You may have noticed, Ped fans, that this autumn, it’s all about the ankle boot! Sweet and low booties have held sway for several years now, but this season the designs go above and beyond. They’re sexier! They’re more versatile! And they boast more street sass!

So many knockout styles have landed at Ped HQ that we’re breaking our bootie tour into two parts. Today we’ll stay well-grounded with flat boots, and in our next post, we’ll amp up the altitude with heeled designs.

On with the bootie-ful show:

If you’re someone who likes things lean and clean, with zero fuss, Fiorentini + Baker has your holy grail: the Elf!

Simplicity at its chicest, crafted with good lines and lovely materials! We are crazy about the “Bosco” suede version, which is a light tobacco that looks great with everything, but if you must have black, we’ve got your back!

Minimal bells and whistles and maximal softness are also the key elements of the Trippen Bomb:

The Bomb‘s buckle strap is removable, so you can cinch or un-cinch, scrunch or un-scrunch, or even fold the top over, depending on your mood. The washed leather is sinfully buttery (how to stop touching it?), no matter whether you choose the washed brown version shown or the washed black.

Pep Monjo builds a cinching buckle strap right into the design of his Sybil boot:

We love this modern re-imagining of the classic motorcycle boot! Grey is still all the rage and makes a great neutral. Then again, a black boot is always a good bet!

Another convincing argument for going grey–at least, at the ankles–is Cydwoq’s new Mechanic:

How we heart this hearty lace-up with its cool piecing and top-stitching! And the Vibram rubber lug sole means the Mechanic is tooled for all-weather walking!

If you like a little extra fun in your functional bootie, the following three styles might have your name on them. First up, the Cydwoq Beacon is back with extra flair:

The Beacon was one of our biggest hits last year! For extra flash, we’ve added a splash of green and orange plaid suede to the mix. The result? The perfect fall bootie!

Trippen lives up to its reputation for playful designs by stitching a puzzle piece into its new Game boot:

Crafted from unbelievably soft leather, the Game is funky but still versatile and ideal for everyday wear! And who doesn’t love a zipper up the back?

Of course, if we’re talking zippers, our new be-zipped favorite is Trippen’s Helix!

How fun is this boot???!!!??? Not only is the spiral zipper innovative and entertaining, but it also allows you to wear this boot any number of ways! The coolest boot in the house, hands–er, feet–down!

As always, there are even more great flat-soled ankle boots awaiting your discovery at Ped’s main site! In any of these booties, getting caught flat-footed is a good thing!

(And don’t miss this week’s “endless summer” Sweet Treat, the Cydwoq Crete! Become a Greek goddess for 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages. When you land at the Crete with the “Sweet Treat” designation, just add it to your bag to get the discount automatically at checkout.)

Here’s one to lace up and love, Ped fans! This week’s Sweet Treat is the sassy Cydwoq Sight. Click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most pages at www.pedshoes.com, and when you land at the Sight with the “Sweet Treat” designation, pop it in your bag to get an automatic 20% off at checkout!

Give your toes a peep!

Ped fans, we know how it is. You fall in love with a pair of rockin’ shoes, sandals, or boots, but then you resist their siren call because you can’t envision what you’d wear them with—and who wants to spend money on something that’s lovely yet languishes in the closet?

Don’t despair, we’re here to help! Below, you’ll find ideas for how to wear several of our bolder designs this season. With luck, these outfits will jump-start your own creativity, and before you know it your imagination will be off and running with ways your sole desire would work with your wardrobe.

Not surprisingly, one of the most whimsical styles this season comes from Chie Mihara! Her Ingra is the essence of  “summer,” but its color palette may seem challenging at first glance. It’s actually more adaptable than you might think. Here’s one way we’d love to wear it:

This easy-going dress from Cotélac falls just above the knee, with a hint of a drop waist and a dash of 1920s pizazz, which works perfectly with the Ingra’s oxford sensibility. We’ve added Sophie Digard’s Etoiles necklace for added flapper-esque flair. Nothing here matches per se, but it all “goes” in a wonderful way! Sunday brunch, anyone?

Another Chie Mihara shoe that we adore is the Obara, with its mix of textures and colors. Don’t underestimate its versatility:

The lovely Accessoire Babeth is perfect for a night on the town, but it plays equally well as a casual day shoe:

We love the look of a wedge platform with cropped trousers—it’s the ideal antidote to frumpiness! We’re also all for mixing patterns! Combining Epice’s striped Montauk Scarf with the abstract floral of the Cotélac top creates a visual party that will have people smiling everywhere you go.

As every Ped fan knows, we advocate boots all year long, but we realize some people think boots and sundresses look a bit jeune. But they don’t have to, as illustrated by this use of Fiorentini + Baker’s Nicky Boot:

This is how to go retro-mod while still looking sexy and modern! The clean and bold lines of Cydwoq’s Bright Bag work beautifully with the dress and booties—three easy pieces for day-tripping in the city of your choice!

If your penchant for vintage runs to an earlier era, check out this idea for showing off the Vialis Zarita:

Red will always turn heads, especially when you look like a 1940s Hollywood starlet! (By the way, read this study of just how persuasive wearing red can be.) Just for fun, we’ve pushed the red envelope with Jamie Joseph’s knockout Round Carnelian Ring!

See? When you open your mind to the possibilities, every pair of Ped shoes becomes infinitely wearable! (Otherwise, we wouldn’t carry it.) The whole idea is to have fun with what you wear! Go forth and be bold with your soles!

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again (and again): We love a beautiful wedge! Let us count the ways: 1) they give our height a boost; 2) they provide solid support; and 3) they’re easy to wear (no balancing act required)!

Now with the retro rage for all things 1970s, the wedge has gotten even better by extending into a full platform under the forefoot and toe. The lift up front offsets the inches in back, so you get all of the height without the steep pitch! High style + high comfort = A tall drink of happiness!

Here are just a few ways to step up this summer:

As we mentioned, most of the platform wedges rock the retro look, but Accessoire’s knockout Babeth exudes less 1970s glam and more 1940s Hollywood glamor:

The navy suede is positively luminous, and the tie at the ankle makes this sandal super chic! Can’t you just imagine a pinup queen like Betty Grable breaking hearts in this beauty? (In fact, check out the sandals in this photo of 1940s movie star Yvonne De Carlo!)

What would happen if a designer took the best of  the 1940s and mixed it with the boldness of the 1970s? Coclico has the answer: the Mori!

The design of the suede upper flirts with the ’40s, while the chunky yet lightweight cork platform echos the ’70s, all in one sweet modern package! We love the versatility of the taupe suede version pictured, but the Moris comes in a lustrous cobalt blue, too!

Coclico also uses this comfortable cork sole for the equally wonderful Melania:

The wedge platform slopes from 2.75″ at the heel to 1.5″ under the toe, making the pitch an easy-peasy 1.25″. If you’re looking for something a little brighter than this rich hazelnut version, consider the Melania in sunny dandelion!

Vialis adopts the same heel:toe ratio as Coclico for its two cork-soled lovelies. First up, the Vialis Jacinta:

How cool is this sandal? We can’t get enough of how the heel strap curves up from the inside arch and then laces diagonally through the two bands over the foot! Plus, the asphalt grey suede pairs easily with most any outfit.

The Vialis Francyn is also worth writing home about:

Several designers are extending the uppers down onto the soles this season, but Vialis goes one better by taking the suede down and around the back! (Not to mention the woven work on the toe band is magnificent!)

Wood also makes a wonderful wedge platform, as demonstrated by the Trippen Strahl:

So much to love here! From the twice-dyed leather to the rubber on the outsole that echoes the underside of the leather to the radiating strap design to the smooth sanded wood, the Strahl is a height-enhancing treat!

But perhaps our favorite platform wedge this season comes from those Italian shoe maestros at Fiorentini + Baker. Feast your eyes on the stunning Dany:

Now this is how to rock the ’70s retro look! The bold suede t-strap with its stud-a-licious good looks is guaranteed to make you the center of attention! The dark grey “asfalto” version pictured is both unique and versatile, but we also have the Dany in a winner-takes-all mattone red!

So many great ways to wedge your way into summer. Get high on shoes! Power to the platform, right on!

(By the way, don’t miss this week’s fantastic Sweet Treat: Fiorentini + Baker’s Nicky ankle boot! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to be whisked to the Nicky, where you’ll find the magic code that takes 20% off at checkout.)

Around this time every year, we start thinking about how things feel. We’re layering up to keep the cold out, and it starts to matter whether things are scratchy or soft, coarse or silky. Our fingers crave something nice to touch—and nothing’s nicer than reaching down and finding the satisfaction of suede on our feet!

Suede has the added benefit of making its colors really pop! Want to know the remedy for an overcast day? Hued suede shoes for dancing down the street! Allow us to show you what we mean:

When it comes to beautiful suede designs, Accessoire is in a league of its own! Say hello to the head-turning Ulrich:

How yummy is this shoe? The design is innovative and chic, and the cassis color is, in a word, intoxicating!

If you’re looking for a neutral, perhaps you’d like to slip on Accessoire’s Ueda:

Versatility gets a flash of French flair in this super-soft number, which easily shifts from a day in the office to a night on the town! (Mocha too low key? Then check out the Ueda in brilliant red!)

Work schmork—this time of year, it’s all about the after-five parties! Accessoire once again has just the thing with the Vram:

If you’re hoping to tie a certain someone around your little finger, this knot-embellished suede hottie is a good place to start! Holy moly—don’t be surprised if the sprinkler system kicks on when you walk in the door!

Fiorentini + Baker is also famous for having a way with suede! One of our favorite ankle boots this season is F+B’s Pansy (which we just got back in stock):

Simple yet devastatingly sexy! And because it’s made by F+B’s master craftsmen, every detail is meticulously rendered! Get ready for a lot of boot envy! (We also have the Pansy in luscious brown!)

Looking for a suede bootie that’s a little less “lady”? Let your inner cowgirl out to play in Fiorentini + Baker’s Enola:

Sassy city! Crafted in F+B’s go-with-everything grey ice suede, this little honey is flirty and kickass all at once. (Its brown version will also let you lasso hearts!)

Suede also plays well with matte leather in creative combos, as demonstrated by Cydwoq’s Regiment boot:

Pairing the zigzag-patterned suede shaft with the mocha leather body is a scheme I dreamed up and Rafi & co. executed! Hope you love this lace-up as much as I do!

Another terrific suede and leather ankle boot comes from Argila! Behold the oxford-styled Lauren:

From the wooden wedge to the perforated design over the toe to the pinked edges, this boot’s details are all pitch perfect!

Want even more funk and an even higher heel? Chie Mihara is happy to oblige with her fantastic Tamaia:

Plum suede, gold dots, and luxe black leather—what a tasty treat that will have everyone wishing they were in your shoes! It’s the heel deal!

Even more deliciously tactile suede designs are waiting at Ped’s main site. Let yourself be swayed by suede—your feet and fingertips will thank you!

(Speaking of tactile delights, this week’s Sweet Treat takes the cake: Cydwoq’s flirty Victim! Turn every head at every holiday party! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Victim, where you’ll find the magic code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)