Crocuses are poking up, and daffodils are finally showing their sunny faces. Ah, spring! Welcome back!

Here at Ped, we love watching the steady rise of the mercury day after day. And nothing feels better than unsheathing our sock-bound feet and letting them take in the air! Needless to say, we’ve got all kinds of stylish ways to do just that—sandals and shoes that will carry you from the early days of spring right on through the sultry days of summer.

Here are just a few breezy ideas to get you started.

We realize  some of you may not be quite ready to bust out the sandals, and we know many Ped fans are loathe to leave behind your edgy oxfords. Happily, Argila has just the in-between thing:

Meet the Sophia! What a yummy treat: an oxford made from wonderfully soft leather that features air-conditioning right where it counts! As always, Argila adds exactly the right accents, like the fold-down lip at the back and the hand-cut wooden heel. Delicious!

Another laced lovely from Argila is the Riley, which lets your toes wiggle in the sun in the most stylish way!

In addition to the more obvious design notes that make this wooden-heeled sandal sing, the subtle rust topstitching on the toe straps is stellar against the cement-gray leather!

Coclico also has a winning wooden-heeled sandal that’s so sinfully hot they’ve called it the Lucifer:

Whoa! Don’t be surprised when people in your immediate vicinity start mopping their brows because this statuesque sandal is sizzling! Take a second to admire the ingenuity of the design. The t-strap ducks under three narrow straps arcing over the toe, before joining with several more parallel straps at the ankle. Now you’re cooking with gas!

Coclico has all kinds of ways of giving you a lift! One of our personal favorites at Ped is the new Whoo!

Standing on a lightweight cork platform, this easy suede slide is just the thing for kicking up your heels on a spring day! We are crazy about the airy cutouts and the to-die-for red brick color!

Did you perk up when we mentioned color? If so, then you are going to love what Couple Of is bringing to the table this season!

Does this sweet slip-on look familiar? It’s because it’s the heel-less version of Couple Of’s popular Lily, and, in fact, is called the Lily Flat! What could be fresher than skipping around town in a grass-green ballet flat?

But if your toes are begging for full exposure to the fresh air, then bask in the beauty of the sunniest sandal in the Ped warehouse, Couple Of’s Paspas:

What an instant pick-me-up! The design is ingeniously edgy, with the straps coming together into an architectural ridge that moves sinuously down the front of this comfortable flat. By the way, the Paspas also comes in black!

And if it’s edge you’re after, then look no further than Couple Of’s Zebra:

It’s a gladiator sandal gone wild in the best possible way! Zebra-like cut-outs and slits accent the supple black leather exterior of this knockout, which is lined in cream-colored leather. When you step out in the Zebra, you’ll be the envy of shoe-lovers everywhere you walk.

Is your interest piqued? Then click over to Ped’s main site to see the full range of new designs from Argila, Coclico, and Couple Of, all guaranteed to heat up your style for the hot days ahead!

(Psst, if you haven’t discovered it already, the “sweet treat” this week is Cydwoq’s excellent Smile Mary Jane! Cheer up your tired tootsies 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 Smile, along with the discount code that will garner 20% off when entered at checkout!)
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Ped fans, I’m in Milan, Italy, this week, finding all kinds of wonders to warm up next fall and winter. In the meantime, fresh Italian delights for spring and summer are the latest things to arrive in the Ped warehouse. And when we say “Italian,” we mean the line you love: Fiorentini + Baker!

As F+B addicts know, once you indulge in a pair of these beautifully handcrafted leather boots, shoes, or sandals, nothing else will do. F+B’s quality, comfort, and timeless beauty are simply magnifico (as the many celebrities who wear this line will attest)!

So join us for a brief Italian lesson! After seeing Fiorentini + Baker’s latest designs, we suspect you’ll want to become fluent in F+B style.

One thing we adore about F+B is their understanding that less is often more, a point made clear in the knockout Elgin Boot:

The clean lines and soft scrunch-a-bility of this minimal mid-calf boot make it perfect for pairing with floaty spring skirts. Of course, it also looks great with jeans! The mattone brick leather version is so rich, but we also offer the Elgin in a delicious mocha ice suede! Good luck choosing between the two! (Hint: either one is the right choice!)

Some of you Ped fans have begged us to carry the two-buckle cousin of F+B’s popular Eternity Boot. Well, consider your wish granted! Behold the Emmy, also know as style #713:

We are woozy with love for F+B’s new turquoise leather! It is to die for—so unusual and yet it still works with lots of other colors. (Ped’s Laura went down for the count when she saw it.) Of course, if you’re a gal who prefers all things noir, we’ve got the Emmy in black, as well!

Want a few more flourishes? And perhaps a bit of textural contrast? Fiorentini + Baker’s Ebbi has your name on it:

You’ll give the people following you something to talk about when you saunter down the street in the Ebbi because the fold-over suede cuff laces in the back. And the raised seams that arc over the instep and encircle the ankle add further eye-popping interest!

If you like a well-heeled boot to boost your height, then feast your eyes on Fiorentini+Baker’s new Bessi:

The 3″ stacked-leather heel gives this sexy boot a leg up, while an inside zip lets you breeze in and out in a flash. F+B’s bonsai green leather is a Ped favorite, and it looks especially fresh on the Bessi!

Another great heeled style from F+B is the take-no-prisoners Zilla Clog:

The hand-cut wooden sole features a 3.5″ heel and a 1.5″ platform under the ball of your foot. The brass studs that rim the collar and attach the luxe black leather upper to the sole are, in a word, badass! Who knew a clog could be this smokin’ hot? (Somebody hand me a fan!)

When it’s the weather that’s hot, though, you may want to let your toes out to play. But you can still maintain your brass-studded style—just buckle up F+B’s Tribo Sandal!

Take a minute to admire the wonderful details of this easy-going yet dazzling beauty: the leather toe thong is rolled for comfort; the studded straps are leather-lined to be soft against your skin; and the leather sole is designed to mold to your foot with wear. Fiorentini + Baker does it all so well!

Another fantastic F+B sandal is the Tulip:

Crafted in our favorite rabbit-hued leather, this flat is both tough and girly, combining the edge of a gladiator sandal with petal-like cutouts that cascade down the front of the foot. What a way to go through spring and summer! Prepare to be the object of everyone’s sandal envy!

Of course, we have all of F+B’s classics over at Ped’s main site. So let Fiorentini + Baker’s leatherwork and style seduce you—we know you’ll agree: That’s amore!

(By the way, this week’s “sweet treat” practically sings, “Spring!”: Karin Wagner’s delightful Alps Brooch. Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, and you’ll arrive at the hand-felted Alps Brooch with the magic code that will bring 20% at checkout!)
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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!)

The Holidays were so much fun at Ped HQ that we were feeling a twinge of post-party blues. We asked ourselves what would lift out spirits, and the answer came like a bolt of lightning: Let the Winter Sale begin! We’ve gotten a little slap-happy with the price-cutting, but we think you’ll approve!

Here are a few favorites we’ve recently marked down:

Although Vialis is new to the Ped family, this gorgeous line from Spain has become instantly popular. The double-collared Guell Bootie shows why:

What could be better than a wooden heel on a luscious leather lace-up? You can wear the collar folded down to expose the inner suede layer or pulled up to show off the matte exterior. Versatile and chic, the Guell was delicious at $362, but it’s even sweeter at $289!

Speaking of lovely heels, we are big fans of the metallic ones Cydwoq uses for some of its Vintage styles, like the Seek:

The combination of the burgundy textured leathers makes us swoon! Add the back zipper and, well, let’s put it this way, you won’t have to “seek” admirers—they’ll be following you like drooling puppies! The Seek was sexy at $304, but it’s even hotter at $243!

Another knockout heeled number is Chie Mihara’s Vasca:

No one does retro-glam like Chie! We adore the pinked edges of the rosettes, and the deep teal color is to die for! Slip on this beauty, and you will instantly radiate the sex appeal of a 1940s Hollywood femme fatale! Lovely at $438, the Vasca is drop-dead gorgeous at $349!

Another heel with vintage appeal is Cordani’s Remy:

This grey suede mary jane is so practical—a neutral that’s equally good for going to the office or going out to dinner—but the details keep it interesting! Worth every penny at $318, it’s a steal at $199!

Couple Of’s stellar Ava Oxford is another shoe that’s fine for a board meeting but also has enough edge for an art opening:

Everyone at Ped is amazed at Couple Of’s skill at keeping designs clean and comfortable while at the same time adding just the right accents to set them apart! The folded and crinkled leather on the Ava’s toe box and heel is unlike anything we’ve seen before—so cool! Stylish at $328, it’s especially chic at $262!

Forget the heels, you say, you want a head-turning flat! Cydwoq has just the thing—the Measure Boot!

The Measure perfectly balances retro, with its spats-look and buttons, and modern, with the interesting way the dual leathers come together! And because it’s from Cydwoq, you know this bootie is as comfortable as it is stylish. Terrific at $320, it’s absolutely fabulous at $256.

What about taller boots? Yes, Ped fans, we have those on sale, too! One of the best is Ellen Verbeek’s Camille Boot:

We love the ultra-chic minimalism of this mid-calf boot that combines deliciously supple leather with a hand-sculpted wooden heel! Easy to wear on almost any occasion! Wonderful at $594, it’s unbeatable at $475!

And those are just the tip of Ped’s bargain iceberg! So click over to the main site and snag your favorites before they melt away. The prices are scorching hot and definitely worth celebrating!

(Also, fyi, this week’s “sweet treat” is especially shiny: Jamie Joseph’s White Topaz Ring! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, and you will be instantly transported to this dazzler, where you’ll find the magical code that will bring a 20% discount at checkout.)

Your friends at Ped wish you and your loved ones joy and peace through the Holidays and into the New Year!!!!!! CELEBRATE!

(And just in case you missed it, through December 25, use code “Twinkle 10” at checkout to receive 20% off any full-price item.)