We can’t help it! When March comes along, we feel like tossing off our winter coats and dancing outside! Tulips and daffodils are opening to the sun! Daylight is stretching languidly into the evening! And the mercury is on the upswing . . .

Which is what trips us up every year! We always think (wish, hope) the last of winter’s chill is behind us before it really is. The temptation is to bust out our barest sandals, which leads to literally cold feet, especially after the sun goes down. It’s best to ease into the season, giving our sun-craving soles a taste of fresh air without fully exposing them to the elements. Happily, Ped has just the shoes for making the transition from nippy weather to days of ice-tea and lemonade.

Good news: you don’t have to give up your oxfords to let your tootsies taste the breeze. Just lace up Argila’s Natalie:

An oxford with air-conditioning! The sandy color is a cinch to wear with almost everything in your wardrobe, and the pinked edges are so fun!

Another terrific aerated lace-up is Trippen’s perennially popular Golf:

An ideal walking shoe, the Golf’s Euro-edgy looks and comfortable perforated leather will make you the envy of everyone you pass. (“Pardon me, where did you get those great shoes?)

Cydwoq also knows a thing or two about comfortably walking from early spring right through summer and on into fall, as evidenced by the new Malba:

Bare your heels, while keeping your toes enclosed! We’re crazy about the thong detail, which adds just the right touch to the innovative design. (Not a fan of turmeric? The Malba also comes in fresh sage.)

Another great way to cool your heels is with Cydwoq’s wonderful Orient:

The leather is KNIT! How cool is that? This easy slide immediately became a Ped favorite last year. This year we also have it in black, for those of you who favor all things noir.

“Those are all great weekend shoes,” you may be saying, “but what about something transitional for work?” The answer: Cydwoq’s Poa:

We don’t know how Cydwoq keeps coming up with artistic variations on the classic mary jane, but we’re just glad they do! Dressy, yes, but not too, the Poa stands apart with its luscious lavender leather!

Looking for a transitional heel to boost your height? Cydwoq’s Prairie is just the thing:

The perfect compromise between a sandal and a shoe, this slingback peep-toe is incredibly versatile in addition to being a sophisticated stunner!

If you like the Prairie, but you’re still wishing for something taller and juicier, say good day to Fiorentini + Baker’s Floss:

Good day, indeed! WOW! And just wait until you slide your foot inside the super supple leather of this green dream! De-lish!

Over at Ped’s main site, there are even more ways to walk from winter into warm weather. So, ease your feet back into the outside world! They’ll say, “Aaaah!” while all your fans say, “Ooooh!”

February sometimes seems like the longest month of the year, despite have the fewest days! Good thing someone thought to plop Valentine’s Day smack in the middle of it! For one day, at least, the grey chill is mitigated by red roses, red hearts, and red you-name-it!

At Ped, we heart red all year long, but since it’s Valentine’s Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate its juiciness, its warmth, its flair, and its ability to sass up any outfit! Behold below a few of our favorite rosy-hued things to set your hearts on fire:

Let’s start with a shoe that’s perfect for transitioning from winter to spring: Cydwoq’s Buckle.

What a sweetheart! It looks fantastic with skirts. It looks terrific with pants. It looks stellar any way you wear it! And what a luscious wine red!

Perhaps your way of dealing with February’s greyness is to jet off to a tropical destination. If so, make sure to pack Cydwoq’s Thong:

This simple sandal is the very essence of relaxation! Easy-going and chic, it will stay comfortable for as many miles as you care to stroll. And its red is guaranteed to turn every head!

“Nice try,” you may be thinking, “but some of us are office-bound for the foreseeable future.” Don’t despair! Liven up work with Chie Mihara’s Vaive!

The most beautiful heeled oxford we’ve seen, the Vaive wins hearts with rosettes blooming along its side. Blue Mondays don’t stand a chance when you lace up the red-hot Vaive!

Need something to spice up date night? Chie Mihara has just the ticket! Say hello to the Xifon!

Oh my! What a temptress! Whomever you’ve set your sights on will be powerless to resist you when you wear this red suede charmer!

For those of you who prefer grrrrl to girly-girl, you can get your red fix with Fiorentini + Baker’s Eli Bootie:

Rugged, ruddy, and ridiculously comfortable, this ankle boot lets you put a little badass in your beauty. (Leave it to the Italians!)

At Ped, our love of red goes beyond shoes. Feast your eyes on the rouge-a-licious beauty of Cydwoq’s Flap Bag!

Cydwoq’s genius of design, Rafi, has subtly combined angles and curves in this go-everywhere bag. Practicality meets artistry, with a generous helping of red!

Want to express your fondness for red on a smaller scale? Consider Jamie Joseph’s Round Carnelian Ring:

Stunning! The angles of the facets contrast beautifully with the gem’s circular shape. Let your fingers do the flirting!

Of course, at the end of the day, it is still February, so staying warm is of the essence. Why not wrap up in Epice’s Jardin Scarf?

Loomed from the softest wool, this lovely will keep you cozy, while its red and fuchsia palette will chase away the winter blues.

There is more red loveliness to discover over at Ped’s main site. Happy Valentine’s Day, Ped fans—you put the color in our cheeks and a song in our hearts!

(Although not red, this week’s Sweet Treat is certainly luscious: Trippen’s Fox wedge bootie. Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page to be whisked to the Fox, where you will find the code that brings 20% off at checkout! Foxy!)

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!)

Here at Ped, we love organic materials—leather, wool, cotton, wood! Plus we we have a sentimental soft spot for clogs. But old-school clogs with wooden soles, are often, um, how shall we say, frumpy? And, as Ped fans know, “frumpy” and Ped simply do not mix!

Fortunately, some of our favorite designers have taken a new turn with wood, creating shoes, clogs, and sandals, where the only adjectives beginning with “f” that spring to mind are fantastic, fabulous, and FUN! Of course, each sole is meticulously cut, sculpted and sanded by hand for maximum comfort and pizazz! Behold a few of our woody favorites:

Proving a wood sole can be unbelievably chic, Ellen Verbeek’s Caressa is a total knockout!

Ellen Verbeek perfectly balances the elements—the mix of colors, the lacing in the back, and the cutout wooden wedge—for maximum impact! We especially love how the black strap circles through the cutout under the instep. So cool!

Another sexy heeled sandal with an ingenious design is Coclico’s Lucifer:

Notice how the bottom strap is actually a t-strap that ducks under the others to meet up with cutout straps at the ankle! For you gals who love adding a few inches to your height, the Lucifer‘s 4.25″ wooden heel lets you rise above the crowd, while the 1″ wooden platform up front keeps the pitch comfortable at 3.25″.

Ped’s newest line, Vic Matie, takes things in a slightly different direction by combining wooden soles with leather-wrapped heels. A beautiful example is the Allegra:

So sophisticated but also versatile, thanks to the Allegra‘s slate grey color—an ideal summer neutral. The hand-sculpted and sanded wooden sole feels wonderful against your bare skin!

Experimenting with more traditional clog construction while creating fun, kick-around-town styles, Vialis has the hippest wood in the house this season. Check out the Gabriela:

The way this sandal clog’s straps weave in and out over the toe calls to mind a fisherman’s sandal—if a fisherman’s sandal were super-stylish and sassy! Another thing we love is the meticulous way the leather is stapled to the sole. Craftsmanship!

If you prefer nails to staples, then take a look at Vialis’s cute-as-can-be Delfina slingback:

So much to love from the sweet lacing to the “asphalto” suede (a stellar greyish brown with just a smidgeon of green) to the padded insole! The Delfina is ideal for wearing with summer skirts and walking shorts!

Of course, if you’re looking for the ultimate clog, one that pays homage to the classic style while taking it to a new level, then look no further than Fiorentini + Baker’s Zilla Clog:

Wow. Just wow. Ever fabulous, Fiorentini + Baker has taken the basic architecture of an old-school clog and made it irresistibly sexy and sophisticated! The Zilla‘s brass studding is simply to die for! Wow.

As always, there are plenty more wood-soled beauties to admire at Ped’s main site! So, wouldn’t you like a wooden shoe?

(Psst, this week’s Sweet Treat is also as comfortable as they come: Trippen’s foot-loving Casanova! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Casanova with a discount code that will romance you with 20% off at checkout. Why not give in to Casanova’s charms?)
Tweet