Knee-high, mid-calf, and ankle—those were the three basic boot heights for what seemed like forever. But a couple years ago, three newcomers jumped in to jazz up the mix: shootie, low, and over-the-knee. The low boot, with a shaft falling somewhere between ankle and mid-calf height, quickly became a fan favorite with its rock ‘n’ roll vibe! Let’s take a look at some of Ped’s low-boot hotties:

If you want a boot unlike any other on the street, Argila’s Celia is guaranteed to please:

The seaming and the leather’s pinked edges make this boot a head-turner! We also like the effect of the unexpectedly demure ankle strap, and let’s not forget the wooden wedge! All the parts are beautiful, but the sum is even better!

Another boot that puts a lot of details to good use is the new Cydwoq Pilot:

This bad grrl of a combat boot is ready to wage war on the battlefield of style! In its rock ‘n’ roll arsenal: a sexy zipper up the back, grommeted lacing in front, and two kickass buckles at the top!

Too many bells and whistles? Perhaps the new Cydwoq Statue is more along the line of what you have in mind:

The way those wizards at Cydwoq cut leather is truly a thing of beauty! We particularly love the contrast of the natural edge along the exposed seams with the blue of the Pilot‘s luxe leather!

Blue is one of the IT colors this season, but color in general is big on the streets. If you’re ready to do hue, consider lacing up the Trippen Fountain:

Fun and funky, this boot is guaranteed to steal the scene wherever you walk—and you can walk anywhere, thanks to Trippen’s famously comfortable t-shaped rubber wedge! We love the Fountain in spring green, which looks great strolling through the fall leaves, but this low-boot lovely also comes in a washed blue!

As always, there are more low boots to love at Ped’s main site. (Also, as always, Fiorentini + Baker offers some of the best, like the ever-popular Emmy and versatile Ella.)

Stay tuned—in our next installment we’re booting it up to mid-calf!

Ped fans, I hope you’re enjoying drooling over all the new styles we’ve been adding to the site. We’re posting shoes and boots as fast as we can unpack the boxes pouring into the warehouse!

Of course, sometimes we have to stop and simply admire the gorgeousness of all the designs! The materials this season are to die for! We’re especially excited about the resurgence of suede! It’s so nice to reach down and feel its delicious softness on your feet.

Here are just a few of the wonderful suede styles that have us oohing and aahing (and petting the shoes!) at Ped HQ.

Since they’re French, it’s no surprise that Accessoire excels in creating chic designs out of luxurious suede. Case in point, the Okinawa:

Ooh la la—emerald green suede in a re-imagined mary jane accented by a fleurette on the toe? Color me love-struck! (Plus, the suede-covered platform sole is so modern!)

Another charmer from Accessoire is the versatile Odin:

We adore all the richly colored suede shoes and boots this season, but everybody needs a basic black shoe! And as the fun and feminine Odin proves, basic does not have to be boring!

On the other hand, when it’s time to step out and make a statement, you can always count on Chie Mihara to offer a sensational way to do it—this season in suede:

Oh my! We think you’ll agree Chie has really outdone herself with the drop-dead gorgeous Frunera heel! We are down for the count for this beauty in knockout red suede, but Ped also offers the Frunera in seductive navy suede.

If you’re looking for a great pair of suede boots, this is definitely your year! There are so many great ones from which to choose, like Chie’s Xolita:

We love everything about this lace-up, from the pinked edges of the placket to the combination of grommets and hooks to Chie’s famously comfortable anatomical footbed!

Coclico is another line that has the suede ankle boot down to a science! How beautifully designed is this Neale?

So sophisticated! Hidden elastic under the cuff makes for a glove-like fit, and the wooden sole is both modern and comfortable.

Another luscious suede number from Coclico is the Rilke:

Grey is the go-to neutral this season, and the Rilke’s particular shade is simply lovely. Plus, the feminine tie at the back of the ankle adds the perfect detail!

Of course, Fiorentini + Baker includes suede in its lineup of boots for fall. We are especially smitten with F+B’s suede version of the Ella Boot:

We love a boot that offers options, and the Ella gives you the choice of wearing it zipped up to mid-calf height or unzipped slightly and folded down to make a cuffed low boot! (The back zipper is so sexy!)

But for sheer beauty and turn-every-head impact, the clear winner in the suede boot category is Vic Matie’s Chloe:

WOW! This beautifully made boot makes us eager for chilly days because its faux fur lining is so inviting! We like how you can let it peek out at the top! Meanwhile the strap spiraling around your calf and ankle gives this boot unmistakable style. Truly a suede boot to treasure!

And there are many more touchable suede boots and shoes waiting to be admired at Ped’s main site! This season the cutting edge is oh so soft!

(Psst, this week’s Sweet Treat is Cydwoq’s all-occasion Textile flat! Click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to be transported to the Textile with the magic code that will get you a sweet 20% off at  checkout!)

Last week my husband and I returned from a wonderful vacation on Lake Tahoe. I spent summers there as a girl and always called it “my sweetie lake.” Now every other year, we rent a house with my sister, Terry (we call her T1 and my husband T2), and her family, who bring a boat up from Los Angeles, along with their golden retriever, Molly, Ella’s sister!

The house in Homewood we rented.

The first morning was rather eventful. I took my morning coffee out by the shore with the three dogs (let’s not forget Lulu). All of a sudden, Ella started growling at something behind me. I turned around to see a BEAR about 50 yards away! I scooped up Lulu in my arms and grabbed Ella by the collar. But Molly thought Ella was growling at me, and those two started fighting! I started screaming, “Help!!!” The bear must have thought, “That lady is nuts,” and “I do not need a dog fight!” because he lumbered away. But, wow!!!!

The rest of the trip was much more relaxing! Molly and Ella spent their days in the water, with Lulu racing up and down the shore crying for them. Occasionally Lulu would venture into the water, too.

Molly, Ella, and Lulu soaking up the Tahoe sun!

As for the humans, we spent our days tubing behind the boat, rafting down the Truckee River, paddle boarding, biking, and having barbecues. We also cruised around the lake in the boat, visiting Sand Harbor, where the water is Caribbean blue, and Emerald Bay, where one of Lake Tahoe’s oldest mansions, Vikingsholm, looks over the lake.

On the left, my sweetie and I enjoy the lake. In the upper right, the gang rafting on the Truckee River, and on the lower right, tubing behind the boat!

We also took the boat to various restaurants on the water: Sunnyside for their famous fried zucchini; Chambers Landing (the oldest structure on the lake) for their wicked “Chamber’s Punch”; and then to my old stomping ground, Garwoods, where I worked as a sweet li’l waitress in the summers of 1989 and ’90!

On the left, my sister and me. On the right, the hub and my brother-in-law Richard. We were dining at Jake's on the Lake on our last night.

It was such a wonderful vacation! Truly, Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes on the West Coast! Terry and I are fully refreshed and ready to dive into fall back here at Ped HQ. But we’ll dream of our next retreat to my sweetie lake!

Life is good when I'm floating on Lake Tahoe with Lulu!

Ped fans, as we near the end of the year—and the decade!—all of us here at Ped HQ hope you have a wonderful holiday season with the ones you love!

Here’s our girl, Ella, Ped’s Chief Canine Packing Inspector, making sure all the packages leaving the Ped warehouse are ready to make their recipients’ holidays happy!

Although Ped’s hardworking crew will be taking a break from Christmas through New Year’s Day, Ped will still be open and ready to take your orders during that time! If you have a question, just e-mail us, and we’ll send you the answer pronto! We’ll resume shipping January 4th. In the meantime, Ped will have a “Sweet Treat” as usual next week, and I plan to write another blog post as we head into 2010.

Thank you so much for being such great customers and friends over the past year! You mean the world to us!