We Ped-sters tend to resist trends, but I admit we’ve fallen hard for the latest “in”: platform sandals! Wedges and sky-high heels have dominated the runway for several years, but now they’ve received a jolt of retro power via the addition of platforms á la the 1970s (and before that, the 1940s). This vintage kick has more going for it than just being cute; it makes adding a few inches of height oh so comfortable. With a 1.5″ platform up front, a 4″ heel suddenly becomes a cinch to wear because the pitch is only 2.5″. No pain, all gain!

We went a little crazy with the platforms this season, but we think you’ll agree each one is something special. Here are just a few to whet your appetite for height.

There’s no better way to welcome warm weather than with a big pop of color! So, say, “Good day!” to Chie Mihara’s Hito:

You’ll be walking sunshine in this curry suede number! Make that tall walking sunshine because the wedge is a sassy 4″—but figure in the 1.25″ platform, and the pitch is an easily manageable 2.75″. You’ll have your head in the clouds from all the compliments swirling around you!

Another platform that seems like summer incarnate is Cordani’s Erin:

Who doesn’t love an espadrille? The combination of the braided raffia on the platform and the pistachio green suede is so fresh!

These shoes may look substantial, but all of them are light on your feet. Case in point,  Coclico’s cork-soled Metalmark:

We love the modern, urban edge the straps and rivets bring to this sole that’s reminiscent of disco days.

Speaking of 1970s vibes updated for the 21st century, check out Chie Mihara’s Riana:

The laser-cut circles that form the straps on this chunky-heeled platform really come to life once this beauty is on your foot. The 3″ heel—which would be fine even without the platform—is super easy with the 1″ lift up front.

But if you’re a little more ambitious about enhancing your height and setting fire to the streets, then look no further than Chie’s Voy:

Ay, caramaba! This knockout is so hot it just might give the sidewalk blisters (but never your tootsies)! You’ll be a modern-day disco inferno walking on the Voy’s 4.5″ heel, but the 1.25″ platform in front will keep your stride cool and confident.

Head over to Ped’s main site for even more ways to stand tall while staying comfortable. We’re sure you’ll find a platform to believe in!

Whoohoo—everyone is having such a blast in the Ped warehouse with all the new shipments arriving! It’s one thing to pick out what styles to offer from various designers, and it’s another to have them in our hot little hands! Every box that lands on the doorstep guarantees another round of oohs and aahs when we open it.

A running theme in this season’s sandals and shoes is a focus on the ankle. When I was little, I remember hearing people say a woman had “a well-turned ankle.” I always loved that phrase! So, it’s especially fun to know Ped’s customers are going to have ankles worth a second look this season! Whether wrapped in laces or encircled with sexy straps, the ankles of anyone wearing one the following numbers are destined to be “well-turned.”

Lots of Ped fans love Cydwoq’s Bare sandal. Well, Cydwoq’s Rafi has taken the best of the Bare and amped up the heat by adding an ankle strap. Behold the new Naked:

S-s-s-sizzling! Say no more.

Speaking of Cydwoq, the ever-popular Defend is back this year, sporting a sassy new copper color:

Two, two, two ankle straps are better than one! Well, for some gals, at least. (As Tim Gunn would say, “Chacon a son gout.”)

You say you want even more? Trippen hears you! Get an eyeful of the gorgeous Exotic wedge:

Now that’s a strappy ankle strap (don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it looks)! And this peep-toe stands on Trippen’s oh-so-comfortable t-shaped wedge. Sexy and comfortable—that’s the way we like it at Ped!

But maybe you’re one of those gals who lives for clogs, in which case, Trippen hears you again! How cool is the wooden sole on Trippen’s new Ritzy?

We just can’t get enough of that window in the heel! We love how its airiness finds an echo in the way the ankle strap wraps.

Speaking of wrapping, Trippen also excels at designing styles with laces that twine and vine around your ankle. Case in point, the cuter-than-cute Fish:

We love how Trippen leaves the way you wrap this flat’s double laces to your whim—vine and tie them in front, twine and tie them in back, whatever you fancy.

If you’re a Fiorentini + Baker fan (and who isn’t?), you’re going to swoon over the gladiator-inspired Tessa:

Now that’s a sandal guaranteed to turn your ankle into an attention magnet! Wow–and it’s red, our favorite, although it also comes in black.

Still we know some Ped gals prefer to be a little more understated. Argila’s Elsie is demure without being a bit boring (it’s got that girl-next-door sex appeal going for it):

So pretty! Plus, it’s wonderful to wear and will go with pretty much everything in your spring and summer wardrobe.

These are just a few angles on how to enhance your ankles! Click over to Ped to find even more ways to get that well-turned look! We know you’re going to heat up the joint!

Many Ped fans are about to enter that confusing season when it’s warm enough to shed the wooly socks and tights but not quite warm enough to bust out the sandals. We know you love your winter boots, but we’re pretty sure your tootsies have the foot equivalent of cabin fever and would appreciate a breath of fresh air and some time in the sun. So, when the snow melts and you’re ready to bare some but not all, here are a few ways to make your toes happy.

Let’s start with an appropriately named cutie from Cydwoq: the Warm!

Made from the prettiest berry-colored newbuck, this laid-back flat practically sings, “Spring!” No muss, no fuss, just a great skip-around-town shoe that looks fantastic with warm-weather skirts and walking shorts.

Another charmer in the color category is Trippen’s Light:

Purple Mary Janes!!! Is there a more fun way to put the drab days of winter behind you? Nope, we didn’t think so! What’s nice about the Light is not only is it wonderful worn barefoot, thanks to a cork insole that molds to your foot, but it’s also terrific with tights on those not-yet-summer days when the mercury dips.

Need something a little dressier for the office or perhaps a cocktail party? Then slip your foot into Cydwoq’s Town:

We love how this vintage-inspired shoe is just conservative enough without losing its sauce! The leather is gorgeous, and the heel is a Gaudi-inspired work of art (be sure to check out the additional views at the Ped site to appreciate the etched design).

But maybe you want a shoe with a true bohemian edge. The coolest women at the Paris shoe show were all wearing Trippen’s Omen:

Leave it to our favorite Germans to create a style that echoes a boot but is more open to the elements. The color is a beautiful grey that leans toward lavender, and the riveted strap around the ankle pulls it all together!

Another cutting-edge contender is Cydwoq’s Alter:

The washed leather (our new favorite!) of this shoe-sandal hybrid is the most luscious shade of olive green, with exposed edges the color of budding leaves. So urban and arty, it’s the perfect way to take your feet out and about as the seasons change.

We’ve barely skimmed the surface of what’s new at Ped to help you make the transition from winter to spring and on into summer. Click over to the main Ped site to get an eyeful of even more options for what to wear as the weather warms up!

Spring probably seems as distant as the moon for many Ped fans this week! So much snow in so many places! Perhaps you could use a trip to sunny Spain about now? Well, if you can’t rearrange your schedule to jet off to Madrid or Barcelona or Majorca, Ped has the next best thing: a bevy of new Spanish styles that will remind you green grass and warm weather are only a few weeks away!

One designer who knows how to turn up the heat is Chie Mihara, who lives and makes her shoes in Elda, Spain. Her vintage-inspired styles are always girly and fun without being fussy. Plus, Chie is the undisputed queen of creating comfortable heels! Case in point, the Rocosa:

Be still our foolish hearts! What a glorious heel, full of retro funk in a modern, wearable package! It’s all about the details with Chie Mihara, and the way the laser-cut design, the topstitching, and the seam down the front all work together is stunning. Plus, the Rocosa’s 3″ heel is perfectly comfortable due to the 1″ lift up front!

You may prefer your heels a little lower, though, in which case, join us in sighing over Chie’s new Cidra:

Delicious! Who doesn’t love a red sandal? Chie found her inspiration for the t-trap in Indian paisley. (Fun fact: the paisley shape echoes the shape of a mango). So pretty, and the heel is an easy 2″.

But maybe you’re a gal who thinks flat is where it’s at. In that case, we’re sure you’ll agree the new Chie Mihara Wonder is well-named:

Too cute! In fact, Ped’s Laura has been chattering about the Wonder ever since it arrived last week. “Look at the fringe! Can you believe they’re little bows? Don’t you think this sandal would be good for my vacation in March?” We’re all kind of relieved she finally decided to buy it (not that it’s not worth talking about).

Another line we love from Spain is Argila. Founder Pep Monjo grew up in a family of shoemakers, but he also studied shoe design in Milan, Italy and worked for several European shoemakers before returning to his hometown of Menorca to set up his own business. And what a biz it is! Argila wows us every time with cutting-edge designs and expert craftsmanship. To see what we mean, take a look at the just-in Eliana:

We are wild about the cool aloe color of the suede–so fresh for warm weather! And the style? Well, it speaks for itself (and in a beautiful voice)!

Argila also has your number if you’re a gal who likes to show a little skin when the mercury rises. People will be mopping their brows, when you step out in the Zoe:

What’s a four-letter word for Zoe? SEXY!!! But for all its bareness, this strappy sandal will last for years because it’s so beautifully made.

Speaking of hot sandals that will let you salsa through spring and summer, how gorgeous is Cydwoq’s Gaudi?

Although not technically from Spain (this knockout is handmade in California), the Gaudi sprang from Rafi Balouzian’s recent trip to Barcelona, where he fell in love with the city’s art and architecture. The eye-opening cut-work is inspired by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi’s artistry.

Looking at all this loveliness from Spain, don’t you feel a little sunnier already? And there are more Spanish stunners to keep you smiling at the Ped site. Muy bonita! Bring on the spring!

We love our reliable favorites here at Ped, but every now and then it’s fun to spice things up by trying a few new things. Last spring we introduced 49 Square Miles bags and Argila shoes to Ped’s lineup, and this fall we’re seasoning the season with a few more fresh designers we hope will make you smile.

First up, the ultra-cool, wood-soled footwer of Swedish Hasbeens. Yes, they’re clogs, but they’re so much more! Inspired by the love-the-earth style of the 1970s, Swedish Hasbeens crafts their shoes from sustainably forested wood and chrome-free, vegetable-tanned leathers. You can feel good about your shoes without sacrificing a scintilla of style. Here, see what we mean:

How rocking are these apple green Jodphurs? We are officially in love—as are several well-known celebrities, like Sarah Jessica Parker, who has been snapped wearing Swedish Hasbeens’ Peep Toe on the set of the next Sex and the City movie. It’s definitely a cutie:

And just in time for when the mercury plunges, Rain + Jack arm warmers have arrived. We’ve known Helen Sharp and Si Doi, the creative hands and minds behind Rain + Jack, since the days when Ped was a brick-and-mortar store in Seattle, so we’re delighted to carry their luxe, Australian lambswool, fingerless gloves. Even better, Rain + Jack custom knits Ped’s arm warmers in our favorite color combos. For instance, chocolate and tiffany blue:

And you Ped fans know how much I love all things green:

Another new addition to Ped’s family is Pepita, a whimsical jewelry line out of Milan, Italy created by Sveva Camarati, who learned to appreciate beautifully crafted miscellany in her grandmother’s atelier. Sveva’s fabulous way of combining antique baubles and fabric beads has already proven popular with you Ped fans! Her dazzling creations barely make it out of the box before they whiz out the Ped warehouse door on their way to new homes. If you haven’t had a chance to drool over Pepita yet, here are a couple of our favorite pieces:

This Florinda necklace is where it all began for me. I saw it while traveling, tried it on, and never looked back. It’s unlike anything else, with flowers formed from clusters of tiny hand-sewn fabric spheres, interspersed with antique brass beads.

Another Pepita eye-opener is the Angela bracelet:

We think all these newcomers fit right in at the Ped party. (They certainly know how to start a conversation!) And we have still more ways to wow on the way–including a new shoe line! So, stay tuned.