In addition to flowers, new leaves, and green grass, another hallmark of spring is the sudden flood of occasions that require us to spruce up and deck out. The calendar bursts into virtual bloom with weddings, graduation ceremonies, and garden parties. Personally, we Pedsters love to dress up, especially since slipping on a pair of heels no longer means our dogs end up whimpering after a few hours!

At Ped, we are committed not just to artistry and craftsmanship in what we carry, but also to C O M F O R T! Our highest heels and girliest shoes still feel great on your feet hours after you step out the door—all gain, zero pain! Plus, a little heel height is guaranteed to make a gal’s gams look like a million bucks!

Here are a few of our favorite ways to ensure your style stands head and shoulders above the crowd:

If you want to get big bang for your shoe buck, Chie Mihara’s Xantili is one of the most versatile heels of the season:

It’s strappy good looks and snake-printed leather are distinctive, but its neutral color story means it will work with practically everything in your closet—a one in a million shoe for a million occasions! Plus the .75″ leather-covered platform under the toe makes the 3.25″ heel a breeze to wear.

Chie Mihara not only excels at creating comfortable heels, she’s a whiz with whimsical details. Case in point: the zingy red poppy on her new Josy:

It’s so neat how the caramel leather straps provide a virtual trellis for the red suede flower! And, again, a .75″ platform up front offsets the 3.5″ heel, bringing the pitch to an easy 2.75″!

If you want to bring the height down a notch, without losing an inch of style, check out Chie’s Quory:

Talk about sophisticated fun! You can be a lady who lunches and go dotty, too! Plus, this to-die-for t-strap’s heel measures an ultra-manageable 2″.

Cydwoq is another friend to those who don’t like their heels too high. You don’t need many inches to make an impact, as Cydwoq’s Blast proves:

Whoa, Nelly!!! When you make an entry in this cutting-edge sandal, every eye in the room will be on you! Such a beauty, and the sculpted resin heel is a mere 2″!

If you prefer a closed-toe shoe, Cydwoq’s Volcano will also leave a trail of sparks wherever you walk:

Way more interesting than your average ankle-strap heel, don’t you agree? The Volcano will instantly elevate the sexiness of your favorite LBD, but imagine how fantastic it also looks with colors and prints! (Update March 10: We also just got this beauty in a stunning textured mocha leather!)

Lots of you Ped fans adore wooden heels. Well, this season Coclico has just what you want. Get an eyeful of the new Klucia:

The design is beautifully balanced, and yet it offers surprising details, like the laser-cut chevron pattern in the leather and the twill lacing that ties everything up! Although the wooden heel is 3.5″, it’s really a cinch to wear, thanks to the 1″ platform under the forefoot.

If you’re looking for something that will really turns heads, you can never go wrong with red (and every woman needs a pair of red heels)! How juicy is Coclico’s Yoni?

Delectable! This bombshell of a shoe is effortlessly chic, with a sculpted 3″ wooden heel made extra comfortable by the 1″ covered platform under the toe.

But we’ve saved perhaps our favorite heel for last: Fiorentini + Baker’s knockout Nene:

Take a minute to drink in the beauty of its design. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t have to—its simple sophistication will make you the talk of the party and the envy of everyone there! We think that’s 4″ of heel well-spent! Plus, the 1″ platform beneath the toe keeps it all manageable, and Fiorentini + Baker means this femme fatale feels as wonderful as it looks!

So don’t be afraid to amp up your height when you put on your glad rags this spring! It’s suprising how empowering—and comfortable—a high heel can be!

(Psst, this week’s Sweet Treat is Cydwoq’s wonderful Bright Bag! Haul everything you need in this all-time Ped favorite for 20% off when you click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, which will take you to the Bright Bag with a magic discount code to enter at checkout!)

The air may be icy and the tree limbs bare, but daylight has once again started to stretch out, which means two things: 1) Spring is just around the corner; and 2) We need to make space in the warehouse for all the warm-weather styles about to arrive! The answer? Ped’s wonderful Winter Sale, of course!

We clean house, and you clean up! What could be better? Those boots you’ve been pining for since August now have a price to warm your spirit (and tootsies) during winter’s chilly days! Here are just a few of the temptations:

You’ve probably noticed blue is one of the IT colors this season. We’re especially fond of it in Accessoire’s Martiza:

The classic oxford gets extra oomph from a wedge heel, which also happens to be ultra comfortable! And, gals, three words: Blue. Suede. Shoes! Totally rockin’ at $328, the Martiza brings down the house at $199!

The other must-have color this year is grey, which Cydwoq crafts into a stellar low boot, aptly named the Vision:

A little vintage, with its cool button-up closure, a bit modern rocker chick, and a whole lot chic, comfortable, and go-with-everything, the Vision will wind up on your feet every day! Sweet at $342, it’s utterly delectable at $268!

Needless to say, black never goes out of style. But it certainly does get amped up in Chie Mihara’s Maison:

Oooh-la-la, what a hot heeled number—you will leave a trail of sparks in your wake wherever you walk! Saucy at $578, its sex appeal is irresistible at $289!

Another absolutely to-die-for boot is Vic Matie’s Olivia Boot:

The leather workmanship is truly stunning! (The Italians do know a thing or two about crafting fabulous footwear!) Worth every penny at $648, this masterpiece of a boot is a veritable steal at $299! (You clever art thief!)

Another one of our favorite tall boots this season is Trippen’s Nightingale:

The wine color of the supple nubuck is luscious! Plus, we’re wild about the red inside zipper! Trippen is always so good at fun and funky details! A treat at $448, it’s mana from heaven for your feet at $348!

If you’re looking for something dressier and perhaps a tad more understated, the answer is Coclico’s fabulous Beckett Mary Jane:

The perfect shoe for all occasions, the Beckett may be quiet, but it still exudes style for miles! Wonderful at $338, it’s even prettier at $268!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a spectacular sale without offering a break on everyone’s favorite, Fiorentini + Baker. Grab ’em while they last, gals, because we’ve reduced the price of the ever-popular Emmy Boot:

So tough-girl chic, this boot will become the backbone of your wardrobe! Spectacular at $528, it’s nothing short of WOW at $422. (Wow, wow, wow!)

And those are just the beginning of the bargains! So jump over to Ped’s Sale pages for some sweet pickin’s guaranteed to provide a wintry pick-me-up! (And stay tuned for the garden of spring styles about to burst  into bloom!)

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!)

For the longest time, pointy toes, high heels, and frou-frou dominated the catwalk. Girly girls rejoiced, but the rest of us said, “So fussy…” and “Ow!” Happily, the pendulum is now swinging the other way—the classic oxford is the coolest shoe going (this year worn laceless if you’re on the cutting-edge), and a clear masculine influence is everywhere on the runway.

But the new menswear-inspired shoes go beyond just tomboy appeal—these designs are devoted to modern women who need to go, go, go but who want to look stylish getting from here to there. Here are a few of Ped’s latest ways to do just that:

Chie Mihara always excels at putting a feminine and modern spin on classic styles. Case in point: the Darrer, Chie’s contribution to the laceless look:

So fun and super chic! The boys may have inspired the oxford, but the metallic leather and heel are just for us gals! Think how great this laceless beauty would look with a pencil skirt!

We are always begging Rafi and Ari at Cydwoq to rework some of their men’s designs for women. When they indulge us, the results are predictably fantastic, as demonstrated by the Date:

I couldn’t resist this one and got it for myself! I’ve hardly taken it off since i first laced it up! I’m a skirt-wearing kind of gal, and the Date is so flirty with my knee-length, A-line numbers!

Meanwhile, Ped’s Laura has a big crush on the Cydwoq Collect:

What a fantastic shoe! The woven brown leather is eye-opening and will have everyone talking! And the western-style buckle provides the perfect accent, as well as a custom fit.

Speaking of fun details, take a look at Cydwoq’s new Legal:

J’adore! This knockout flat calls to mind a classic golf shoe, with its smashing front flap punctuated by a central rivet. But the Legal is so much cooler than anything that’s ever hit the links and features “aging” grey leather that darkens with wear.

Cydwoq also uses “aging” grey leather in the Recent, which offers a hep-cat take on the interplay of masculine and feminine:

We love the fluid insets on the heel and toe. Plus, this loafer-like flat is a cinch to slip on and off, thanks to the artistic elastic lacing!

It’s not only shoes that are benefitting from putting a little male in the mix—check out the fabulous Deform ankle boot from Cydwoq:

When you buckle up this bootie, you are instantly going to become the object of envy for everyone who sees you! Definitely badass in the best kind of way!

We love all the different ways the above designs put an infusion of femme into traditionally male shoes, but if you simply want a timeless oxford, Fiorentini + Baker’s Eliza is the straight-up, gold standard:

So gorgeous. So comfortable. So beautifully made! And it looks GREAT with everything!

Sure, menswear is the inspiration for this new crop of wonderful shoes, but it’s the feminine twist that makes them must-haves! Classic sophistication was never so much fun—or such a treat to wear!

(By the way, this week’s Sweet Treat is Trippen’s incredibly comfortable  Sioux. Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of an Ped page to land at the Sioux with the discount code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)

Bring on the ice tea and turn on the fans because it’s as hot as blazes! When midsummer gets sultry, we like open-air breezes—and that goes for our feet, too! Although we love prancing around barefoot, feeling green grass beneath our soles and squeezing sand between our toes, it’s not always practical. Which is why a great summer sandal is a Ped fan’s best asset!

And do we ever have some terrific ones! Behold Ped’s favorite tried-and-true sandals that are almost better than barefoot:

Of course, the masters of summer sandal design are Rafi and Ari at Cydwoq! The way the leather of every pair conforms to your feet is simply heaven. Case in point, Cydwoq’s Copy:

So easy to wear anywhere, the Copy cradles your heel with a riveted back that comes around to tie at the ankle! Cool and sexy, just the way we like it! (And it comes in brown, too.)

Another stellar Cydwoq style is one I personally own: the Tomcat!

The way Cydwoq has meticulously cut the toe ring, so that a strap branches off it to arc gracefully over the foot, is elegant without being fussy! (Fans of black, rejoice, we also have  it in your favorite color.) I love mine so much that I recently took a pic of my happy feet :

My Tomcat-wearing toes are smiling and sparkly!

Perhaps you love the feeling of a wooden sole against your skin and the gentle sound it makes when you walk? Well, you’re in luck because Ped just received our summer shipment of Cydwoq’s fantastic Revolt sandal clog!

Ped’s Laura is wild about the beautifully textured turquoise and brown leather, but we also have the Revolt in black. Whichever you choose, it’s guaranteed to be your go-to summer shoe.

Those German design geniuses at Trippen also know a thing or two about strolling through summer in comfortable, arty style! Check out Trippen’s eye-popping Knit Sandal:

Yes, that’s right, the section running up the middle of your foot is literally knit leather! Meanwhile, the heel features Trippen’s sinuous seams running up the back! Cutting. Edge.

For Ped fans who love metallics (and I’m a card-carrying member of that club), the Trippen Nepal is just the ticket:

It’s an ideal travel sandal for long days of sight-seeing! Even as you turn every head you pass, your feet will stay comfortable with every step, mile after mile. (Plus it’s so pretty and shiny!)

But perhaps our favorite sandal this summer for sheer funky drama and all-out impact is Trippen’s Tarantula:

KA-BOOM! Now that’s how to amp up the style! You’ll look as hot as the weather wherever you walk in this super-sexy sandal boot that stands on Trippen’s über-comfortable t-shaped wedge! (We love it!)

As always, there are plenty more sandals at Ped’s main site, ready to help your dogs survive the dog days of summer! So, slip on something airy and let your toes frolic in the sun!

(By the way, although not a sandal, this week’s Sweet Treat is about as sweet as it gets: Fiorentini + Baker’s spectacular Paula Boot!!! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to arrive at the Paula with the magic code that brings a cool 20% off at checkout! Happy Fourth of July!)