Ped fans, we love winter, we really do, but this year’s was so llllloooooonnnnggg  that we have been chomping at the bit to peel off our socks and let our toes out to play! Spring fever is raging at Ped HQ!

It’s finally time to pick out a pair (or two) of breezy sandals and dance in the sun! Ped has so many dandy designs to choose from this season that we’ve decided to offer a three-post “tasting menu” over the next several days. Today, we sample flats (or nearly so) that will give you high style while keeping you grounded in comfort.

A sandal ready to slide into and go, that’s what we crave in summer! Cliff Dweller’s Athlete is just the thing:

Super easy, super comfortable, and super stylish—the Athlete hits the sandal trifecta! The berry color pictured is so juicy, but the Athlete is also a winner in biscotti brown. (Berry and biscotti? I’m suddenly like a snack…)

For those of you who prefer the security of a back strap and the stability of a toe ring , Cydwoq’s Train could be just the ticket:

Edgy, chic, and interesting, it’s as if a gladiator sandal went to art school! Plus the black leather with its blue variegation is to. die. for.

Fiorentini + Baker offers another modern variation on the gladiator sandal with the gorgeous Jeb:

Words cannot describe how lusciously soft and lightweight this sandal’s perforated skived leather is! Whether you opt for the mouse color shown or classic black, jaws will drop when you walk by in the Jeb.

Pep Monjo also knows how to make the most of a bold buckle strap, as he demonstrates with the knockout Angelina:

Practical? Yes! Gorgeous? YES! The Angelina embodies everything we’ve come to expect from Pep: luxe leather, signature details like the lipped collar in back, and style for miles! You can’t go wrong with a black leather sandal, but then again, you can’t go wrong with the Angelina in flint suede either. Win, win!

Just because a flat keeps your feet on the ground, doesn’t mean it can’t get a little high with funky fun. Case in point: the Trippen Eye!

Broad bands of metallic blue leather form the front, as a leather thong laces through two over-sized metal eyes to form the back strap and crisscross wrapping rising up your ankle! Too cool for school!

Looking for something a little dressier but still heelless? The Cydwoq Laser is ready to shine:

The metallic green leather is fresh and flirty, and the ankle-strapped minimal design is super sexy, so all we can say is, “Bring on the cocktails!”

Of course, if you really want to go girly, Chie Mihara is your best friend! Chie’s Izan proves you don’t need a high heel to be a femme fatale:

Five tiers of leather ruffles over the toe call to mind the swish of Spanish flamenco dresses., and the neutral camel color guarantees the Izan will dance with everything in your closet!

Ped fans, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the vast array of PHAT flat sandals ready to take on summer at Ped’s main site! Word to the fashion wise: flat is where it’s at!

(Unless, of course, you like a heel, in which case stay tuned for “Sandals for sunny days” Parts 2 & 3!)

Here’s to all the moms out there—whether you have children or pets or just a few great ideas you’re nurturing, cheers! To celebrate YOU, all Chie Mihara styles are 20% off through midnight tonight (PST), Sunday, May 11! Oh, happy day!

Sweet mid-May flash sale, Ped fans! All Chie Mihara styles are 20% off through Sunday, May 11, in celebration of Mother’s Day! (Even if you’re not a mom, we’re sure your mother would want you to wear good shoes!)

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

We completely understand—ordering shoes online comes with a smidge of trepidation! After all, who wants to fall head over heels for a beautiful pair of sandals/shoes/boots, only to have them not fit when they arrive at your doorstep?

Ped is dedicated to helping you avoid such disappointment! We carefully analyze each style when it arrives at the Ped warehouse in order to offer accurate fit information. We also keep records of Ped fans’ past orders, and if we think a new shoe you’ve ordered might fit you differently, we’ll contact you before putting it in the mail. (We truly aim to please!)

We realize you’re spending a pretty penny, and we know you want to be as sure as possible that the size you order will suit your feet. When in doubt, we invite you to contact us with your soles’ measurements, and we’ll offer candid advice on what size to order (or whether to order at all—some shoes simply don’t suit some feet).

But how do you measure your foot without one of those old-school metal contraptions? If you have a printer, you can print out Ped’s own do-it-yourself Brannock Device (that’s the official name for the aforementioned contraption) and use it to size up your foot. We’ve included a link underneath the “order box” on every shoe page!

If you don’t have a printer, here’s another way:

1) Place a ruler or a tape measure on a hard floor, extending it perpendicular to the wall with the “zero” where the wall meets the floor.

2) Stand on the ruler barefoot with your heel at the wall and measure to the end of your longest toe. Do the same for both feet. (Surprise! Your feet are not exactly the same length!)

3) Next measure the width of the ball of your foot by standing on the ruler sideways with the edge of your forefoot against the wall.

4) If you have especially narrow or especially wide heels, you can measure them the same way!

Once you have all the numbers, send them to Ped! Also, tell us about any unusual aspects of your foot or leg—bunions, high instep, low arch, skinny calf, etc. The more we know about your foot, the better we can assess what size is optimal! Then we’ll measure the shoes that are your heart’s desire to make sure the size we send will bring you smiles mile after mile.

See? Easy peasy! Here’s to happy tootsies!

Ped fans, have you taken a gander at all the beautiful socks we’ve recently received from Antipast and Bonne Maison? They are really something this season!

We realize embracing the socks-with-sandals trend is a stretch for many of you, but these sock-tastic designs really deserve to be seen! Plus we love the vintage sweetness of the look!

So without further ado, here are several ways to give your saucy socks air time!

The Argila Rosa is a lovely and understated neutral sandal on its own, but add some striped socks and KAPOW! Suddenly, it’s no longer shy but still oh-so chic!

We love the Rosa with both Bonne Maison’s Calm Stripe Socks in Grey/Khaki and Antipast’s Beach Stripe Socks in Ivory! Talk about pizzazz!

One of the prettiest shoes in the Ped house this season is Chie Mihara’s Amor. Why not take its femininity in a whimsical direction by adding even more flowers?

Bonne Maison’s Brocade Socks in Geranium Red offer a whimsical way to take the Amor‘s sexiness in a new direction! (The green toe is especially fun peeking out from under the Amor‘s rosette.)

Another unabashedly sexy sandal is the Coclico Shae. Give it a different twist by wearing it with Antipast’s Bubble Socks in Khaki, or go for full-on fun by pairing it with Bonne Maison’s Flamingo Socks in Honey.

Everyone will admire your bold style (and wish they knew how to look so edgy and cool)!

If you prefer wearing socks with a closed toe flat, but still want to show off, here are a couple of ideas for jazzing up the Cydwoq South!

If you’re feeling sweet and girly, tie up the South over Antipast’s Bouquet Sock in Beige. Feeling bolder? Then make it a luau with Antipast’s Lei socks in Beige!

Another skip-around-town style that looks terrific both barefoot and with socks is Fiorentini+Baker’s Leda clog!

Add Antipast’s Bubble Socks in Blue, and it instantly gets a jolt of juice! The bubbles look great effervescing through the Leda’s star-shaped cutout!

Many other possibilities for sassing up sandals with socks await you at Ped’s main site. So open your mind to summery socks with sandals and frocks!