I’ve written before about Ped’s high standards for any line we carry. Just to reiterate: 1) the company must have a commitment to social and environmental ethics; 2) the items must exhibit outstanding craftsmanship using the best materials; 3) the designs must be comfortable and easy to wear; and 4) the goods must be gorgeous and have style for miles!!! Which is why I’m so excited about the newest member of Ped’s family: Dean Leathergoods.

Dean was born in Los Angeles in 1999 when its founder couldn’t find a watchband that combined vintage quality with a modern sensibility. He decided to design and make what he had in mind. And we’re so glad he did because 13 years down the road, Dean is producing some of the finest leather goods we’ve ever encountered, each meticulously crafted by hand in the Dean L.A. studio. The materials are luxe. The designs are interesting and architectural. And the colors are eye-popping!

Take a look!

The quickest way to our hearts at Ped HQ is with a small bag for those times when we only need to carry a few items (e.g. cell, keys, ID, and cash). Dean’s Rivet Wallet is just the thing!

Perfect! We especially love the wrist strap that lets us slip it on and go! But that strap also detaches so the Rivet Wallet can easily slip into a larger bag, where it keeps the bibs sorted out from the bobs.

At the other end of the size spectrum is Dean’s wonderful Suede Tote:

What a gorgeous way to haul everything you need for a day on the go—books, files, even a small laptop! And the suede is so delicious to touch!

Speaking of things that you might slip into that tote, couldn’t your iPad use a classy new cover?

We love the lean elegance that characterizes Dean’s designs. Undo the twin rivets of this clean-lined case to reveal an interior with four elastic corner straps to hold your iPad securely without obscuring the screen.

That laptop case would also fit sweetly into Dean’s smashing Thimble Bag:

This knockout everyday bag takes its name from the two stainless steel thimbles that attach the shoulder strap to the bag. With Dean, hardware always marries form and function in aesthetic wedded bliss! (By the way, we also have the Thimble Bag in black leather and fuchsia suede, too.)

Looking for something a little more capacious that could work as an overnight bag? Feast your eyes on the Dean Bell Bottom Bag:

Just looking at its picture, you can practically feel how buttery the leather is! Plus, Dean realized an extra-big bag needs an extra-hearty strap made to stay on your shoulder, so they lined the Bell Bottom Bag‘s generous shoulder strap with suede to help it stay put! (We also offer this beauty in brown.)

Looker for something a little leaner? Check out the simple yet edgy Dean Zip Clutch:

A charming companion for a night on the town, the Zip Clutch opens to reveal two credit card slots and a larger slot, perfect for holding concert tickets.

When you need to carry a bit more, like a book to read on the train or plane, Dean’s Towner Bag has you covered:

Every season, Ped’s Laura falls in love with one item above and beyond all others, and this spring it’s the Towner Bag! From the long leather tab ducking under the silver bar on its front flap to its cool woven sides and double-buckled shoulder strap, the Towner is truly crush-worthy!

So bag your old bag, and start a meaningful relationship with Dean! It’s sure to last for years!

(Speaking of beautiful bags, have you checked out this week’s Sweet Treat? It’s Cydwoq’s stellar Stamp Bag! Click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Stamp Bag with the code that will bring a welcome 20% off at checkout! Swinging!)

Blue skies. The deep blue sea. Bluebirds. Blueberries. Some of the most wonderful things in nature are blue!

Here at Ped, we have quite a thing for blue. We love how it’s simultaneously dreamy, peaceful, and uplifting. (Not to mention romantic—there’s a reason why brides carry “something blue.”) Shades like turquoise add a jolt of color! Others, such as grey-blues, are nearly neutral and quietly add style.

Here’s a juicy sample of the many hues of blue at Ped.

Cydwoq sandals are de rigueur for the summer because they’re artistic and supremely comfortable. This season we decided to offer Cydwoq’s Hook in blue:

I bought this sandal myself in brown  a couple seasons ago, but this new blue version has turned my head. If you’re looking for the perfect companion to take on vacation, the Hook makes an ideal sight-seeing friend!

Another favorite shoe that we’ve refreshed in blue is Chie Mihara’s Vaive:

A cluster of violet-blue rosettes blooming on a heeled lace-up oxford—yes, please!!! The Vaive is the way to take your style to work!

Maybe you want something that’s airier than an oxford but not quite as breezy as a sandal? Then drink in the lovely blueness of Cydwoq’s new Border:

This wooden-heeled beauty is sophisticated enough for serious occasions, but it still let’s you celebrate that it’s summer outside! You’ll be as pretty as a bluebell!

If there’s one thing on which all Ped fans agree, it’s the fabulousness of Fiorentini + Baker boots. Meet Eden, the latest member of the Ped F+B family:

This boot’s a slice of blue paradise! Imagine how great it would look with a white prairie skirt and camisole on a hot summer day! Although the Eden danced out of the Ped warehouse as soon as it arrived, we have more on the way. Let us know if you’d like to be notified when the next shipment of Eden lands.

But there’s more blue than just shoes at Ped. Drink in the beauty of the linen Seville scarf that just arrived from Sophie Digard in Paris:

A lacy wonder, this scarf’s sky-blue background makes all the other colors sing so harmoniously! As with every Sophie design, we suggest you zoom, zoom, zoom at the Ped site to appreciate the intricate artistry of the work.

One way to keep a blue sky with you, no matter what the weather, is to slip a Jamie Joseph ring on your finger. Then you can just look at your hand for a little pick-me-up. One of our favorites is her Rainbow Moonstone ring:

The stone’s depth and luminosity are so spellbinding!

Finally, opening your wallet becomes a much less stressful experience when it’s made of wonderful blue leather:

“Yvs Klein Blue” is our new favorite color for 49 Square Miles’ Clingy Wallet!

Oh, and by the way, you can get this week’s Sweet Treat—Cydwoq’s Flap Bag—in teal, which is the loveliest blue green!

Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of this page (or any Ped page) to be whisked to the Flap, where a magic code awaits to enable you to knock 20% off the price at checkout.

So, head over to the Ped site to find your favorite blue to help you keep the blues at bay. Only blue skies for Ped fans!

Don’t panic. We’ve all been there! You want to get something really lovely and stylish for that special gal who makes you smile—girlfriend, daughter, wife, BFF, mom, mentor who got you where you are today—but you’re just not sure what size she wears. No problem! Although we love the footwear here at Ped, we also have lots of gorgeous things that require no knowledge of numbers. So, let us offer a few ideas for what we think would make wonderful tokens of your affection.

If you really want to delight someone, you can’t go wrong with a scarf from Sophie Digard, our favorite Parisian textile artist.

Whatever design you select, the work is guaranteed to be dazzling (use the “zoom” feature at the Ped site to appreciate the intricacy of Sophie’s artistry).

Maybe you’re enamored of Mademoiselle Digard but want to give something slightly smaller. Why not one of her wonderful brooches?

So pretty and what a lovely reminder that spring is not too far away!

But, then again, maybe the razzle-dazzle is exactly what you want, in which case, look no further than Jamie Joseph:

Everyone here at Ped HQ—including Terry—adores this Halo Diamond Pendant. What makes it so special is each of the organically shaped silver ovals moves independently, and the diamonds, well, they’re diamonds—need we say more?

If the woman you admire prefers adorning her lobes, we’re also especially fond of these Indian ruby earrings:

They are simply designed yet absolutely drop-dead gorgeous! Jamie’s hand-selected stones are truly out of this world!

Admittedly, jewelry is a rather intimate gift, so if you’re looking for something lovely but a little less emotionally charged, the 49 Square Miles Clingy Wallet may be just the thing:

Practical and luxurious! (Plus, the leather is so soft.)

Speaking of practical, any woman who has a chilly commute or who has to walk across campus when the mercury plunges will thank you profusely for a pair of Rain + Jack wooly arm warmers:

The colors alone will warm her heart.

We’ve also heard toasty toes are the key to winter smiles! Unlike shoes, socks are pretty much one-size-fits-all, and Antipast makes the socks everyone wants because they’re just so darn cute (and warm):

Any chilly day is going to be a lot more fun with pom-poms!

See? No need to worry about measurements or numbers! Everything above is guaranteed to brighten the holidays for your favorite gal!

And if you see something that sings, “my heart’s desire,”  to you—yes, you!— as you browse around Ped’s site, just click the green box that says, “add to favorites.” Then you can e-mail your wish to the people who’d like to make you happy this holiday season!