As daylight dwindles and the mercury sinks lower, the sock drawer once again opens. Yawn.

Wake up! If you think putting on socks is as exciting as watching paint dry, you clearly need to sass up how you warm your toes! Pulling on the woolies can be wonderful with a little help from Emiko and Junko, the Japanese mother-daughter team behind Antipast!

This season’s shipment of Antipast goodies just arrived at the Ped warehouse, and every whimsical pair puts the “fun” in “functional” and brings out the “win” in “winter”! Take a look:

When the days go grey, what we really crave is color and lots of it! Antipast to the rescue:

We are mad for all things striped, so these Gradation socks are just the ticket! We think their architectural pattern is reminiscent of the window-paned walls of Mies van der Rohe’s buildings. (Like knee-highs? You’re in luck!)

Stripes are terrific, but we also love dots. Put the two together, and you’ve got a party down below! Behold Antipast’s cute-as-can-be Candy Knee Highs:

How fun are these? Imagine how jazzy these sweethearts would look with short-ish skirts and mary janes or ankle boots! (Prefer trouser-length socks? You can still have your stripes and dots!)

Stripes also add a dash of fun to Antipast’s Cokrico socks:

We love wearing florals in winter because it reminds us of spring. The bouquets on the Cokrico are like a garden party for your ankles! (Want even more flowers? Pull on the knee high version!)

Need something a little more subdued (though never boring)? How about Antipast’s Pearl Shower Knee Highs?

Strands of pearls cascade from a central medallion, draping across a geometric diamond pattern. The toes, heels, and top band provide a pop of brilliant color. (You can also go luxe with a trouser-length sock.)

Another “quiet” Antipast lovely is the Diamond Flower sock:

So pretty! Stylized clusters of flowers drift like colorful snowflakes across a subdued diamond-patterned background. (Yes, we have knee highs in this pattern, too!)

Sometimes it’s kind of a shame shoes and boots inevitably cover up Antipast’s artistry. Case in point: this season’s beautiful Peace Bird socks:

Yes, the spectacular peacocks spreading their colorful tail feathers are the stars of the show, but the chevron stripes and windowpane pattern over the foot are stunning! (It can be your little art secret!)

We’ve saved the most eye-popping Antipast sock for the finale (and it’s our favorite): the New World Knee High!

Colorful camouflage? Look closer! These knee highs are alive with fantastic landscapes, rolling with woodland hills and pastures dotted with grazing cows. Stuck in a boring meeting? Just look down at your legs for a pick-me-up! (We also have trouser-length New Worlds!)

Who knew keeping your tootsies toasty could be so much fun? Just think how many people’s days you’ll brighten simply by wearing your Antipast out and about!

(Any of Antipast’s knee highs would look fantastic topping off this week’s Sweet Treat, Cydwoq’s Pilot Boot! You have until Tuesday to take 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” at the top of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Pilot, where you’ll find the magic code to enter at checkout.)

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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Everyone at Ped HQ is glad the days are finally growing longer here in the northern hemisphere, but it will still be a while before green leaves deck the bare-limbed trees. Which is why we love anything and everything floral this time of year! A few blossoms here and there remind us that, no matter how gray the wintry day, spring is not too far off.

So, even when there’s snow, here are a few ways to still have your garden grow.

Swiss textile artist Karin Wagner understands the power of the flower, and her hand-felted accessories are guaranteed to make you (and everyone around you) smile!

What could be more welcome than Karin’s cheerful Daffodil Ring on an icy day? Having a yellow flower blooming on your hand is just the tonic for the mid-winter blues!

If  rings are not your thing, you can always pin a bold flower, like this Edelweiss Brooch, to your winter coat:

What a way to start a conversation! Get ready to hear the following over and over: “I love your pin! Can I ask where you got it?”

Sophie Digard, that Parisian queen of crochet, has also created a wonderful sprig of flowers to enliven your woolen sweaters:

We love Sophie’s whimsy in including a striped linen blossom in her Three Flower Brooch.

Several of Sophie Digard’s cozy scarves are also abloom with flowers!

The tufted velvet centers of the one-of-a-kind blossoms strewn across this smokey lavender wool Wildflower Scarf are so charming. (This beauty is also available in a sassafras green linen version).

Another wonderful floral scarf is Epice’s Lake Como Scarf:

The orange border on this finely loomed wool wonder gives it such zest, plus the Lake Como Scarf is wide enough that you can wear it as a shawl—a garden for your shoulders!

Or you could let Antipast’s flower-decked socks sprout on your legs!

These over-the-knee Source of the Earth cuties would look terrific with a short skirt and a pair of oxfords or ankle boots! They’re guaranteed to put a springy spring in your step!

Of course, when I think of fun flowers, my mind always turns to Pepita’s Florinda necklace:

My love affair with Pepita’s fantastic jewelry began with this necklace. As soon as I tried it on, it had to be mine! I still smile every time I wear it (which is often)!

So, don’t let winter’s barren landscape get you down—plant your own garden of style and let the sunshine in!

(And, hey, if you’re chilly, have you checked out this week’s “sweet treat”? It’s Epice’s sinfully soft Chevron Scarf loomed from cashmere and wool! Mmmmm! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Chevron Scarf with the magic code that will bring you a 20% discount when entered in the box at checkout. De-lish!)

The Holidays were so much fun at Ped HQ that we were feeling a twinge of post-party blues. We asked ourselves what would lift out spirits, and the answer came like a bolt of lightning: Let the Winter Sale begin! We’ve gotten a little slap-happy with the price-cutting, but we think you’ll approve!

Here are a few favorites we’ve recently marked down:

Although Vialis is new to the Ped family, this gorgeous line from Spain has become instantly popular. The double-collared Guell Bootie shows why:

What could be better than a wooden heel on a luscious leather lace-up? You can wear the collar folded down to expose the inner suede layer or pulled up to show off the matte exterior. Versatile and chic, the Guell was delicious at $362, but it’s even sweeter at $289!

Speaking of lovely heels, we are big fans of the metallic ones Cydwoq uses for some of its Vintage styles, like the Seek:

The combination of the burgundy textured leathers makes us swoon! Add the back zipper and, well, let’s put it this way, you won’t have to “seek” admirers—they’ll be following you like drooling puppies! The Seek was sexy at $304, but it’s even hotter at $243!

Another knockout heeled number is Chie Mihara’s Vasca:

No one does retro-glam like Chie! We adore the pinked edges of the rosettes, and the deep teal color is to die for! Slip on this beauty, and you will instantly radiate the sex appeal of a 1940s Hollywood femme fatale! Lovely at $438, the Vasca is drop-dead gorgeous at $349!

Another heel with vintage appeal is Cordani’s Remy:

This grey suede mary jane is so practical—a neutral that’s equally good for going to the office or going out to dinner—but the details keep it interesting! Worth every penny at $318, it’s a steal at $199!

Couple Of’s stellar Ava Oxford is another shoe that’s fine for a board meeting but also has enough edge for an art opening:

Everyone at Ped is amazed at Couple Of’s skill at keeping designs clean and comfortable while at the same time adding just the right accents to set them apart! The folded and crinkled leather on the Ava’s toe box and heel is unlike anything we’ve seen before—so cool! Stylish at $328, it’s especially chic at $262!

Forget the heels, you say, you want a head-turning flat! Cydwoq has just the thing—the Measure Boot!

The Measure perfectly balances retro, with its spats-look and buttons, and modern, with the interesting way the dual leathers come together! And because it’s from Cydwoq, you know this bootie is as comfortable as it is stylish. Terrific at $320, it’s absolutely fabulous at $256.

What about taller boots? Yes, Ped fans, we have those on sale, too! One of the best is Ellen Verbeek’s Camille Boot:

We love the ultra-chic minimalism of this mid-calf boot that combines deliciously supple leather with a hand-sculpted wooden heel! Easy to wear on almost any occasion! Wonderful at $594, it’s unbeatable at $475!

And those are just the tip of Ped’s bargain iceberg! So click over to the main site and snag your favorites before they melt away. The prices are scorching hot and definitely worth celebrating!

(Also, fyi, this week’s “sweet treat” is especially shiny: Jamie Joseph’s White Topaz Ring! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page, and you will be instantly transported to this dazzler, where you’ll find the magical code that will bring a 20% discount at checkout.)

If you’re like me, Ped fans, when the days grow short and the temperature dips, my spirit sometimes needs an extra boost. And if that thing that recharges my emotional battery staves off the chill outside, too, then all the better!

Fortunately, we thought ahead here at Ped HQ to make sure we’d have some extra-special treasures arriving in the warehouse to brighten your grey, wintry days. (Of course, they’re still fun when the sun’s out!) Behold a small sampling of delightful new things just in from Antipast, Epice, and Sophie Digard!

The mother and daughter team, Emiko and Junko, who are the design geniuses behind Japan’s Antipast, know a thing or two about keeping things fun while keeping things cozy. Their socks are always the cutest, softest, and toastiest! Case in point, the new Fun Fan Socks:

The winter blues don’t stand a chance when you’re wearing flowery fans on your ankles! We love these trouser-length sweeties, but we also have a knee-high version!

Speaking of knee highs, our favorite tall sock from Antipast this season is the Airship Knee High:

Need to take a break from daily grind?  Just look down at your legs and let your mind float away on a hot-air balloon!

Of course, Antipast’s loveliness extends beyond just socks. They also make scarves, arm warmers, and gloves.

How beautiful are these Rose Gloves? Everybody at Ped HQ practically fainted when we took them out of the box—they’re just the thing to pretty up a slushy day!

Another way to bring colorful flowers into wintry weather is with a beautiful scarf from Paris’s own Sophie Digard.

We’re especially crazy about this new Freesia Scarf. Like a soft bed of blossoms, this scarf will make you feel wonderful every time you wind it around your neck.

If you prefer something more abstract, check out Sophie’s eye-opening Biscuit Pop Scarf:

What an amazing amount of labor goes into this wearable work of art! You’re guaranteed to turn every head on the street!

We also just received Sophie’s ever-popular Flower Petal Necklace in rich autumn colors that will look spectacular with your LBD at holiday parties!

A mix of velvet and crochet, this necklace simply could not be any prettier! And did you know that the two sides of each flower are different and allow you to spin and slide them on their cord to create endless variations? So fun!

Maybe you’re looking for something that can work both as a scarf and as a shawl, in which case, Epice has an expanse of luxury with your name on it!

Everyone at Ped loves stripes, stripes, and more stripes, so this finely loomed wool Morocco Scarf has us swooning!

And if you want to up the luxe ante, nothing does that like cashmere! Epice’s wool and cashmere Chevron Scarf is like a soft and cozy piece of heaven!

Wrap this beauty around your shoulders and just say, “Aaaahhhh!” You might even start to wish it was winter all the time.

These things are just a few of the wonders in the treasure trove that awaits you at Ped’s main site! On a cold and dark day, a little indulgence can go a long way.

(And speaking of wonderful indulgences, don’t forget to check out this week’s “sweet treat” because it’s especially delicious: Chie Mihara’s Jupi! Get the sexy schoolgirl look for 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” at the top of any Ped page, which will whisk you to the Jupi and the magic code for you to enter at checkout! Yum!)