Get ready for a fun fall, Ped fans! On my European buying trip last spring, I found several new lines to add to the Ped family, all absolutely beautiful! The first to arrive in the warehouse: Couple Of!

Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Couple Of is the creative collaboration of designers Shelly and Elon, who are not only work partners but also life partners (given Terry’s and my relationship, I love that). They decided to call their company “Couple Of” as a play on the term “one-off,” which indicates a unique work of uncommon beauty.

Unique and uncommonly beautiful? Couple Of’s shoes definitely are! Using exquisite leathers, Shelly and Elon attend to every detail of their shoe designs, committed to crafting thoroughly wearable works of art. Their styles have an eye-opening irreverence that never goes too far—just enough to have every eye on the street glued to your feet with envy!

See for yourself! Here’s the Couple Of shoe that first caught my attention:

Where did I see it? On Shelly’s feet when I walked into Couple Of’s booth at the shoe show! Aptly called the Shelly Oxford, it blew my mind (and as someone who sees a lot of shoes, that’s no easy feat)! Couple Of has taken a beautifully made, classic lace-up and cut around the natural leather outsole to create an arc over the toe and a slight dip behind the heel. SO COOL!!!! I was sold!

Did you also notice the red insole? Couple Of has a particular way with red! Often their designs have a carmine lining, but now and then they take it outside, as with the stunning Lily Slip On:

We adore a red heel, but this one goes above and beyond with its perfectly placed three-dimensional petals! So flirty!

Another great thing about Couple Of is how they pay attention not only to giving the toe some sass but also the heel! In their shoes, you give your fans something to look at coming and going. Case in point: The Ava Oxford.

How cool is the minutely folded leather on the toe? Well, it also accents the 2.25″ heel! Such unusual detailing is what sets this brown lace-up apart from every other oxford on the street!

For another example of how Couple Of makes the most of well-edited accents, get an eyeful of the Derbi Oxford:

Couple Of has created a wonderful interpretation of the traditional menswear oxford and punched it up by adding a simple strap over the toe—stitched at the center for added interest—and a slightly flared heel piece (notice how those upward lines at the heel reflect the downward lines at the base of the toe strap). Suddenly, this shoe is something to talk about! Plus, the Derbi’s red lining flashes at the edges in the most eye-catching way.

Couple Of has also put their unique stamp on the ankle boot/shootie trend that’s all the rage this season:

The Hannah Shootie is ultra-modern and über-sexy. We love how the masculine black straps cinch in the super-soft feminine taupe leather! As usual, Couple Of’s clean design aesthetic is the key to this knockout toe-bearing and heel-flashing style.

Ped is the first U.S. boutique to carry Couple Of’s fabulous designs, so when you slip on any of these comfortable stunners, you’re guaranteed to be a one-off in your style!

(Psst, if you haven’t checked it out, the “sweet treat” this week is Chie Mihara’s gorgeous Rocosa heeled sandal. You still have a couple days left to snag it at 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the upper corner of any Ped page to reach the magic discount code.)

It seems like yesterday we were dancing through March and April, trying on all the new sandals in the Ped warehouse. Now we’re already in the second week of August? How did that happen??? We’re sad to see the long days of summer grow short, but one consolation to their coming to an end is the arrival of fall’s beautiful shoes and boots!

Want more good news? You don’t have to wait until the leaves start to turn to wear them! Ankle boots and heeled oxfords look terrific and utterly modern with flirty summer skirts!

Here’s a taste, fresh out of the boxes arriving daily at Ped HQ, to whet your appetite:

Who can resist the charms of Chie Mihara’s Vaive?

Yes, we’ve had this wonderful, rosette-embellished oxford before, but not in VIOLET!!! What a fabulous, head-turning color to take you through the rest of summer and right into fall!

Another old favorite that’s just arrived in a new color scheme is Giraudon’s Plug Loafer:

The latte-colored toe really calls attention to the wonderful perforated leather in Giraudon’s design. So cute!! We love the idea of pairing this play on men’s wear with a flouncy, girly dress!

Another colorful new style for transitioning from summer into fall is the Cydwoq Buckle:

The Italian leather in this über-modern flat is the most wonderful blend of wine and black. The zig-zag strap and square buckle also offer a refreshing break from all the lace-ups that are everywhere this season (not that we don’t adore lace-ups—we definitely do!).

We’re excited about all the new styles at Ped, but we confess one little boot has us in a particular tizzy: Cydwoq’s Iota!

We’ve loved a lot of lace-up ankle boots in the past, but, without a doubt, the Iota is our favorite engineer boot EVER! The way the leather comes together is wonderful, but what we like best is how the leather is an “aging” black, which means over time it acquires a brownish patina. So cool! In Japan, they have a special term, sabi, for the beauty that comes with time and wear!

Needless to say, there are more new designs to ooh and aah over at Ped’s main site, with still more on the way! Stay tuned, Ped fans because the sun may be setting on summer, but this fall promises to be spectacular!

Do you belong to the church of Chie Mihara? Because for anyone who has suffered through long hours in high heels, discovering Chie Mihara is like finding religion! This Spanish designer preaches (and practices) the gospel that beautiful and feminine shoes can also be comfortable!

Born in Brazil to Japanese parents, Chie Mihara studied fashion design in Japan and New York City before establishing her company in Spain. Her multicultural background comes into play whenever she designs a shoe: Brazil’s celebration of the feminine, Japan’s penchant for innovative design, the get-it-done practicality of NYC, and Spain’s appreciation of craftsmanship. Her vintage-inspired styles, embellished with playful details, all feature a footbed Chie designed specifically to accommodate a woman’s foot. And once you’ve walked a mile in her heels, you’ll never again be satisfied with anything less.

Our first shipment of Chie Mihara’s fall styles just arrived, and in a word: WOW! Witness for yourself:

Oxfords are all the rage right now, and Chie gives hers a feminine twist:

A blue leather lace-up with three rows of ruffles? Be still our shoe-loving hearts! The Chie Mihara Loti has us under its spell!

But maybe you’re a member of Team Mary Jane rather than Team Oxford (not that you have to choose):

Fact of life: You can never have too many red shoes! And when you find one as pretty as Chie’s red suede Nilon, why resist temptation? We guarantee you”ll have no regrets—only shoe-wearing joy!

You say what you really want is a gorgeous ankle boot? Chie, again, answers your prayers:

It’s as if Ms. Mihara has magically melded a Victorian lace-up with a riding boot and thrown in a little extra ‘zazz to create the Narista!

For those who like to amp up the volume both in terms of height and unabashed femininity, prepare to say oo-la-la:

Altogether now, “OOH-LA-LA!” The Vasca is the height of old-school Hollywood glamour!

We love that ocean blue leather, but some days we want to step into the world with bang-pow-razzle-dazzle-wow:

Hello, Veranito! This fringy, ruffled, fuchsia peep-toe is Chie’s gift to femme fetales everywhere! Go forth and be fabulous!

And there are five more equally amazing, new Chie styles at the main Ped site. So cast those misery-making, ankle-aching stilettos into the back of the closet, and shout, “Hallelujah!” because Chie Mihara’s heels are nothing short of heaven!

(And, just fyi, this week’s “Sweet Treat” is Trippen’s über edgy Stream sandal boot. Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of this page or any Ped page, and you’ll land at the Stream with the magic code to give you 20% off at checkout.)

Some of you Ped fans have let us know how much you adore clogs! It’s true there’s nothing like the feeling of wood beneath your feet—so solid yet comforting. But we wouldn’t be Ped if we simply offered run-of-the-mill clogs, especially when we know your toes want to be free to enjoy the summer! So, we combed our sources to find a few especially beautiful wood-bottomed sandals that will speak to your stylish souls as well as your soles.

Although we hate to play favorites (we truly love all our shoes), Trippen’s Ritzy is the stand-out style of the season:

It is just IT! Starting with the fabulous way the supple black leather crisscrosses and wraps around your ankle and ending with how the wooden sole gives you a window on the world beneath your heel, the Ritzy is like no other sandal out there. Fun, edgy, and sexy!

Another clog sandal with head-turning power is Giraudon’s Riley:

The lines of this airy peep-toe are so interesting, and we love how the ankle lacing gives the subtle suggestion of an ankle boot. Absolutely of the moment! (And the gold lining is so fun!)

But maybe what you like in a clog is the ability to just slip it on and go, in which case Trippen has your number with the Zen:

Nothing could be simpler to wear, yet the Zen still has enough ‘zazz to make any outfit juicy! After all, who doesn’t love a red sandal?

Another easy-to-wear style with a sole of hand-sculpted wood is the Cydwoq Revolt, a perennial Ped favorite:

Cute and practical, this sandal makes a great traveling companion (slide off, slide on when navigating airport security). And because it’s from Cydwoq, you know the Revolt’s leather will comply with the shape of your individual foot for a custom fit.

So, clog lovers, choose whichever wood-soled siren sings your name, and take a solid step into summer!

(Psst, just fyi, this week’s “sweet treat,” Cydwoq’s Proud, will only be especially sweet for a couple more days, so click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner for 20% off while you still can.)

When winter’s greys finally turn to green, our thoughts turn to sandals! Nothing’s more delicious than wriggling your bare toes in new grass, but pavement, hot sand, and the aisles at the grocery store require you to put a little something beneath your soles. It doesn’t have to be much, though, and it can feel almost as good as dancing barefoot across the lawn.

Behold a few of Ped’s light and airy treasures.

Hands down, one of the prettiest sandals this season is Coclico’s Victorae:

This sweetheart is so simple—the easiest of t-straps—yet it opens eyes with its vine of leaves running up the center. With a .5″ wedge, it’s not quite flat, but it’s as comfortable as a walk in the park.

When it comes to designing flats that keep feet happy, nobody compares to Cydwoq’s Rafi Balouzian. The man knows just what we like! Case in point, Cydwoq’s Attract:

Cut from a single piece of leather, the upper incorporates an ankle strap, which is so of-the-moment! We also love how the soft yellow color is unusual yet muted enough to go with almost everything in your closet.

Another favorite from Cydwoq is the Bare:

Sandals don’t get more minimal than this perfectly designed little number! When you can’t go barefoot, the Bare is the next best thing! (And how fun is that sassy red leather?)

When it comes to color, though, everyone knows I lean toward green. So, I swooned when I discovered Cordani’s Sarah:

The pistachio leather is so fresh I could almost bite it! But then my feet would be deprived of this flat’s supreme comfort. With a full rubber sole, the Sarah is perfect for navigating all kinds of terrain.

Another great travel sandal that offers a fresh variation on the gladiator look is  Cydwoq’s Mandarine:

Also available in black, this is the one sandal you won’t want to take off because it looks great with everything! (Your other sandals will  be jealous as they gather dust.)

Want your gladiator to have a funkier edge? There’s a flat for that! It’s Cydwoq’s Elect:

Super cute. Super cool. Super comfortable. Cydwoq does it again!

And, believe it or not, there are even more fantastic flat sandals at the Ped site just waiting to help your feet breathe easy!

(Psst, don’t forget this week’s Sweet Treat is Cydwoq’s Flap Bag. Get 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner on any Ped page.)