When I say the word “clog,” what comes to mind? I’ll tell you what I used to envision: comfy but clunky shoes standing in front of the bulk granola at the health food store.

But that was before VIALIS!

Those Spanish geniuses have taken the humble wood-soled clog and transformed it into blue-flame hotness, creating designs more appropriate for the catwalk than the checkout line at the co-op. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) What Vialis hasn’t changed is the comfort; every sandal and shoe offers mile after mile of blissful walking.

Plus, Vialis shoes are beautifully made with an eye to craftsmanship and detail. Check out this video that demonstrates why Vialis is so special:

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Is your curiosity piqued to see Ped’s new Vialis clogs? Get ready to have your socks knocked off (which is just fine because every pair feels fantastic barefoot)!

Let’s get this party started with a style that’s both sunny and sexy, Vialis’ Mimi:

The perfect companion for  your favorite summer dress or clamdiggers, this sandal will make everyone smile! A t-strap always elongates the leg line, but this one’s extra special, thanks to the central raised seam with contrast top-stitching—a little accent with big impact! (We also have the Mimi in versatile black.)

Vialis uses a similar detail to good effect in the Arabelle:

You know how much I adore a green shoe, and this shade makes me swoon! Then again, the Arabelle also sets off fireworks in red! And like every pair of Vialis clogs, a suede-covered padded footbed keeps the wood sole comfy!

If you prefer a closed toe, Vialis has you covered(!) with the Sara:

Mi corazon! This flirt of a shoe will win admirers everywhere you walk! We love the clean design, accented only by the exposed nail heads around the perimeter. Plus the seamed toe creates such an elegant line. (You noir lovers will be happy to hear this knockout also comes in black!)

Looking for something a little more casual but still smokin’? Feast your eyes on the Vialis Claudette:

Low key enough for work but still hot enough for after-five cocktails, the Claudette is an ideal go-to shoe. Wear it to run errands! Wear it to the Riviera! It’s as versatile as they come! (Plus we also have this beauty in azul blue.)

Not high on heels? Don’t worry, Vialis has something for you, too! How cute is the Sophie?

We love the playful take on oxford styling, especially the slightly oversized ribbon lacing! So fun!

If it’s color you’re after (and as I told you last post, it’s the wave of the future), drink in the loveliness of Vialis’ Lulu:

Oo la la, Lulu! Could that azul blue nubuck be any juicer? Only Vialis could spin the classic mary jane into such a dazzling clog!

But what about just a regular clog, you say? Well, yes, Vialis has that, too:

Lean, clean, and devastatingly chic—that’s the Vialis Claris! We adore the sage green nubuck, but this favorite clog also comes in go-with-everything sand.

So, clunk no more in traditional clogs! Step up to Vialis’ wood soles with soul!

(Speaking of wood, have you seen this week’s Sweet Treat, the Argila Allie? Its sculpted wooden heel is truly a thing of beauty—along with the rest of its retro-inspired design! Buckle it up for 20% off when you click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Allie with the magic discount code to enter at checkout.)

I don’t know about you, Ped fans, but when the trees lose their leaves and the temperature drops, I need something special to put the zip back in my step. Fortunately, a big box of Trippen has just arrived at Ped central! Those award-winning designers in Berlin know just how to liven up grey days with fun and funky footwear! But Trippen’s shoes and boots go beyond edgy and artistic; they’re also supremely comfortable, and most are cut to accommodate cozy socks.

Our latest shipment includes both old favorites and new styles to brighten your fall and winter! Here are a few ways Trippen will have you skipping through the chilly days ahead:

If you’re looking for a boot that’s understated and versatile, but also a little different, Trippen’s wonderful new Nightingale is just the thing:

This boot’s deliciously soft nubuck is further textured by a few carefully placed folds sewn along a seam near the back. The wine color is rich, but the detail we love is the zingy red zipper running up the inside of the shaft! It’s just a little detail, but it brings so much to the party.

Like the Nightingale, the go-anywhere Apart Bootie is also built on Trippen’s super light “cups” rubber sole. (You have to wear it to believe how comfortable it is!)

Big bang for your boot buck, the oh-so-supple Apart offers several ways to wear it: pulled up, scrunched down, or folded over into a cuff!

Offering options in a different way is Trippen’s Bomb Bootie:

This little beauty comes with both brown AND black straps that let you cinch up the ankle just the way you like it. Change them out as your fancy strikes you—or go strapless! The Bomb comes in the great espresso brown pictured above, as well as in matte black! It is THE BOMB!

Another terrific black ankle boot is Trippen’s new Fox:

Such a cutie!!! This innovative style pays homage to the lace-up oxford but raises the style ante with a supple gaiter that forms a loose ruffle around the ankle. Both funky and feminine, the foxy Fox stands on Trippen’s comfortable t-shaped rubber wedge!

We’ve also brought back the boot that won everyone’s heart last year: the Holy!

Those swooping exposed seams and the way the ankle strap laces through and around the upper make us sigh with love! So funky yet utterly wearable!

For those of you who want a jolt of color, check out Trippen’s Blackbird (cousin of the Nightingale above):

How luscious is that blue? Note the folds in the supple nubuck that radiate from the top of the heel to the seam that sinuously curves from the inside ankle over the foot to the outside edge. Such artistry!

If you want something even bolder, Trippen has just the ticket: the Mild Bootie. It’s our favorite!

Red hot! Definitely more wild than mild, this boot will have everyone talking! Buckle up because you’ll be the center of attention everywhere you go! (We also have the Mild in black for you fans of all things noir.)

These are just the tip of the iceberg of Trippen styles that will have you looking both cooler than cool and hotter than hot, no matter how wintry the day!

(By the way, this week’s Sweet Treat is also a bonfire of hotness: Vialis’ Marguerita Boot! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to arrive at the Marguerita with the discount code that will bring 20% at checkout!)

Can you believe the longest day of the year has already come and gone? Nevertheless, there’s still plenty of summer to enjoy, so we thought that as the days grow shorter, we’d shorten our prices! That way Ped fans can look like sensational in new shoes while reveling in the sand and sunsets, and still have a few dollars to spare for a summertime cocktail or two!

Here are just a few of the lovelies with even lovelier, lower prices!

Let’s start tall for those who love heels and gradually bring it down to earth for gals who are fond of flats. One designer who knows how to do heels is Chie Mihara, as evidenced by the Bankok:

Oo-la-la, such a sexy dominatrix of a buckle-licious sandal! Utterly rock ‘n’ roll at $428, it burns down the house at $342!

Another high-heeled hottie is Coclico’s Lucifer:

The design of the straps is so ingenious, and the sculpted wooden sole wows with its artistic lines! A looker at $364, it’s a knockout at $289!

Bringing the heel height down, Vialis amps up the sex appeal with the Belladonna:

Smoking hot, this sandal offers tough-girl beauty with buckle straps that dip down behind the heel and a zipper that rises up the back! Sassy at $378, it sizzles at $299!

Another beautiful heel that calls attention to your well-turned ankle is Fiorentini + Baker’s Tally:

Pretty as a picture at $378, the Tally is utterly gorgeous at $299!

Lower still in terms of heel height, Vialis offers the clean-lined Maribel that is as versatile as it is chic:

Simple yet packing a lot of punch, the Maribel stands on a heel that’s an ultra-wearable 2″. Great bang for your buck at $238, it’s even more of a stylish steal at $190!

But we know some of you like to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground, in which case Couple Of offers the fresh Lily ballet flat to help you pirouette through summer:

Isn’t the color of the suede delicious? A tasty treat at $238, the Lily is even sweeter at $149!

Another fantastic flat that let’s you walk the cutting edge is Vic Matie’s Elda:

Tough, sexy, and artistic in equal measure, the Elda wowed at $438, but it’s an even bigger rave at $349!

And those are only the beginning of the fantastic prices waiting for you at Ped’s main site. So, cool your heels in some cool-priced shoes from Ped!

Yesterday I told you about the social side of my March trip to Paris and Milan. Today I’ll fill you in on the trends and style statements I saw at shoe shows in France and Italy. Ped fans, you have a lot to look forward to in the fall! But the GREAT news is Ped is on its game—much of what will be all the rage in a few months is already on the shelves at the Ped warehouse!

Perhaps the most noticeable trend was FUR! It was everywhere—on shoes, on boots, on vests, hanging off of bags, more than I’ve ever seen. Just to whet your appetite, I ordered a version of Cydwoq’s gorgeous Podium boot with fur panels.

That said, ankle boots will continue to hold court next season, so our current version of the Podium is also right on trend:

Cydwoq’s 2″ resin heel is perfect since flats and low heels are going to be in vogue.

If you want to get a jump on the flat bootie trend, consider Vic Matie’s Euro-chic Luisa:

Another trend with staying power is men’s oxfords for women, such as Fiorentini + Baker’s terrific Eliza Oxford:

People were not only wearing their oxfords without socks in Paris and Milan, but fashionistsas were also wearing oxfords and boots with laces and buckles completely undone. All the Japanese buyers were rocking the deconstructed laceless and unbuckled look! If you have a size 36 or 37 foot, you can get ahead of the curve with the Vialis Mila, which Ped currently has on sale. (Lucky you!)

Innovative leather treatments are also going to be a hallmark of next season. Get an eyeful of the variety Cydwoq had on offer to retailers:

Ped fans can also look forward to eye-popping patterned leathers from Chie Mihara and jewel-toned suedes from Accessoire.

Regarding color trends, the new black is definitely GREY, which was all over the place in Europe in all kinds of shades. You can show off your trend-setting savvy right now by stepping out in Vic Matie’s Allegra:

You’ll be doubly cutting-edge in this slate-grey beauty since wooden soles also hold sway next fall. Expect knockout wood-soled styles from Vialis and Ellen Verbeek, too.

Given the style forecast, if you’re fortunate enough to fit into one of our remaining pairs of Ellen Verbeek’s Elise Bootie (on sale!), you’ll be right on trend on three fronts simultaneously:

Simply remove the laces, and you’ll be ultra-chic with a laceless wood-soled bootie! What could be better? And everyone will admire you for being so in the know!

Of course, everyone at Ped Central is excited about the fantastic things I ordered for fall while in Paris and Milan. But I have to say we’re also feeling pretty sassy about having so many cutting-edge styles already in the house! Advantage: Ped fans!
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We love shoes at Ped—no surprise there!—but we’re also crazy about accessorizing them with socks! Sure, Ped’s shoes are comfortable barefoot, but pairing them with the fun funkiness of a pair of Antipast or Mia Zia socks gives a whole new twist to their personalities! And socks aren’t just for chilly days anymore—wearing a cute pair with sandals is all the rage on the runways this year!

Think how sassy any of the following would look with, say, Fiorentini + Baker’s Eliza Oxford, Vialis’s Eloisa, or even Chie Mihara’s Yoisho (for those of you who like to go bold with your style)!

It’s always a party at Ped HQ when we get a shipment from Antipast! Mother-daughter team, Emiko and Junko take such a playful approach to design. One of our Antipast favorites this season is the La Vie en Rose ankle sock:

A garden of flowers bloom across this sweet number, but what makes it really special is the sheer area just below elastic ruching at the top! Innovative and eye-catching!

Another dazzler, which looks particularly great with a knee-length or shorter skirt, is Antipast’s Spangle Knee High:

Fun and bubbly! We smile every time we look at the way the looping part of the pattern combines with the ruffly top! (We also have Antipast’s Spangle goodness in a trouser-length sock.)

An even more colorful, bubbly style is Antipast’s Puzzle Dots Sock:

There’s an ongoing debate in the warehouse about whether this trouser-length sock looks more like lollipops or a colorful honeycomb. One thing we all agree on, though, is how fab it is! (Ped also has the Puzzle Dots pattern in a knee-high.)

Everyone knows how much we go gaga for stripes. Happily, both Antipast and Mia Zia have satisfied our stripe craving this spring! First, Antipast’s Beach Chair Knee High:

This zesty knee high is perfectly named because its stripes recall those great canvas chairs we love to lounge in by the sea! If you like your socks on the shorter side, though, the Beach Chair stripes are also available in trouser-length.

Mia Zia also has stripes galore for adding zing to your spring and summer:

For stripe lovers, it doesn’t get any better than Mia Zia’s cottony-wonderful Mini Stripe socks! (They also come in a knee-high version.) Here’s an idea for a modern look:

That’s Mia Zia’s Mini-Stripe sock in Olive paired with the Vialis Eloisa.

For sheer, unabashed fun, though, the hands-down (feet-down?) sock winner is Antipast’s Jungle Check Sock:

Only Antipast would think to mix a cheetah print with a gingham pattern in summer colors! We are smitten! (Want even more? There’s a Jungle Check Knee High!)  If you feel like pulling the stops out on your style, then how about this combo:

That’s Antipast’s Jungle Check in purple paired with Chie Mihara’s Yoisho! We admit it’s a “lot of look,” as Tim Gunn would say, but it’s also crazy, flirty fun!

Whenever an outfit needs a colorful pick-me-up, our best advice is to rock the socks!

(By the way, this week’s Sweet Treat is Coclico’s sizzling Lucifer heeled sandal! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page and be transported to the Lucifer with the magic check-out code that will let you set the world on fire for 20% off!)
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