruins, yet they’re stylish enough for  evening drinks al fresco! We especially like the Cobra because its enclosed heel doesn’t impede the ability to just slip it on and go!

Lots of people prefer an enclosed toe for catching trains, planes, and rickshaws. With Cydwoq’s Rocket, you can have a full shoe and breeziness, too!

We love the tab and tiny window over the toe. Plus the color is so much fun! Other travelers will definitely want to know where you got your fantastic shoes!

A Cydwoq style just made for the life of leisure is the Orient:

Effortlessly chic! And isn’t that what we all want to be on vacation? The Orient’s knit leather is so cool, both literally and figuratively! (It also comes in black, although sizing is limited since that color flew out the Ped warehouse door.)

Trippen is another company whose shoes are designed for walking, walking, and more walking. One of the best travel sandals this season is the Sensual:

You simply have to feel the leather of this great flat to believe how deliciously supple it is! The design holds your foot securely through a long day of sightseeing, but it instantly becomes elegant when you slip on a LBD for a night on the town.

Looking for more of a moc for your days away? Consider Trippen’s Chip:

The asymmetrical design adds flair, and the slits on the toe box add ventilation! Perfect for moseying from here to there and back again on a hot day!

If you like the idea of a full shoe, but you want to stay light on your feet as you travel, then Trippen’s Cream is calling your name!

Ultra soft and ultra comfortable, this simple shoe is constructed on Trippen’s “cups” sole, which will keep you nimble no matter how many miles you log. The pistachio color and double laces will have you smiling the whole way.

There are lots more travel-worthy options over at Ped’s main site! No matter what your destination, a new pair of comfortable shoes or sandals is just the ticket to get your trip off on the right foot!

(Speaking of shoes that feel wonderful, Trippen’s Aloe is this week’s stellar Sweet Treat! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Aloe with the magic code that will bring 20% off at checkout. Get the wedge edge!)

Have you noticed? For the past few years, designers have been showing sandals with socks on the runway. We admit, at first, we thought it was a little weird, but the look has grown on us. The spirit is retro, fun, and funky! However, it all comes down to pairing the right sock with the right sandal.

A great place to start is with Antipast’s picnic of summer socks, which we just unpacked at the Ped warehouse! Whether you wear these Japanese treats with closed-toe shoes or walk the cutting edge by synching them with heeled sandals, Antipast’s socks are guaranteed to bring smiles wherever you go!

An argyle sock defines “classic,” but, of course, Antipast’s Emiko and Junko give it a unique spin, mixing up the colors by adding a contrasting border at the top:

Feeling bold? Why not take the Antipast Cross Diamond Sock in blue in a decidedly un-classic direction by wearing it with the Vialis Arabelle? Dynamite!

Want to wear a flirty skirt with a taller sock? We’re crazy about Antipast’s Monet Knee High!

If you really want to make an impression (sorry, we couldn’t resist), imagine pairing the blue version with Fiorentini + Baker’s Floss slingback peep toe:

Antipast has so much fun playing with whimsical patterns, and this season, one of the juiciest jazzes up the  Citrus Socks:

Combine this sweet sock in black with Accessoire’s Tamba, though, and it takes a turn towards vintage chic:

As every Ped fan knows we have a thing for striped socks! So of course, we’re over the moon for Antipast’s Railroad Over The Knee:

Want to make sure everyone remembers you (and leave people with their jaws on the ground)? Then consider taking the sexy-schoolgirl look to the extreme by pairing the Railroad in red with the Argila Allie.

Like the idea but prefer to scale it back a notch? Go for the Railroad in trouser length.

We realize these looks aren’t for everyone, but if you have the arty verve to put them into action, they’re sure to turn heads! And let’s face it, just thinking about the possibilities makes getting dressed much more fun! There are plenty more Antipast styles to spark your imagination over at the main Ped site! So get psyched about socks!

(By the way, the Sweet treat this week is really, really, really sweet: Fiorentini + Baker’s Emma Boot! Click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Emma with the code that will bring a sugary 20% off at checkout! Mmmmmm, now that’s tasty!)

When I say the word “clog,” what comes to mind? I’ll tell you what I used to envision: comfy but clunky shoes standing in front of the bulk granola at the health food store.

But that was before VIALIS!

Those Spanish geniuses have taken the humble wood-soled clog and transformed it into blue-flame hotness, creating designs more appropriate for the catwalk than the checkout line at the co-op. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) What Vialis hasn’t changed is the comfort; every sandal and shoe offers mile after mile of blissful walking.

Plus, Vialis shoes are beautifully made with an eye to craftsmanship and detail. Check out this video that demonstrates why Vialis is so special:

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Is your curiosity piqued to see Ped’s new Vialis clogs? Get ready to have your socks knocked off (which is just fine because every pair feels fantastic barefoot)!

Let’s get this party started with a style that’s both sunny and sexy, Vialis’ Mimi:

The perfect companion for  your favorite summer dress or clamdiggers, this sandal will make everyone smile! A t-strap always elongates the leg line, but this one’s extra special, thanks to the central raised seam with contrast top-stitching—a little accent with big impact! (We also have the Mimi in versatile black.)

Vialis uses a similar detail to good effect in the Arabelle:

You know how much I adore a green shoe, and this shade makes me swoon! Then again, the Arabelle also sets off fireworks in red! And like every pair of Vialis clogs, a suede-covered padded footbed keeps the wood sole comfy!

If you prefer a closed toe, Vialis has you covered(!) with the Sara:

Mi corazon! This flirt of a shoe will win admirers everywhere you walk! We love the clean design, accented only by the exposed nail heads around the perimeter. Plus the seamed toe creates such an elegant line. (You noir lovers will be happy to hear this knockout also comes in black!)

Looking for something a little more casual but still smokin’? Feast your eyes on the Vialis Claudette:

Low key enough for work but still hot enough for after-five cocktails, the Claudette is an ideal go-to shoe. Wear it to run errands! Wear it to the Riviera! It’s as versatile as they come! (Plus we also have this beauty in azul blue.)

Not high on heels? Don’t worry, Vialis has something for you, too! How cute is the Sophie?

We love the playful take on oxford styling, especially the slightly oversized ribbon lacing! So fun!

If it’s color you’re after (and as I told you last post, it’s the wave of the future), drink in the loveliness of Vialis’ Lulu:

Oo la la, Lulu! Could that azul blue nubuck be any juicer? Only Vialis could spin the classic mary jane into such a dazzling clog!

But what about just a regular clog, you say? Well, yes, Vialis has that, too:

Lean, clean, and devastatingly chic—that’s the Vialis Claris! We adore the sage green nubuck, but this favorite clog also comes in go-with-everything sand.

So, clunk no more in traditional clogs! Step up to Vialis’ wood soles with soul!

(Speaking of wood, have you seen this week’s Sweet Treat, the Argila Allie? Its sculpted wooden heel is truly a thing of beauty—along with the rest of its retro-inspired design! Buckle it up for 20% off when you click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Allie with the magic discount code to enter at checkout.)

We went out with a bang last post by showing you Trippen’s knockout Strahl! A stunner, to be sure, but here’s the thing: ALL of Trippen’s new designs are a-maz-ing! This season those German geniuses have outdone themselves! The designs are eye-opening. The colors are dazzling. The leathers are supple. And, of course, the comfort is beyond compare!

But don’t take our word for it. Have a look for yourself!

One way to brighten any spring day is to buckle up Trippen’s Bora:

We can’t get enough of the magnolia plum color! The Bora is just the thing for tiptoeing through the tulips! (You’ll fit right in!)

Trippen also gives their leathers some extra oomph this season by coloring the edges, as demonstrated by the Army:

How cool are those blue edges? And how urban-edgy is the design? (That second strap from the bottom actually goes all the way around the instep!) This Army makes us want to join right up!

Want a sandal boot that’s even more rock ‘n’ roll? Give it up for the Trippen Agave:

Talk about grrl power! This spectacular boot is simultaneously badass and drop-dead sexy! Nothing’s hotter than a zipper up the back!

One of Trippen’s hallmarks is using the leather structure of their shoes to create visual artistry. Case in point: their new seamed flower toe, seen here on the Poppy:

Ped fans know how I am helpless to resist a green shoe! But if you’re not on team green, then perhaps you’d prefer the Peony in red or the Magnolia in blue-edged mocha—each varies in its heel and sole design, but fun flowers bloom on all their toes!

Speaking of toes with interesting details, check out Trippen’s Tetra:

Crafted in our fave black-ice leather, this flat is such a head turner! The laser-cut lines of dashes on the toe are like negative-space stitching and have the added benefit of giving your toes a breath of fresh air!

One of the juiciest new leather colors is red berry, which looks fresh and luscious on a favorite style from last summer, the Good:

YUM! The sliced leather and seaming are so innovative! The icing on this berry cake? Trippen’s t-shaped rubber wedge sole, which wins raves for comfort!

If you’re looking for a shoe to go with everything, you can still have Trippen’s wedge sweetness—just lace up the Sinus in versatile stone grey:

Wear this snub-nosed beauty to an art opening, and we guarantee the art won’t be the only thing being admired!

Even a simple sandal becomes something to write home about when given the Trippen treatment! Say hello the the stellar Careless:

Perhaps the best traveling shoe ever, this easy flat will keep your feet comfortable through a day of sightseeing and then be ready to dress up for dinner and dancing! The soft steel leather is a wonder to behold—and wear!

These beauties are only a few of the Trippen treats that await you at Ped’s main site! You don’t need a car to experience German ingenuity and engineering—simply slip on a pair of Trippen shoes and traipse out the door!

Fashion history is a treasure trove! Forward-thinking designers regularly sift through the past to recover earlier trends to reinterpret with a modern edge.

This season some of the best new shoes have their roots in the righteous ’70s, when women’s fashion took a turn for the bold! The precarious stilettos and tight-waisted “Suzy homemaker” dresses of the 1950s and early ’60s stepped aside for chunky heels worn out and about with minis, midis, and pantsuits! Refreshing then! Refreshing now!

Behold a few of the new designs that celebrate the sexy confidence of 1970s’ style!

One of the sunniest interpretations of the spirit of the ’70s is Argila’s Allie!

We are wild about the combination of the buckled and tasseled front (so vintage!) with the hand-cut and sanded wooden heel! And the color? You just have to smile!

Of course, Chie Mihara is the reigning queen of retro-licious beauty! Check out the  ’70s sensibility  of this season’s Xeroco:

The buckles add just the right punctuation to the broad straps! The sexiness is no-nonsense and take-no-prisoners! Devastating in the best kind of way!

Another great Chie ode to the 1970s is the Rumi (a perennial Ped favorite):

Ped’s Laura swears her fashion-forward mother had a pair of identical shoes back in the 1970s! Beautiful as they may have been, Laura’s mom’s couldn’t hold a candle to the Rumi because the modern version features Chie Mihara’s signature padded footbed, the ultimate in comfort! (Ask anyone)!

Coclico also riffs on the leather patchwork so popular in the ’70s in its Valencia:

What a looker! Absolutely distinctive yet ultra-versatile. Note the subtle curve of the chunky wooden heel—Coclico is always attentive to the details!

Coclico’se retro-sassy Vidal also features this gorgeous heel:

Talk about a statement shoe! The way the back strap and hardware twins the strap and hardware over the instep is ingenious!

Coclico also takes a tip from the 70s in its cork platform designs, like the Melania:

Light and comfortable, this beauty updates the vintage look of a platform wedge by creating it in the most modern of colors: flint grey!

Another stunning cork-soled number is Fiorentini + Baker’s swinging Ding Clog:

So fun, this fringed clog is crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail as F+B’s famous boots! The Ding was love at first sight for Ped’s Laura—she immediately bought it and has been wearing it nonstop! (She loves the terra cotta color of the Indian Red, but we also have the Ding in black, if that’s more your thing.)

Speaking of clogs, Trippen’s Strahl exemplifies what can happen when a designer takes retro inspiration and runs with it:

The Strahl‘s spark lies in the 1970s, but this work of art’s fireworks are thoroughly modern! We adore how the teal edges of the black leather are echoed in the patina of the rivets and the rubber on the outsole.

So, get in the mood by listening to James Brown’s 1972 hit, and then literally “Get on the Good Foot!” Your style will be far out! Dig it!

(Psst, another groovy design, though not ’70s inspired, is Fiorentini + Baker’s Pia boot, which is this week’s Sweet Treat. Make its gorgeousness yours for 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Pia, with the magic discount code to enter at checkout! What a great way to step into spring!)