Ped fans, we know how it is. You fall in love with a pair of rockin’ shoes, sandals, or boots, but then you resist their siren call because you can’t envision what you’d wear them with—and who wants to spend money on something that’s lovely yet languishes in the closet?

Don’t despair, we’re here to help! Below, you’ll find ideas for how to wear several of our bolder designs this season. With luck, these outfits will jump-start your own creativity, and before you know it your imagination will be off and running with ways your sole desire would work with your wardrobe.

Not surprisingly, one of the most whimsical styles this season comes from Chie Mihara! Her Ingra is the essence of  “summer,” but its color palette may seem challenging at first glance. It’s actually more adaptable than you might think. Here’s one way we’d love to wear it:

This easy-going dress from Cotélac falls just above the knee, with a hint of a drop waist and a dash of 1920s pizazz, which works perfectly with the Ingra’s oxford sensibility. We’ve added Sophie Digard’s Etoiles necklace for added flapper-esque flair. Nothing here matches per se, but it all “goes” in a wonderful way! Sunday brunch, anyone?

Another Chie Mihara shoe that we adore is the Obara, with its mix of textures and colors. Don’t underestimate its versatility:

The lovely Accessoire Babeth is perfect for a night on the town, but it plays equally well as a casual day shoe:

We love the look of a wedge platform with cropped trousers—it’s the ideal antidote to frumpiness! We’re also all for mixing patterns! Combining Epice’s striped Montauk Scarf with the abstract floral of the Cotélac top creates a visual party that will have people smiling everywhere you go.

As every Ped fan knows, we advocate boots all year long, but we realize some people think boots and sundresses look a bit jeune. But they don’t have to, as illustrated by this use of Fiorentini + Baker’s Nicky Boot:

This is how to go retro-mod while still looking sexy and modern! The clean and bold lines of Cydwoq’s Bright Bag work beautifully with the dress and booties—three easy pieces for day-tripping in the city of your choice!

If your penchant for vintage runs to an earlier era, check out this idea for showing off the Vialis Zarita:

Red will always turn heads, especially when you look like a 1940s Hollywood starlet! (By the way, read this study of just how persuasive wearing red can be.) Just for fun, we’ve pushed the red envelope with Jamie Joseph’s knockout Round Carnelian Ring!

See? When you open your mind to the possibilities, every pair of Ped shoes becomes infinitely wearable! (Otherwise, we wouldn’t carry it.) The whole idea is to have fun with what you wear! Go forth and be bold with your soles!

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!)

Well, we took a little hiatus from our exploration of the spectrum, but we’re diving back into color today! You probably won’t be surprised to learn I saved my favorite color for last: GREEN! Ped fans know how much I adore all things verdant, and this season I’m in heaven—so many shades of green, all lovely! Let’s take a tour, shall we?

Since ankle boots are de rigueur these days, let’s start with Trippen’s splendid Pillow:

The forest green color of the vegetable-tanned and washed leather is so refreshing—you can practically smell pine needles when you look at it! Artsy without being over-the-top, the Pillow is definitely a German treat for your feet!

Another great Trippen low boot, the Fountain, shows off our favorite leather trend: colorful exposed seams!

Something about this lace-up boot makes us thing of grasshoppers—maybe it’s the deep green body complemented by the light green laces and exposed seams? Whatever the reason, the Fountain makes us smile! And its comfort is sure to make you smile, too! (Want the Fountain in blue? Your wish is granted!)

Taking things down to shoe level, green adds zing to several kick-around flats, like the Cydwoq Downhill:

If you’re looking for a shoe to walk from here to there and back again, season after season, put the Downhill at the top of your list! The roomy toe box and excellent arch support make it a friend you’ll want to wear every day! And the more you wear it, the better it gets!

Another fantastic shoe to leave by the door (since it’s the one you’ll lace up day in and day out) is Cydwoq’s Mud Doctor:

The combo of the natural leather laces with the delectable sage green leather is yummy in every way! Cydwoq’s Mud Doctor is just what the doctor ordered! (FYI, we also offer this foot tonic in chocolate brown.)

Trippen takes the lace-up shoe and gives it a twist, putting the lacing in back! We love it! The Trippen Oven is cooking with style gas:

Not only is the Oven delightful to look at, it’s also delightful to wear, thanks to Trippen’s ultra-lightweight “Penna” rubber sole. Tie up the back of this organic green cutie, and dart around town like a forest sprite!

Maybe you’re thinking, “Fine, fine, all green and beautiful, yes, but give me something girly!” Chie Mihara knows just what you want! Drink in the loveliness of the Ilaria:

Feminine and fun without being prissy, the Ilaria is a vision in green suede! We especially like the way the taupe twill ribbon at the ankle adds contrast in texture as well as color! When you step out in this beauty, everyone will be green with envy!

Winter days may be grey, but you’ll do the world a world of good by being seen in green!

Before we go, here’s a tip for our Facebook friends (and if you haven’t yet “liked” us, please do). You may have found yourself frustrated that Facebook isn’t showing you all of Ped’s posts. Well, Facebook has a new way to ensure you hear what’s what with Ped! On the Ped page, hold you mouse over the checked “Liked” button up on the right under Lulu’s picture. When the drop-down menu appears, check “Get Notifications.” Now you’ll always be in the Ped know!

Last spring when I returned from the shoe shows in Paris and Milan, I told you this fall and winter would be colorful! Now, as promised, we’re off and running with the hued shoes! First up, RED!

In our previous post, celebrating Trippen, we showed you the spectacular Corset boot. But it’s just one of the red temptations from Trippen this season. For instance, who can resist the Wicked?

We are totally taken with the way Trippen has subtly stitched the  buttery leather to create folds that cascade down the front of this bootie! Stunning—yet comfortable and light, thanks to the “cups” rubber sole.

Trippen takes the same shade of red to new heights with the knockout Mexico boot:

Everyone at Ped HQ is in love with this “Rubin Red,” which reminds us of cayenne peppers. Spicy and delicious! Plus, the extra-long laces offer a wealth of ways to style the Mexico!

Trippen uses a slightly darker shade of red leather to create the smashing new Captain:

Take a closer look at the buckle on this great low boot—the strap extends right out of the leather that forms the shaft! Clever! And the Red Wine color makes us thirsty!

As long as we’re on the topic of wine-red leathers, the burgundy shade of Cydwoq’s Seek is intoxicating!

Deep and delicious, this darkest of dark reds makes the sexy Seek even more seductive! Pair this with your fave little black dress, and take your pick of the hearts beating faster at the sight of you!

And if going glam is your game, then consider buckling up Chie Mihara’s Quesquece:

Holy cannoli, this curvy t-strap gives new meaning to the term “red hot”! The combination of the deep red patent leather trim with the crimson suede is dazzling!

Of course, menswear-inspired styles are also au courant. Perhaps the red version of the Fiorentini + Baker Eliza might be your cup of tea:

Heaven help us, we LOVE this shoe! The Eliza is truly the oxford to end all oxfords, and a ruddy color just enhances its rugged beauty!

Which brings us to our rosy finale, another Fiorentini + Baker favorite looking lovely in red, the timeless Eli ankle boot:

As beautiful as a sugar maple tree in fall, this luscious red looker will rev up your style! Motors all over the world will run a little hotter after seeing you out and about in the Eli!

And that’s not all the red at Ped—lots more spicy styles are ready to set your heart on fire over at Ped’s main site. So get the lead out and put the red on!

Stay tuned, Ped fans, next we do blue!

(By the way, this week’s Sweet Treat is the Vialis Greta. It may not be red-hued, but it’s definitely red hot! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Greta with the discount code that will bring 20% off at check0ut!)

In our last post, we showed you a few options for taking boots as low as they go. Today we move on to ankle boots that stand a little taller, peaking just above the ankle bone. It’s a height we love at Ped because it looks fantastic with skirts and plays nicely with jeans (without having to confront the over-or-inside-the-boot dilemma).

First up, one of our favorites this season,the Coclico Willa:

In a word: YUM! The gorgeous Willa is on trend with its laceless good looks, yet it’s streamlined and classic, so it will never go out of style!

Of course, laces also have their place, as illustrated by Argila’s Lauren:

This suede and leather beauty checks three things off the au courant list in one easy sweep. Wooden wedge? Check. Oxford styling? Check. Ankle boot? Check! And scene (or should we say “seen”)!

Taking things in a more mod direction, the Artisan from Cydwoq has everyone at Ped HQ swooning:

Wow. Just wow! The brown leather lattice over the textured metallic leather, sparkling with a subtle plaid pattern, is FAN-TAS-TIC! Can’t you just imagine Megan on Mad Men wearing this with a micro mini ? (Don would be a helpless drooling puppy.)

Looking for something a little less overtly feminine?  Then get your attitude on in the Trippen Fence:

The sliced-up and laced-up (in back) Fence has held court at Ped for several years, but it still looks fresh and futuristic! Great barefoot but also sensational flashing colorful tights between its straps, the Fence will make friends everywhere you walk because everyone’s going to ask where you got your boots!

There are plenty more ankle-high ankle boots to tempt you over at Ped’s main site. (And just to ring the Fiorentini + Bell one more time, the new Pansy is super juicy!)

Stay tuned because we’re about to heighten the boot interest again in the next day or two.