One of our favorite things at Ped is receiving Tales of the Sole from customers. Every story is different, but they always put everyone at Ped HQ in a good mood! For instance, here’s what Heather wrote us on June 1:
Well Lovely Ped Folks, I am not sure if this qualifies as a tale, but its making has certainly been epic for me. I am pregnant with our first kiddo, due June 22nd. The first six months were no trouble in the style department, but boy howdy, when I hit the third trimester things got pretty boring in the sartorial department.
I have been pretty determined not to buy clothes that I know I’ll only need for three months, so the same handful of shirts it has been. And one might think that I could do a little spring sprucing with some of the fabulous shoes you’ve been getting in, but nope! I am one of those gals whose feet have gotten a wee bit bigger, so I knew that anything that fit now would not fit later.
What’s a girl to do for a little spring fashion under such circumstances? Buy the handbag of her dreams, that’s what! Last month’s sweet treat hooked me up with this gorgeous teal Cydwoq bag. I have been on The Bag hunt for, sheesh, years now, and it’s over. It’s the perfect size, wears delightfully over the shoulder or across the chest, the color is gorgeous, and the leather is super supple. It joins my ever growing collection of Cydwoq shoes, which have all aged and worn beautifully—I’m sure this bag will do the same!
Thanks for hooking a pregnant gal up just about when she lost her patience.
Heather and her Cydwoq Flap Bag---how to do nine months in style!
What a smile! Since she was due June 22, we hope congratulations are in order by now! Such a lucky baby to have such a beautiful mother!
See what we mean? Isn’t your day just a little brighter now? Thanks, Heather! For sharing her story, we’re delighted to send Heather $100 in Ped credit! (As a no-doubt exhausted new mom, she could probably use a little treat.)
Do you have a Tale of the Sole? Tell us—and show us (we LOVE pictures!!!)—what happened to you while wearing a Ped item, and you, too, might be the recipient of $100 in Ped credit. Each month we pick the most sole-ful tale to share on the blog. So, let us know what in the world you’ve been doing in your Ped!
(Did you notice Heather found her bag through the “Sweet Treat”? In case you don’t know, every week Ped chooses an item to offer at 20% off—and you never know what we’ll pick! So, when you visit Ped be sure to click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner of any page to discover the current “sweet treat” and receive the code for 20% at checkout. Sweet!)
Some of you Ped fans have let us know how much you adore clogs! It’s true there’s nothing like the feeling of wood beneath your feet—so solid yet comforting. But we wouldn’t be Ped if we simply offered run-of-the-mill clogs, especially when we know your toes want to be free to enjoy the summer! So, we combed our sources to find a few especially beautiful wood-bottomed sandals that will speak to your stylish souls as well as your soles.
Although we hate to play favorites (we truly love all our shoes), Trippen’s Ritzy is the stand-out style of the season:
It is just IT! Starting with the fabulous way the supple black leather crisscrosses and wraps around your ankle and ending with how the wooden sole gives you a window on the world beneath your heel, the Ritzy is like no other sandal out there. Fun, edgy, and sexy!
Another clog sandal with head-turning power is Giraudon’s Riley:
The lines of this airy peep-toe are so interesting, and we love how the ankle lacing gives the subtle suggestion of an ankle boot. Absolutely of the moment! (And the gold lining is so fun!)
But maybe what you like in a clog is the ability to just slip it on and go, in which case Trippen has your number with the Zen:
Nothing could be simpler to wear, yet the Zen still has enough ‘zazz to make any outfit juicy! After all, who doesn’t love a red sandal?
Another easy-to-wear style with a sole of hand-sculpted wood is the Cydwoq Revolt, a perennial Ped favorite:
Cute and practical, this sandal makes a great traveling companion (slide off, slide on when navigating airport security). And because it’s from Cydwoq, you know the Revolt’s leather will comply with the shape of your individual foot for a custom fit.
So, clog lovers, choose whichever wood-soled siren sings your name, and take a solid step into summer!
(Psst, just fyi, this week’s “sweet treat,” Cydwoq’s Proud, will only be especially sweet for a couple more days, so click “be sweet to your feet” in the upper right corner for 20% off while you still can.)
Many Ped fans are about to enter that confusing season when it’s warm enough to shed the wooly socks and tights but not quite warm enough to bust out the sandals. We know you love your winter boots, but we’re pretty sure your tootsies have the foot equivalent of cabin fever and would appreciate a breath of fresh air and some time in the sun. So, when the snow melts and you’re ready to bare some but not all, here are a few ways to make your toes happy.
Let’s start with an appropriately named cutie from Cydwoq: the Warm!
Made from the prettiest berry-colored newbuck, this laid-back flat practically sings, “Spring!” No muss, no fuss, just a great skip-around-town shoe that looks fantastic with warm-weather skirts and walking shorts.
Purple Mary Janes!!! Is there a more fun way to put the drab days of winter behind you? Nope, we didn’t think so! What’s nice about the Light is not only is it wonderful worn barefoot, thanks to a cork insole that molds to your foot, but it’s also terrific with tights on those not-yet-summer days when the mercury dips.
Need something a little dressier for the office or perhaps a cocktail party? Then slip your foot into Cydwoq’s Town:
We love how this vintage-inspired shoe is just conservative enough without losing its sauce! The leather is gorgeous, and the heel is a Gaudi-inspired work of art (be sure to check out the additional views at the Ped site to appreciate the etched design).
But maybe you want a shoe with a true bohemian edge. The coolest women at the Paris shoe show were all wearing Trippen’s Omen:
Leave it to our favorite Germans to create a style that echoes a boot but is more open to the elements. The color is a beautiful grey that leans toward lavender, and the riveted strap around the ankle pulls it all together!
The washed leather (our new favorite!) of this shoe-sandal hybrid is the most luscious shade of olive green, with exposed edges the color of budding leaves. So urban and arty, it’s the perfect way to take your feet out and about as the seasons change.
We’ve barely skimmed the surface of what’s new at Ped to help you make the transition from winter to spring and on into summer. Click over to the main Ped site to get an eyeful of even more options for what to wear as the weather warms up!
The days are rarely frigid here in the Bay Area, but I know winter has been running roughshod over many of you Ped fans! I see photos of mounds of snow in the Midwest and on the East Coast and hear about day after day of icy temperatures everywhere. Brrrrr!!! When you’re simply trying to stay warm, style often gets relegated to the backseat.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! Ped has lots of ways to keep cozy that also let you turn up the style temperature! (After all, your admirers count on you to lift their chilly spirits!)
Our mothers always told us, “Put a hat on!” They were wise because there’s no cuter way to combat the cold than with a Karin Wagner flower-embellished cap:
Our beloved Swiss mistress of textile art first hand-knits a cap of 100% soft wool and then pretties it up with her one-of-a-kind, hand-felted blossoms.
Now that your head is covered, let’s go to the other extreme and make sure your toes are toasty.
These striped tights from Antipast aren’t just snazzy (which they definitely are), they’re also 71% wool to keep your whole lower half warm when it’s cold!
One of the most practical fashion trends to come along has been arm warmers, which keep your wrists and palms snug while leaving your fingers free. We especially love the ones from Rain + Jack:
Rain + Jack combines the softest Australian lambswool with the most wonderful colors to warm your heart as well as your hands!
And, of course, you need a scarf! The winter wind will just have to blow down someone’s else’s neck when you wrap up in one of Sophie Digard’s woolen wonders:
We just got in this Wildflower Scarf and is it ever GORGEOUS!!! Each little velvet-centered flower is unique. With this wool beauty twined around your neck, you’ll be the envy of everyone who sees you!
But perhaps you live somewhere more temperate and only need a little something to stave off the chill. Sophie’s still your go-to gal because our Parisian queen of crochet also makes lighter linen scarves, like this Pastille Pop stunner:
Winter won’t last forever, but as long as it’s here, pull on your Ped and look and feel wonderful! Don’t let the ice keep you from feeling nice!
One thing we love about the Holidays is getting together with old friends! So, Ped is delighted to have one of our oldest pals, the Aurora Shoe Co., back in the Ped family this season! When Ped first opened as a brick-and-mortar store in Seattle in 1993, Aurora was one of the first shoe lines we carried. We adored their simplicity and expert craftsmanship, and so did our customers!
Unfortunately, Aurora disappeared for a few years, but now it’s back and as wonderful as ever. Aurora’s new owner, David Binns, appreciates the legacy of the company and is continuing its commitment to hand making shoes using top-of-the-line leather. Aurora constructs its shoes in Aurora, N.Y., from all-American materials that will last and last. And if you ever wear through the hardy Vibram rubber soles on your shoes, Aurora will happily resole them, so you can love those shoes some more (and you will, trust us).
But don’t just take our gushing word for it. Check out this video to see the care that goes into every pair of Aurora shoes:
Doesn’t that make you feel good about slipping on a pair of Aurora’s? And what a nice guy David is!
How can you resist this great all-around flat? As David says in the video, Aurora’s shoes mold to fit your individual foot, so you’ll never find footwear that’s more comfortable. And for those of you wishing we had all four of Aurora’s styles, good news! We’re adding the New Mexican and West Indian to Ped’s Aurora lineup for spring!
We are so happy to have our old friend, Aurora Shoe Co. back in the pack! Making them your new friend will be a stellar way to start the New Year!
Have you had a memorable experience while wearing something from Ped? We want to hear about it (and see it, too, if you have pics)! Send your tales to yourfriends@pedshoes.com. Once a month, we'll pick a story that made us smile, post it here on the blog, and send that entertaining Ped fan a $100 Ped gift certificate!
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