For many Ped fans, summer means one thing: sandals, sandals, and more sandals! But we realize that’s not the case for all of you. For instance, the forecast for the next week at Ped HQ is calling for temps in the high 60s and low 70s. And at Lake Tahoe, where we spend many weekends, the mercury often dips down into the 30s at night! A wee bit frosty for bare toes!

Also, some of you prefer to wear shoes no matter what the weather! So although we waxed rhapsodic about sandals recently, today we’re going to sing the praises of summer shoes! Let’s walk through a few:

Just because your toes are relaxing inside doesn’t mean you can’t give them an air-conditioned ride, as demonstrated by the Trippen Chill:

This black-and-white charmer has our name all over it, with its twice-dyed leather, exposed seams, and dotty cutouts! The Chill is the perfect way to chill.

The Cydwoq Speed also makes good use of exposed seams and breezy cutouts, but whereas the Chill features circlets and swooping curves, the Speed wows with squares and angles:

Quintessentially Cydwoq! The Speed offers great arch support, and its all-leather construction just gets more comfy the more you wear it! And the curry color? De-li-cious!

As long as we’re talking about exposed seams and fun colors, let’s turn the conversation to the Trippen Poppy:

Super comfortable and super sassy! The Poppy takes exposed seams one step further, opening them out to form the petals of a stylized flower on the toe! Plus, the plum leather, with its orchid underside, is the definition of juicy! (Did you know “Radiant Orchid” is the Pantone color of 2014? The Poppy is au courant!)

As Ped fans know, anything green is high on my list, so Trippen’s Mountains tops my shoe loves this season:

The jagged edges of the design are inspired by the lovely ridge line of mountaintops. And the lacing crisscrossing “the valley” keeps everything airy and open during warm weather!

Another stunning Trippen color this season is the cherry red edition of the Vivienne:

The Vivienne is a perennial Ped favorite, and with good reason—it’s as easy to wear as it is fun to see! We especially like how the ankle straps crisscross and slide through a loop in back before closing with an adjustable rivet on the side. (We also have the Vivienne in a spicy mustard!)

The new Cydwoq Poster also features a cute-as-can-be ankle strap:

This is Laura’s favorite (and she wears it a lot) because of the riveted snub nose and the printed leather that combines Italian newsprint with graffiti-like elements in reddish pink, blue-grey, and black. Gotta keep it funky, she says!

And when it comes to fun and funky, one design is in a class of its own this season: the unique Cydwoq Converge:

Okay, we know we’re cheating a little bit since the fantastic Converge does let your big toe peek out a circular hole, but the design is really more shoe than sandal! (Or is it? So hard to say!) Although it defies categorization, the Converge is a winning look that’s completely fun to wear! Oh, the conversations you’ll start!

These are just a few ways to go if you don’t want to disclose your toes—more await your discovery at Ped’s main site! Don’t be shy—show off your shoes this summer!

(Psst, in case you didn’t see the post below, the Sweet Treat this week is the Cydwoq Sight, which is mostly shoe, although it does feature a charming peep toe! Click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages to be whisked to the Sight with the “Sweet Treat” designation. Then choose your color and size, and add it to your bag to receive an automatic 20% off at checkout!)

Around this time every year, we start thinking about how things feel. We’re layering up to keep the cold out, and it starts to matter whether things are scratchy or soft, coarse or silky. Our fingers crave something nice to touch—and nothing’s nicer than reaching down and finding the satisfaction of suede on our feet!

Suede has the added benefit of making its colors really pop! Want to know the remedy for an overcast day? Hued suede shoes for dancing down the street! Allow us to show you what we mean:

When it comes to beautiful suede designs, Accessoire is in a league of its own! Say hello to the head-turning Ulrich:

How yummy is this shoe? The design is innovative and chic, and the cassis color is, in a word, intoxicating!

If you’re looking for a neutral, perhaps you’d like to slip on Accessoire’s Ueda:

Versatility gets a flash of French flair in this super-soft number, which easily shifts from a day in the office to a night on the town! (Mocha too low key? Then check out the Ueda in brilliant red!)

Work schmork—this time of year, it’s all about the after-five parties! Accessoire once again has just the thing with the Vram:

If you’re hoping to tie a certain someone around your little finger, this knot-embellished suede hottie is a good place to start! Holy moly—don’t be surprised if the sprinkler system kicks on when you walk in the door!

Fiorentini + Baker is also famous for having a way with suede! One of our favorite ankle boots this season is F+B’s Pansy (which we just got back in stock):

Simple yet devastatingly sexy! And because it’s made by F+B’s master craftsmen, every detail is meticulously rendered! Get ready for a lot of boot envy! (We also have the Pansy in luscious brown!)

Looking for a suede bootie that’s a little less “lady”? Let your inner cowgirl out to play in Fiorentini + Baker’s Enola:

Sassy city! Crafted in F+B’s go-with-everything grey ice suede, this little honey is flirty and kickass all at once. (Its brown version will also let you lasso hearts!)

Suede also plays well with matte leather in creative combos, as demonstrated by Cydwoq’s Regiment boot:

Pairing the zigzag-patterned suede shaft with the mocha leather body is a scheme I dreamed up and Rafi & co. executed! Hope you love this lace-up as much as I do!

Another terrific suede and leather ankle boot comes from Argila! Behold the oxford-styled Lauren:

From the wooden wedge to the perforated design over the toe to the pinked edges, this boot’s details are all pitch perfect!

Want even more funk and an even higher heel? Chie Mihara is happy to oblige with her fantastic Tamaia:

Plum suede, gold dots, and luxe black leather—what a tasty treat that will have everyone wishing they were in your shoes! It’s the heel deal!

Even more deliciously tactile suede designs are waiting at Ped’s main site. Let yourself be swayed by suede—your feet and fingertips will thank you!

(Speaking of tactile delights, this week’s Sweet Treat takes the cake: Cydwoq’s flirty Victim! Turn every head at every holiday party! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Victim, where you’ll find the magic code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)

Everyone knows how crazy we are for all things Cydwoq! But, honestly, Rafi and Ari—the father and son team responsible for Cydwoq’s ultra-cool designs—have really outdone themselves for 2011. A smorgasbord of new warm-weather styles just arrived in the Ped warehouse, and Cydwoq has served up something for everyone from strappy heels for the girly girls to run-around-town flats for the tomboys at heart.

Here’s a taste to whet your appetite and encourage you to think spring (or, if you’re lucky, mid-winter vacation)!

One area where Cydwoq excels is in creating practical walking shoes that still turn every head with their unusual style! Case in point, the new Sabates:

Too cool!!! But cutting edge funkiness is not the end of the story because these artistic shoes are also easy to wear. Simply slide your foot into the welcoming interior—no buckles, zippers, or even elastic to fiddle with!

Another great runabout style is Cydwoq’s Penalty, which is our pick for the first thing to pack if you’re heading somewhere warm.

You can cruise through sightseeing, shopping, and sipping a cocktail at the end of the day, looking terrific whatever the venue. And thanks to Cydwoq’s famous construction, you may be tired, but your feet will be blister-free and ready to go again tomorrow.

But maybe you’re looking for a wearable heel to go to the office (without sacrificing any snazz). Then breathe in the Vapour!

Everyone at Ped is smitten with the Vapour’s off-center t-strap. Plus the red color is simply delicious. (I ask you who doesn’t love a red shoe?)

And if you enjoy a sassy buckle-and-heel combo, then Cydwoq’s new Possession has your name on it!

Just like A.S. Byatt’s novel of the same name, this beautiful heel embodies both a 19th century romanticism and an utterly modern attitude. For lovers of the steampunk aesthetic, the Possession is a retro-futuristic dream come true!

Another thing we admire about Cydwoq is how their designs often bring artsy and organic together into a harmonious whole.

The new Buds sandal is earthy and urban all at once. We love the way rivets connect the leather leaves, but we confess this sandal had us at green (our favorite)!

For sheer impact, though, we recommend lacing up Cydwoq’s new Expo!

Kapow! This sandal’s rustic yet clean-lined design takes the gladiator sandal a step ahead, out of the arena and onto the runway! Super chic—imagine how terrific the Expo will look with a floaty summer dress! A perfect exercise in contrasts!

The above bevy of beauties is just a glimpse of the panorama of Cydwoq styles awaiting you at Ped’s main site! You’ll love the view—but Cydwoq’s hand-crafted comfort is what will win your heart!

(Have you seen this week’s “sweet treat”? It’s Trippen’s over-the-knee Nox Boot! Whether you pull it high or cuff it and scrunch, the Nox is the perfect tall, dark, and lovely boot you’ve been hoping to find. Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to be transported to the Nox, where you’ll find the magic code that will bring a cool 20% off  when entered in the box at checkout!)