As much as we love summer at Ped HQ, it’s always a treat when the fall styles begin to arrive at the warehouse! It seems like an eon has passed since the orders were placed, so opening the boxes leads to a whole new round of oohing and aahing.

And no one gets more oohs and aahs than that Spanish apple of our eye, Chie Mihara, who has truly outdone herself for autumn! Her whimsical and feminine creations, so meticulously detailed, make us sigh over and over again! Given what a scorcher this summer has been, it’s lovely to imagine brisk fall days and what we might wear with this shoe or that! Try it yourself with this taste of Chie Mihara’s fall feast!

It’s so hard to choose what to show you from the 15 new Chie styles now in the Ped house—every single one is GORGEOUS! But let’s begin with Ms. Mihara’s new Vedet:

Mary Jane to the MAX! Who knew such a sweet classic could look so sophisticated and seductive? The mix of the brown mock croc leather with a textured black toe, heel, and cross strap is genius! Sexy schoolgirl, indeed!

For those of you who prefer a lower heel and a slightly quieter voice, Chie Mihara offers several options, one of the prettiest being the Gual:

The heel is more down-to-earth and the mink grey suede is a softer approach than the Vedet, but don’t be fooled—the Gual has plenty of stylish gas in its tank! Patent leather dots strewn over the toe and gold-infused black leather trim give this versatile neutral a flirty edge!

To be honest, though, we most heart the designs in which Chie goes all out! Exhibit A: the Exito!

Look at that leather!!!(!!!!!!) We simply can’t stop smiling at how stunning it is—a textured and marbled combo of bronze, gold, and silver that dazzles and shines in this modern heeled oxford!

Let’s pump of the volume further—or at least the height! Presented for your approval (and drool), Chie Mihara’s Zanzubar:

Paying homage to the platform shoes of the 1970s, Chie Mihara has created a heeled oxford like no other! The chevron pattern created from braided black, white, and burgundy leather is out of this world!

Another retro-rocking style is Chie’s new Uja:

Holy cow! We love the “red pepper” faux croc leather of this peep-toe hot tamale! The heel is a take-no-prisoners 3.75″, but the Uja‘s pitch is an easy-peasy 2.75″ —that’s the function supporting the fun of the 1″ platform under the toe.

Maybe you enjoy vintage-inspired designs but prefer the flair of the Big Band era. If so, you’ll adore the Chie Mihara Pam:

What a bombshell—the ankle strap and flower blossoming on the toe are so dreamy in red suede! And the khaki grosgrain piping adds just a charming drop of contrast!

But the shoe you might just lose sleep over until you make it your own is Chie’s stunning Insomnia:

Romance is alive and thriving in this rhinestone-bedecked jewel of a shoe! Perfect for dancing the night away, this plum suede beauty will instantly make you the belle of the ball!

Are you starry-eyed imagininghow you’d look and what marvelous adventures you’d have in Chie Mihara’s latest designs? Well, the above stunners are just the beginning of the all the Chie Mihara gorgeousness awaiting you at Ped’s main site! Why resist? Go ahead and fall for fall!

(By the way, this week’s Sweet Treat is Trippen’s Aloe, a style that’s ideal for making the transition from summer to autumn! Click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any Ped page to reach the Aloe, where you’ll find a magic code that will bring 20% off at checkout!)

. . . or at least for next fall and winter! Ped fans, in March I again jumped across the pond to visit the European shoe shows in Milan and Paris. These are the trips where I place orders for next season’s goods, trying on and closely examining all the styles to make sure they’re up to Ped’s high standards for comfort and quality.

For Ped to carry a line, it has to persuade me of four things: 1) it’s made with an eye to social and environmental ethics; 2) the company prioritizes outstanding craftsmanship using the very best materials; 3) the designs are comfortable and easy to wear; and 4) the goods must have style for miles!!!

I work hard on these trips! But I also have a lot of fun! I love soaking up European culture and observing new trends. Come along for a vicarious ride!

When I landed in Milan, spring was in full swing, even though it was early March. The colors were so beautiful!

A Milanese flower vendor's stall on the way to the Fiorentini + Baker showroom! Gorgeous!

Flowers weren’t the only colorful spectacle—check out this dazzling display for Louis Vuitton:

What a creative use of arrows!

Fabulous shoes were everywhere! Even in the gourmet food section of La Rinascente!

Have your shoes and eat them, too! Chocolate shoes for 40 Euros.

Granted, not everyone in Milan was there for shoes. I saw these McDonald’s chefs on a photo shoot at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (a must-visit indoor shopping arcade).

Pretty sure their meals weren't as happy as the ones I ate in Milan!

Speaking of food, on my day off I walked for five hours straight, visiting the famous Corso Como, and rewarded myself with gelato!

Pear and guava gelato! YUM!

Whenever I’m in Milan I make sure to light a candle for my much-missed father at Il Duomo.

Candles in Il Duomo.

Then it was off to Paris, where my morning “commute” is about as stress-free as it gets.

The beautiful Seine was glass-like on my walk to work.

At the show, Cydwoq had so many beautiful styles I had a difficult time choosing. I think you’ll be pleased, though!

A booth of swoon-worthy Cydwoq shoes and boots!

Wondering what looks are popular for next fall and winter? Well, the love affair with oxfords and menswear-influenced styles continues. Plus, booties are still big (the kind you wear on your feet!), worn unlaced and unbuckled in a casual European way. Vintage looks, as well as polka dots and stripes, are also on trend.

The big story, though, is a renewed emphasis on COLOR! Ruby red, mustard yellow, leaf green, royal blue—every saturated hue imaginable! I don’t want to give too much away, but here’s a little taste of what you have to look forward to!

After a long day, I had a delicious Lebanese dinner with Cydwoq’s Rafi and Trippen’s Michael. This was our view as we walked home:

Oooooh, sparkly!

Ped fans, I love my job!

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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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.)

Hello, Ped fans! Sorry to leave the blog untended for so long, but I have the best possible excuse: I was shoe shopping for you in Milan and Paris! And, wow, is there a lot to look forward to next spring! Not only will Ped have the latest from your favorite designers, but we’re bringing back NDC from Belgium and adding Vic Matie sandals from Italy.

I began my style hunt in Milan, where the shoe show had an ultra-hip, retro-70s aesthetic.

So fun to look for shoes at the Micam show in Milan!

Of course, I ran into several of Ped’s treasured designers. It’s always a treat to see Chie Mihara!

Chie Mihara has such a great spirit—you just have to smile with her!

And here’s the lovely Ellen Verbeek, one of the latest additions to the Ped family. (If you haven’t checked out her gorgeous wood-soled boots yet, you really must!)

Ellen Verbeek is as beautiful as her designs!

After Milan, it was off to Paris for another shoe show (tis the season).

The Paris show's aesthetic was streamlined and modern.

I managed to get three of Ped’s favorites in one shot! Check it out:

Cydwoq's Rafi Balouzian, Chie Mihara, and Trippen's Michael Oehler—what a design-tastic trio!

You may be wondering what trends I discovered. Well, next spring is going to be very colorful; I ordered shoes in red, yellow, grey, teal, navy, caramel, along with lots of metallics, which continue to sizzle. Look for studded detailing on bags and shoes. Also, wedge heels—both wood and cork—are all the rage. And Chie’s line for Spring 2011 features lots of contrast stitching and mixes of suede and leather.

Perhaps my favorite trend is oxfords worn with skirts or cropped pants and no socks! Love that! Two looks I don’t care for, though, are thick socks with heels and nylons worn with peep-toe wedges. Ugh!

I became a little obsessed with photographing the wide range of shoes the buyers and sellers were wearing at the show. Here’s a sampler of what the shoe pros were sporting in Paris:

Honestly, two of the best parts of the day were walking to and from work because my route let me stroll through the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries, which looked particularly spectacular blooming with fall flowers.

Aahhh, I love Paris in the autumn!

(By the way, in case you haven’t discovered it yet, this week’s “sweet treat” is Ellen Verbeek’s knockout Camille Boot! Get 20% off this Belgian stunner by clicking “be sweet to your feet” in the top right corner of any Ped page, which will instantly take you to the Camille and the sought-after discount code!)