Fashion history is a treasure trove! Forward-thinking designers regularly sift through the past to recover earlier trends to reinterpret with a modern edge.

This season some of the best new shoes have their roots in the righteous ’70s, when women’s fashion took a turn for the bold! The precarious stilettos and tight-waisted “Suzy homemaker” dresses of the 1950s and early ’60s stepped aside for chunky heels worn out and about with minis, midis, and pantsuits! Refreshing then! Refreshing now!

Behold a few of the new designs that celebrate the sexy confidence of 1970s’ style!

One of the sunniest interpretations of the spirit of the ’70s is Argila’s Allie!

We are wild about the combination of the buckled and tasseled front (so vintage!) with the hand-cut and sanded wooden heel! And the color? You just have to smile!

Of course, Chie Mihara is the reigning queen of retro-licious beauty! Check out the  ’70s sensibility  of this season’s Xeroco:

The buckles add just the right punctuation to the broad straps! The sexiness is no-nonsense and take-no-prisoners! Devastating in the best kind of way!

Another great Chie ode to the 1970s is the Rumi (a perennial Ped favorite):

Ped’s Laura swears her fashion-forward mother had a pair of identical shoes back in the 1970s! Beautiful as they may have been, Laura’s mom’s couldn’t hold a candle to the Rumi because the modern version features Chie Mihara’s signature padded footbed, the ultimate in comfort! (Ask anyone)!

Coclico also riffs on the leather patchwork so popular in the ’70s in its Valencia:

What a looker! Absolutely distinctive yet ultra-versatile. Note the subtle curve of the chunky wooden heel—Coclico is always attentive to the details!

Coclico’se retro-sassy Vidal also features this gorgeous heel:

Talk about a statement shoe! The way the back strap and hardware twins the strap and hardware over the instep is ingenious!

Coclico also takes a tip from the 70s in its cork platform designs, like the Melania:

Light and comfortable, this beauty updates the vintage look of a platform wedge by creating it in the most modern of colors: flint grey!

Another stunning cork-soled number is Fiorentini + Baker’s swinging Ding Clog:

So fun, this fringed clog is crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail as F+B’s famous boots! The Ding was love at first sight for Ped’s Laura—she immediately bought it and has been wearing it nonstop! (She loves the terra cotta color of the Indian Red, but we also have the Ding in black, if that’s more your thing.)

Speaking of clogs, Trippen’s Strahl exemplifies what can happen when a designer takes retro inspiration and runs with it:

The Strahl‘s spark lies in the 1970s, but this work of art’s fireworks are thoroughly modern! We adore how the teal edges of the black leather are echoed in the patina of the rivets and the rubber on the outsole.

So, get in the mood by listening to James Brown’s 1972 hit, and then literally “Get on the Good Foot!” Your style will be far out! Dig it!

(Psst, another groovy design, though not ’70s inspired, is Fiorentini + Baker’s Pia boot, which is this week’s Sweet Treat. Make its gorgeousness yours for 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Pia, with the magic discount code to enter at checkout! What a great way to step into spring!)

Ped fans, even on the coldest, most overcast, dreariest day, we LOVE this time of year! Why? Because every day brings a new shipment of boxes packed with spring styles! And this season, the prettiest so far are those designed by our lady of Spain, Chie Mihara!

In addition to scads of new styles, we’ve brought back some Chie favorites decked out in new colors and leather combinations. (Do not miss the Veranito in either curry or magenta!) And every pair of Chie Mihara’s, no matter how high the heel, feels like heaven on your feet, thanks to Chie’s uniquely designed insole. You look fabulous! You feel fabulous! The best of all possible worlds!

Below are a just a few of Chie’s lastest charmers that will make your feet sing, “Spring!”

It’s hard to know where to begin, but one of our favorites for gals who like to amp up their height is Chie Mihara’s Amapola:

Holy cannoli, what a knockout! The large cream dots are so much fun, yet this two-part heeled beauty still radiates sophistication. The arc of gold piping is genius!

Chie is known for her carefully selected leathers, and this season several styles rock the snakeskin look. Drink in the gorgeousness of the Xope:

What a femme fatale! With its softly tucked brown suede up front combined with snake-printed leather everywhere else, the Xope looks like something a 1940s Hollywood starlet might wear!

Maybe your taste for retro runs more toward the 1970s, in which case, dig the Xeroco:

Chie Mihara is a virtuoso at taking fashion history’s hallmarks and reworking them into modern designs. The Xeroco‘s chunky straps are vintage-inspired, but its front-and-center buckle is über cutting-edge.

“All very nice,” you may be thinking, “but what about COLOR?” Well, make sure you’re sitting down because you’re going to swoon! (Chie has truly outdone herself.) Check out the Jaila!

What a sweetheart! This heeled sandal is sunshine on your feet! Everywhere you walk in the Jaila, you’re going to improve everyone’s mood! (Wear cute shoes, do society good!)

And that’s just the start of the color works! Take a gander at Chie Mihara’s Tiju:

We can’t help it—every time we look at this flowered lovely, we sigh. What a shade of blue! Plus, we love the way Chie has spiraled the suede and pinked its edges to make the rosettes on the toe.

For those of you who like to go bold, whip up the sass with Chie Mihara’s Guinyo:

Charm alarms will go off everywhere when you step out  in this red and blue number! The new lower heel is breezy and fresh! The Guinyo will definitely get the party started wherever you go.

And speaking of parties, we saved our personal favorite for last! (Seriously, I’ve made this one my very own!) Say hello to Chie Mihara’s Enty!

So chic! So whimsical! So fun! Multicolored suede dots festoon gold leather on this shoe that just begs to go out dancing! You’ll start saying yes to every invitation just so you can wear the Enty out and about! Love, love, love (love, love, love, love).

And there are even more winning Chie Mihara styles over at Ped’s main site. (Honestly, they’re all so beautiful.) Pick your pleasure, and then go out and charm the world!

(Speaking of charming, this week’s Sweet Treat is Jamie Joseph’s Indian Ruby Droplet Earrings! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, they will warm your heart and dazzle your admirers at 20% off! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page to be whisked to the earrings with the magic code for the discount at checkout!)

We’re hearing from many Ped fans that spring is teasing them this year! Just when they think it’s all green grass and tulips, along comes another snowstorm to bury the tender buds in the garden (and their sunny moods).

Ped understands, which is why we’ve put all our Karin Wagner jewelry on sale—so you can have flowers in your life that will never wilt! Hand felted in Switzerland, Karin’s wool pins, rings, and vines bloom with unique style that is always fresh.

Even if your jonquils are suffering from frostbite, you can still get a dose of yellow-flower joy with Karin Wagner’s Daffodil Ring:

Like a sunny day for your hand, this ring was pretty at $98, but it’s even lovelier at $79.

Karin’s Lilia Ring also sings, “Spring!” in a big, beautiful way!

We love the sheer drama of it! Plus, the diamond cutouts on the petals are so unusual (not to mention a true handmade labor of love). Terrific at $178, it’s an even bigger wow at $139!

If you like rings but prefer to make a quieter statement, Karin’s Anemone Ring talks a little more softly.

Tempting at $48, it’s even more inviting at $38.

Perhaps you prefer the versatility of pins—after all, the placement is up to you! We love Karin Wagner’s Rose Brooch for just that reason!

Pin it anywhere and instantly become a femme fatale! Stunning at $124, it’s truly stellar at $98.

The ways to wear Karin Wagner’s works of art are endless. Why not use a pin as a barrette, as we’ve done with the Clochette Brooch?

We guarantee you’ll have the prettiest hair wherever you go! Wonderful at $104, this little bouquet is even better at $79.

Speaking of versatile, Karin Wagner’s vine necklaces offer lots of options—drape one around your neck, entwine it in your tresses, or perhaps wind it around the strap of your handbag!

What could be fresher any day of the year than this Daisy Necklace? Worth smiling over at $164, it’s even more cheerful at $129.

One of our all-time favorite pieces here at Ped HQ is Karin Wagner’s Magnolia Vine:

What a show stopper! This necklace is so pretty you’ll want to keep it out as art even when you’re not wearing it. Smashing at $182, it’s irresistible at $139!

And there are more wonderful Karin Wagner pieces blooming at sweet prices at Ped’s main site! Go ahead—pick the flowers!

(Speaking of sweet, Ped’s sweet treat this week will make you want to eat dessert before dinner! It’s Fiorentini + Baker’s fabulous Mike Boot!!!! Click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Mike Boot with the magic discount code that will bring 20% off at checkout! DELICIOUS! And style nutritious!)
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Here’s something that makes everyone at Ped HQ smile: boxes of new Chie MIhara styles arriving on our doorstep from Spain! We have such a good time admiring each design as we unpack Chie’s latest! After all, Chie Mihara exemplifies everything we love at Ped: a unique design sense, meticulous craftsmanship, and comfort without compromise.

Let us tantalize you with a taste of what Chie’s whipped up for the upcoming warm weather!

We know it’s still winter where many of you live, so we’ll start with a number you can wear right now—and keep wearing right through spring and summer: Chie’s Lorensa.

Honestly, this heeled oxford is in a class by itself! As usual, Chie gets the details just right, from the parallel lines of sinuous topstitching to the perforated leather that lets your tootsies breathe when the weather heats up.

Another new design that features beautiful topstitching and leatherwork is the Fideua:

The woven leather over the toe, contrasting stitching, and lacing are rather unusual ingredients to combine, but what a tasty dish they make! Plus, we love the navy blue color!

Chie is always so good with selecting the perfect hues! Our favorite style for sheer cheerfulness is the sunny-day Yoisho:

What a great shade of yellow, and it works so well with the 1970s’ retro vibe of this sandal. Buckling up the Yoisho will give you both a physical and an emotional boost!

Speaking of buckles, we decided to bring back the smoking-hot Bankok, one of the sexiest styles Chie’s ever designed:

The Bankok is the very definition of “knockout”! When you strap on this badass beauty, you may want to carry a pocket fan to revive the people who can’t take the heat of your sizzling sauciness!

But maybe you prefer to go more girly with your flirtatious style. If so, join us in sighing over Chie’s Osmo:

In a word: DEVASTATING! It simply doesn’t get any more glamorous than this rosette-embellished, red suede t-strap! In the Rojo, you’re guaranteed to set hearts afire!

Some gals can pull off the Osmo on a daily basis, but if you want something a little more subdued for everyday wear, check out the Chie Mihara Oyko:

We love the richness of the whiskey-colored suede combined with the rich brown leather—so sophisticated. This gorgeous sandal is perfect for going from day wear to date wear!

Delicious, eh? And there are even more Chie Mihara styles to feast upon at Ped’s main site. But before you click over, watch this video to learn a little more about  Chie’s philosophy and design process. We promise it will make you even happier to have her shoes on your feet!

(By the way, the “sweet treat” this week is Trippen’s fringed and fun Country Bootie. Click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to reach the Country with the magic discount code that instantly takes 20% off at checkout!)

Ped fans, we hear it all the time: “I love those shoes, but I’m not sure what I’d wear them with…” We understand—the last thing you want is to buy a knockout pair of shoes only to have them languish in the closet! But chances are even the most offbeat color or bold design is easier to wear than you think. Here are a few ideas for how to make things work.

On the other hand, you may prefer your style more muted. Even so, you can still wear a sandal boot and have it look smashing:

All these outfits were created at Polyvore.com, which offers a wonderful way to try out items together when you’re shopping online. It’s also just plain fun! So, if you fall in love with a shoe, don’t resist; in the words of Tim Gunn, you can “make it work.”

(By the way, we’re pretty sure you could make lots of things work with this week’s “sweet treat,” Cordani’s Erin. Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page to get 20% off this fresh espadrille platform!)