Remember how post-before-last we told you Ari Balouzian, founder of the new Cliff Dweller line, is also an accomplished composer and musician? Well, feast your eyes and ears on “Kenmere Ave,” a new short documenting the care Cydwoq takes handcrafting each and every pair of shoes, which features a beautiful soundtrack by Ari:

Now you know why Cydwoq shoes seem to positively radiate good energy—so many loving hands have contributed to their production!

As Ped fans know, summer days are always sunnier with a pair of Cydwoq sandals on your feet! We’ve brought back lots of favorite styles this season (e.g. the Tomcat, the Thong, and the Naked), but we also have new designs that sizzle and pop! Here are a few to make your toes tingle:

A good black sandal is like money in the bank—it definitely compounds interest! One of the best is Cydwoq’s Train:

The design is gladiator-esque but without the clunk, and the stand-alone toe ring absolutely makes this Train‘s whistle blow! Woot woot!

Cydwoq’s meticulously constructed (you saw for yourself!) all-leather soles offer miles of comfortable walking. The Cedar, for instance would make an ideal traveling companion:

Among its many virtues: the elastic-loop and button closure holds your foot securely; the caramel color is both rich and versatile; and the v-topped t-strap makes any foot look slender and graceful!

We know, we know—as easy as the button-and-loop is, many of you simply want to be able to slide in and go! Cydwoq’s Carbon lets you do just that in red-hot style:

The angular upper is cut from one piece of leather, with only the buckle strap added with a well-placed rivet. So cool! We like how the Carbon‘s buckle lets you cinch up the fit for extra security. Once the buckle’s set, this jazzy flat slides on easy as you please!

Another sandal that lets you adjust a buckle to customize the fit without compromising your ability to slip it on is the Cydwoq Trend:

We constantly get requests for brown sandals that require zero work but look great! Voila! Also, the enclosed heel of the Trend makes it another savvy travel choice.

Speaking of enclosed heels, Cydwoq includes one in the design of THE show-stopping flat sandal of the season, the Laser:

Ultra easy to wear, the Laser is devastatingly sexy with its ankle-strap sassiness! And the multicolored marbled leather? GORGEOUS!

Cydwoq sandals are sweet soles to have and to wear from this day forward—perhaps even ’til death do you part. They’re that well-made and timeless!

(Psst, you have just three more days to eat up one of the sweetest Sweet Treats ever: the Fiorentini + Baker’s Emmy Boot! Just click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Emmy, where you’ll find the magic code that will bring a delicious 20% off at checkout!)

Ped fans, you’ve got to hand it to those Balouzians—they are one creative family! Before father Rafi founded Cydwoq and gained worldwide renown for his artistic handmade shoes, he was an architect. Following in his father’s footsteps (wearing fantastic shoes, no doubt), son Ari began designing eye-opening footwear several years ago, contributing to Cydwoq’s expanding line.

Rafi (left) and Ari (right).

Ari also continued to pursue music as a trained violinist and composer, collaborating on video productions and creating film scores. The name of his media company? Cliff Dweller. Now,  just as his father infused his architectural sensibility into Cydwoq’s designs, Ari is seeking to bring the unique aesthetic of his other creative endeavors to his shoes by launching the Cliff Dweller collection. Made by hand at the Cydwoq factory, with the same attention to materials and construction, Cliff Dweller boots, shoes, and sandals offer an edgy and modern twist on classic styles. Their inspiration comes from such eclectic sources as the city of Burbank, Dust Bowl Era work shoes, William Eggleston photographs, and films of the 1990s.

The results? See for yourself in Ped’s new Cliff Dweller selection! We are wildly, madly, head-over-heels in love them!

One thing you’ll notice right away is Ari’s interest in unusual treatments of vegetable-tanned leathers. The Cliff Dweller Runner will knock your socks off:

Are you swooning the way we are? The simplicity of this slip-on, with its elastic insets and single seam down the front, is attention-getting for its clean lines. But it’s the “Earth” leather, with shifting layers of teal, brown, and tan, that makes us sigh! (Ped also offers the Runner in “Desert Sky,” a rich brown with brushed grey strokes.)

Another kick-around shoe that has everyone at Ped HQ drooling is Cliff Dweller’s Thomas:

Ari’s interpretation of the moccasin is hip and swinging to the 9′s! It makes us think of what the Rat Pack might have worn poolside in Las Vegas. Yet for all its nostalgic charm, this easy flat is utterly modern and ideal for so many occasions. Just leave it by the door. (In addition to the luscious mustard shown, we have the Thomas in midnight blue—blue being the IT color of the season!)

Taking things in a slightly girlier direction, Cliff Dweller’s Norma is another lovely that simply slips on and looks terrific:

Taking a cue from father Rafi, who believes a woman’s arch is the sexiest part of her foot, Ari creates an open area of interest on the inside of this skimmer. Chic and lean, we love the Norma in midnight blue, but this sweetheart also comes in warm brown, both so versatile!

Requiring just an itty-bitty bit more work (adjusting a buckle), the Cliff Dweller Mary is Ari’s modern interpretation of a mary jane:

So much fun! My weakness for green is famous, and the luscious shade of this suede is fresh! I also love the rivet detailing and moccasin-like design. If green isn’t your cup of tea, you can opt for the Mary in sizzling red hot suede or cool midnight blue leather!

Finally, if you’ve been searching for the perfect travel sandal, your quest is over! The answer is Cliff Dweller’s Emma:

The Emma’s enclosed heel holds your foot securely, while the simple band up front lets your toes enjoy the breeze! The tie in front of the ankle adds sexiness, and the molded leather footbed keeps your soles happy mile after mile. The textured red leather version is spicy fun, but Ped also offers the Emma in go-with-everything chocolate brown.

What a bevy of beauties! When you put on a pair of Cliff Dwellers, your feet will feel right at home on the cutting edge!

We can’t wait to see what Ari has in store for us next fall!

Cliff Dweller founder and design genius, Ari Balouzian.

(Psst, did you see the spring-tastic Sweet Treat this week? It’s the sunny Vialis Elyse! Get a fresh 20% off by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to reach the Elyse with the magic code to enter at checkout!)

February is the shortest month of the year—at least, in rational, according-to-the-calendar logic. But, Ped fans, the truth is it feels sooooo looooonnnngggggg! Winter makes 28 short days seem endless.

Ped’s antidote? First suggestion: Start planning for warm days and green grass—what would you most like to wear once your winter coat is stashed in the back of the closet? Even better suggestion: Take a midwinter vacation to a tropical destination, where you can break out the warm-weather wear and give your sun-starved flesh a welcome dose of Vitamin D!

Either way, Ped is ready to help since fresh spring and summer goods are arriving daily at the warehouse! We’ll have new eye candy to show you throughout the month, but for now take a gander at these sunny temptations just unpacked from Cydwoq!

If you need an infusion of spring stat, the style doctors at Cydwoq have the cure for what ails you: the Link!

Doesn’t this jazzy flat instantly make the world seem sunnier? Because the Italian leather is hand-painted, each individual shoe is unique—so fun! Time to throw your toes a party!

Although we love a big dose of color, we also realize many of you prefer to keep things black. You can air out your tootsies and still keep your urban edge in Cydwoq’s Train:

Chic day in and day out, this gladiator-inspired sandal will be your constant companion in warm weather because it looks fantastic with everything! We love how the Train‘s body, with its cage-like design, is cut from one piece of leather, accented by the stand-alone toe ring.

Another example of Cydwoq’s virtuosity at cutting leather is the lean and lovely Prospect:

The perfect transitional shoe for going from spring to summer to fall, this simple flat is a breath of fresh air for feet that have under wraps all winter! If you need one shoe to do it all, the Prospect is IT—dressy when you need it to be and casual when you just want to relax. Also, two words: Travel. Shoe.

You know me, I live and die for anything green. Happily, Cydwoq has plenty to fuel my fantasies of new grass and leafy trees! A favorite among the latest arrivals is the Artery:

The aloe-colored brushed leather is so soothing, and the cobalt blue strap, which secures with a simple rivet, provides the perfect accent. In a word, yum!

Another fantastic shoe for making the seasonal jump is Cydwoq’s luscious new Cover:

This is the one that has Ped’s Laura beside herself with love! An innovative interpretation of a mary jane, the Cover turns heads with its brick-red leather, complemented by a natural-colored thong knotted over the forefoot.

Looking for a little more va-va-va-voom? Cydwoq’s red-hot-and-ready-to-rock Steam is guaranteed to steam things up:

Holy moly! This heeled beauty is so likely to set hearts on fire, it should come with a warning label! But no matter how much trouble you manage to stir up in the Steam, your feet will be cool and comfortable, thanks to Cydwoq’s superb all-leather construction.

We started this post with a knockout example of Cydwoq’s amazing hand-painted leathers, so let’s end with another—the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Boomerang:

When we took this stunner out of the box, we were speechless; all we could do was sigh with admiration as we fell hopelessly in love! It’s that beautiful!!! Yes, this sandal features a gorgeous etched resin heel and an amazing design, but it’s the leather, with its layers of green, silver, fuchsia, and ochre, that walks off with the show! (Winter, what winter?)

Just writing this post brightened up our day! At Ped, we aim to make it easy to find something wonderful—Cydwoq or otherwise—to sustain you through winter or to carry you off on a tropical adventure! (Take pics—we  love to live vicariously!)

(By the way, this week’s Sweet Treat is another wonderful transitional shoe: Trippen’s Vivienne, a perennial Ped favorite! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to land at the Vivienne with the code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)

It’s the dead of winter. Holiday parties are long past. It’s weeks before the first crocuses sprout. And daylight is still in short supply.

Time for a little pick-me-up, wouldn’t you say?

Well, that’s just what we at Ped Central have in mind! Welcome to the Ped Winter Sale, where those shoes you’ve been drooling over for months suddenly have a nicer price! Here’s just a taste of the sweet deals we hope will brighten your smile on even the greyest day!

First up, one of our favorite ankle boots this season: Argila’s oxford-inspired Lauren!

Argila serves up a lot to love, from the perforations on the toe to the leather’s pinked edges to the sculpted wooden wedge! Drool-worthy at $418, it’s even more delicious at $209!

Another wonderful suede style, unlike anything else on the street, is Accessoire’s Euro-chic Ulrich:

Here at Ped HQ, we just can’t get enough of that luscious cassis color! Plus, the tie in back is so distinctive! Fabulous at $358, the Ulrich is off the charts at $179!

As long as we’re on the topic of gorgeous suede shoes, take a gander at the Chie Mihara Pasion:

We heart this heart-embellished t-strap! Because it’s from Chie Mihara, you know it will baby your soles with comfort! Lovable at $358, it’s simply irresistible at $179! (Anybody else suddenly have Robert Palmer singing in their heads?)

At least six more weeks of winter awaits (we’re making the prediction ahead of Punxsutawney Phil), so every Ped fan could use a great new pair of boots! Our suggestion? The Cydwoq’s Bend!

Crafted from Cydwoq’s a-maz-ing double-dyed leather, we love the way the red underside of the black outer reveals itself in the top flaps and along the seam that runs down the front and snakes over the toe! Sizzling at $458, the Bend is burning down the house at $229!

Maybe a saucy little ankle boot is more up your alley? If so, one of the best this season is Cydwoq’s Artisan:

The mod look of this heeled bootie is smashing! We’re wild about the ultra-cool and subtle plaid pattern of the textured leather beneath the brown leather overlay! And you can’t beat a zipper up the back for sexiness! A looker at $368, it’s a head-turner at $184!

If you’re looking for a bootie that’s less femme and more rock ‘n’ roll, consider the Trippen Brace:

The steel leather is fantastic, and the industrial embossing of the cut straps around the ankle is cooler than cool! (In fact, it’s ice cold, a la OutKast’s “Hey Ya!”.) Rocking at $318, it blows the roof off at $159! (Shake it like a Polaroid picture!)

Finally, we know many Ped fans wait with bated breath for us to put anything Fiorentini + Baker on sale! Well, rejoice because the “Bordeaux Wine” and “Blue Moon” versions of F+B’s Emmy Boot temporarily have a sliced price that’s oh-so nice (act fast because only a few sizes remain)!

Fantastic Italian construction is always in style! Boots to love for a lifetime! Worth every penny at $518, they’re the bargain of the century at $399!

As always, these are just a taste of the delicious deals awaiting you in Ped’s sale section! What a way to give your puppies a little extra woof during these icy three-dog nights!

(One more special to tempt you: the Sweet Treat this week is Cydwoq’s stupendous Regiment Boot, which is much more interesting than the rank-and-file boots out there! Simply click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to be whisked to the Regiment with the magic code that will bring 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!)