Spring has arrived in Ped-land, and although we love how the leaves are leafing and the buds are budding, the daily variations in the mercury make getting dressed a challenge. The forecast may call for a warm afternoon, but, brrr, that first step out the door in the morning can be brisk. Which is why at this time of year, a scarf is our constant companion! Not only does it keep us cozy, but it also spices up outfits with a little extra zing. Once the temperature rises, we can either loosen it or take it off and tie it around our handbag’s strap (that way, we keep the zest).

Luckily, Ped has new scarves from both Mia Zia and Sophie Digard, ideal for navigating the transitional season. Here are just a few of our favorites:

We are wild about dots here at Ped, so Mia Zia’s Dotti Scarf is high on our list! It’s such an instant pick-me-up. Loomed from ultra-soft cotton, it feels so good against your skin.

You say you’d like a little texture  with your dots, thank you? Then say hello to Sophie Digard’s Gumdrop Scarf! Ms. Digard, our favorite Parisian textile artist, wows with this playful design that charms with multicolored velvet hemispheres hand-sewn to the prettiest colored linen (it also comes in grass green).

Speaking of green, the Mia Zia Willow Scarf received an invitation to join the Ped family the instant we saw it:

Doesn’t the color make you think of sunny days in the garden? Mia Zia’s woven fabrics are so exquisite that they have to be touched and seen in person to be fully appreciated! And if green isn’t your scene, the Willow also comes in go-with-everything grey.

Another grey beauty is Sophie Digard’s Bauble Scarf, created in linen for warm-weather wear:

Every tiny sphere adorning this crocheted masterpiece is a world unto itself—no two baubles are the same. Truly, Sophie’s creations are labor-intensive works of art!

Plus, we admire how she’s always changing things up and venturing in new directions! One of the most innovative scarves this season is Sophie’s Serendipity Scarf:

This striped wonder incorporates an organic-shaped curve in its design that makes it especially easy to twine around your neck or drape across your shoulders. And the colors? They make us daydream about beach cabanas under a Mediterranean sun by an azure sea.

Of course, if you long for a classic Sophie Digard scarf that expresses her unique approach to crochet-work and color, the linen Maccaron will make you smile:

In a word, tasty!

More wonderful scarves await at the Ped site! Settling on one may be hard, but, luckily, there’s absolutely no way to go wrong. So, wrap up and rock out!

The days are rarely frigid here in the Bay Area, but I know winter has been running roughshod over many of you Ped fans! I see photos of mounds of snow in the Midwest and on the East Coast and hear about day after day of icy temperatures everywhere. Brrrrr!!! When you’re simply trying to stay warm, style often gets relegated to the backseat.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Ped has lots of ways to keep cozy that also let you turn up the style temperature! (After all, your admirers count on you to lift their chilly spirits!)

Our mothers always told us, “Put a hat on!” They were wise because there’s no cuter way to combat the cold than with a Karin Wagner flower-embellished cap:

Our beloved Swiss mistress of textile art first hand-knits a cap of 100% soft wool and then pretties it up with her one-of-a-kind, hand-felted blossoms.

Now that your head is covered, let’s go to the other extreme and make sure your toes are toasty.

These striped tights from Antipast aren’t just snazzy (which they definitely are), they’re also 71% wool to keep your whole lower half warm when it’s cold!

One of the most practical fashion trends to come along has been arm warmers, which keep your wrists and palms snug while leaving your fingers free. We especially love the ones from Rain + Jack:

Rain + Jack combines the softest Australian lambswool with the most wonderful colors to warm your heart as well as your hands!

And, of course, you need a scarf! The winter wind will just have to blow down someone’s else’s neck when you wrap up in one of Sophie Digard’s woolen wonders:

We just got in this Wildflower Scarf and is it ever GORGEOUS!!! Each little velvet-centered flower is unique. With this wool beauty twined around your neck, you’ll be the envy of everyone who sees you!

But perhaps you live somewhere more temperate and only need a little something to stave off the chill. Sophie’s still your go-to gal because our Parisian queen of crochet also makes lighter linen scarves, like this Pastille Pop stunner:

Winter won’t last forever, but as long as it’s here, pull on your Ped and look and feel wonderful! Don’t let the ice keep you from feeling nice!

Admittedly, what follows is not exactly a “tale,” but we felt so happy after reading Frances Hersey’s note that she immediately became our October favorite. We really do think of you Ped fans as our friends—people who are unique and interesting—so it makes our day to find out that affection is mutual. Plus, we love the photo Frances sent, which had everyone at Ped Central smiling. (We do love a cute pooch!) So, without further ado, here’s what Frances wrote that made us blush and feel warm all over:

Oh, my gosh!! I am in love with the shoes and boots that you sent to me. I love them so much, and they are both so special and beautiful. I have the Chie Mihara’s on today, and they are just to die for.

This morning as I was getting ready for work I had the Fiorentini + Baker Emma Boot on, and I could live in those boots. They are incredible, and I truly think they are a work or art.  (Thank you also for the kind note that you sent—it made my day.) I really appreciate you remembering that I wanted to try the boots. They are even more incredible in person. I must have looked at them online a thousand times, and now I have them. I am in heaven.

Thank you for wonderful you and for your wonderful online store. Everything you sell is special and beautiful, and I am so appreciative and grateful that I found you. I also love my scarves and wear them almost everyday. Thank you for helping me look stylish and for being so great to work with. I am so thrilled with my new shoes and boots. Thank you, Dayna.

Frances and her sweet dog, Ruth, looking gorgeous in Sophie Digard scarves and Chie Mihara heels.

You are welcome, Frances!!! Doesn’t she look fantastic? She’s radiant! We like to think wearing Ped will do that for a gal. For being such a sweetheart and sending us such a great picture and lovely note, Frances gets $100 in Ped credit!

Do you have a Tale of the Sole? Tell us—and show us (we LOVE pictures!!!)—what happened to you while wearing a Ped item, and you, too, might be the recipient of $100 in Ped credit. Each month we pick the most sole-ful tale to share on the blog. So, let us know what in the world you’ve been doing in your Ped!

Dayna may be off having high tea in Singapore and riding elephants in Thailand, but Ped’s blog must go on! Laura, here, standing in for our fearless leader and bringing you great news: the latest shipment of Mia Zia loveliness has just arrived at Ped! Inspired by all things Moroccan, Mia Zia  is renowned for its way with tassels, stripes, and wonderfully woven textiles. Everything the company produces treasures is a delight to see and touch!

Here are a few of Mia Zia’s latest things that have everyone at Ped HQ swooning:

It’s as if Mia Zia took everything that’s good about summer and infused it into this fresh and playful Fiji scarf! The hand-printed stripes and tassels are so zesty! They make us want to kick up our heels and dance down the beach! (Maybe that’s what Dayna’s doing…)

MIa Zia’s crinkled silk scarf is luxurious and sophisticated without sacrificing its sense of fun. Silk is one of those wonderful fabrics that offers warmth in winter but remains airy and breathable in summer. Pretty as a scarf. Pretty as a shawl. Pretty as a sash wrapped around your waist!

Of all of Ped’s Mia Zia treasures, the Parisian Market basket, modeled on traditional baskets women take to bazaars throughout Morocco, may just be our favorite! This tightly woven raffia beauty is HUGE, which means it’s ideal for a day at the beach or a trip to the farmer’s market—or for catching everything you forgot to pack in your main suitcase when you’re bolting out the door to catch your plane. No matter what kind of a rush we’re in, those Mia Zia tassels never fail to make us smile!

So, why not add a little Moroccan spice to your life with Mia Zia?

Here in the U.S., today is Memorial Day, a holiday that honors war veterans (somber), but which also adds an extra day to the weekend (happy)! What a perfect time to hit the road—or the air or the tracks—for a refreshing getaway! Here at Ped HQ, we know just how rejuvenating a three-day break can be, and we like to practice what we preach! You don’t need much for a spur-of-the-moment mini vacation: just a great hold-all, versatile shoes, and something to keep you warm in case the temperature drops. To meet those needs, Ped’s road-tripping experts offer these recommendations:

1) 49 Square Miles spacious and luscious Kerouac Satchel:

The size is ideal; it holds everything you need—a change of clothes, a good book, and a scarf—but it keeps you from overpacking. And we simply can’t say enough about 49 Square Miles’ leather, which is the very definition of “supple.” Exquisitely crafted, the Kerouac will let you wander through a lifetime of long weekends!

2) Cydwoq’s versatile Elect sandal in bronze:

Oo-la-la, how we love this sandal! With its gladiator-esque styling and metallic faux crocodile leather, this flat is so modern. But because it’s handmade by Cydwoq, it’s like an old friend on your feet—comfortable enough to run around in 24 hours a day. Plus, the bronze color magically transforms from afternoon-casual to after-dark-dressy with the change of an outfit.

3) A cosy Sophie Digard scarf:

Behold Sophie’s lovely wool Edelweiss scarf, which is light enough for warm-weather wear. But Ped’s favorite Parisian textile artist also offers other choices, depending on how prone you are to feeling chilly. Those who start to shiver as soon as the sun sets may want to wrap up in a woolen beauty. But if you’re a gal who simply gets a few goosebumps, Sophie’s lighter linen fare may be all you need. Whichever you choose, you’ll look drop-dead gorgeous!

So hit the road in style and enjoy a few fun days away!