Brrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We get goosebumps just thinking about the frigid temps many of you Ped fans have endured! Ice, ice, not so nice.

And that’s why we thought we’d turn up the burner under Ped’s sale prices to give you something warm and wonderful! Below are just a few of the delicious deals that might make winter a bit more bearable—snag ’em while you can because they’re going like hotcakes!

Before we get down to the frosty ground, let’s make sure your neck stays nice and cozy! We’ve put all of Ben Alder’s woolen goods on sale, including the stripe-a-licious Aberdeen Scarf:

Facing cold weather is much more fun when you have something pretty keeping you toasty! Tempting at $78, the Aberdeen Scarf is irresistible at $58!

If you love one-of-a-kind pieces, perhaps Sophie Digard’s Velvet Soleil Scarf is the way to add spark to icy, grey days:

Wool and velvet combine to make a work of wearable art! Splurge-worthy at $348, it’s a must-have at $278!

What’s that you say? “Boots, give me boots!” Then boots you shall have! First up, Trippen’s well-named Treasure:

Fun and funky, the Treasure looks fantastic on! (Check out Peggy R’s Tale of the Sole to see last year’s brown Treasure in action.) Cutting-edge at $358, it’s super sharp at $179!

Another ankle boot sure to turn heads (but not ankles) is Pep Monjo’s Cora:

The indigo blue leather is such a gorgeous shade! Tasty at $442, it’s scrumptious at $342!

For you urban cowgirls out there, kick up your stylish heels in the Argila Madrid:

You’ll get compliments ’til the cows come home! (We also have the Madrid in black.) Sassy at $468, they’re seriously kickass at $234!

Hoping for a bootie with more feminine wiles? Then turn up the heat in Cydwoq’s Caution:

Faux croc leather in luscious green + slingback styling + 2″ resin heel = steamy sex appeal! Spicy at $326, it’s sizzling at $163!

If you’re thinking, “Perfectly lovely, but what I need is a tall boot,” then Trippen’s fantastic Mexico might be just the ticket:

Red boots are GO! (But in case you prefer brown, we have that, too!) Stellar at $458, they’re out of this world at $229!

Of course, the best remedy for the cold is nature’s insulator: fur! Consider cozying up to the fur-lined version of Fiorentini + Baker’s Emmy:

Look gorgeous AND have toasty toes! A treat at $648, it’s truly a treasure at $324!

We offer a be-furred version of Fiorentini + Baker’s Eliza oxford, too:

Talk about luxe! This beauty is so soft, you’ll have a hard time not constantly petting your shoes! Fantastic at $498, it’s beyond marvelous at $249!

Feel the fire of desire for something cozy and new? Well, we have plenty more bargains to spark your interest over at Ped’s main site! It’s the perfect time to treat yourself to something you ardently want without burning down your bank account!

(Psst, speaking of Fiorentini + Baker, this week’s Sweet Treat is F+B’s perennial favorite, the Emma Boot! Just click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages to arrive at the Emma, where all you have to do is pop it in your bag to receive 20% off at checkout!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Ped fans! Everyone here at Ped HQ hopes your 2014 is off to a fantastic start! Thanks to longtime Ped fan, Peggy R., ours certainly is!

Peggy’s Tale of the Sole is simply beyond wonderful to us—it’s like a giant hug sprinkled with sugar! Here is what she sent:

In 1998, I got my first pair of shoes from Ped, a pair of Giraudon oxfords, and I was immediately hooked on wearing cool shoes! Whenever we were in Seattle, we headed to Pioneer Square to visit Ped and, hopefully, make a purchase. There was just something about wearing great shoes that made me smile and feel so good! Once Dayna opened Ped online, it was hard to pass up the incredible styles. So…. I have a lot of fabulous shoes, handbags, and treasures from Ped!

Peggy’s first catalog from Ped! (We’re so flattered she kept it.)

I decided this fall to document my Ped collection on a daily basis. The challenge was to wear a different pair of shoes or something that I had purchased from Ped for the entire month of December. I called it “The 31 days of Ped.”

The first 12 days of Peggy’s “31 Days of Ped.”

Being a nurse, the workdays were a bit of a challenge—lots of Trippen, a few Cydwoq, and sometimes just my beautiful Antipast socks. Many of my coworkers, as well as patients and their family members, commented on my shoes. I’ve shared Ped with a lot of people!

Days 13-23 of Peggy’s “31 Days of Ped.”

On my off days, it was easier to wear my boots, heels and—thanks to the warm December we had in Sacramento—even a few of my sandals. And every day I smiled!

The final eight days of Peggy’s “31 Days of Ped.”

Dayna and I have had many conversations on the phone over the years. She knows what styles I’ll like and what shoes will fit my feet. I appreciate Ped’s quality and the incredible customer service—but mostly, I like knowing where to get the most fabulous shoes! Dayna has said to me, “Fashion starts with the feet.” And I believe it’s true! Thanks Ped for making me smile!

Oh, Peggy!!! Your smile can’t be any brighter than ours after reading your Tale of the Sole! THANK YOU for starting our new year off with a big burst of Ped love!

We’re delighted to give Peggy $100 in Ped credit as a small token of our HUGE appreciation!

Do you have a Tale of the Sole? Tell us—and show us (we LOVE pictures!!!)—what happened to you while wearing something from Ped, and you, too, might be the recipient of $100 in Ped credit. We’d love to share your sole-ful story on the blog, so let us know what in the world you’ve been doing in your Ped!

It’s that time of year, Ped fans, when your inbox starts to overflow with invitations to holiday shindigs. No doubt, your favorite LBD will get a workout, night after sparkly night! But what to put on your feet to make sure you’re still standing comfortably after all those hours of socializing while quaffing eggnog, wassail, and champagne?

Ped to the rescue with a few festive ways to keep your dogs from howling at the moon!

Chie Mihara knows all about letting your inner girly girl out to shine without sacrificing your soles (and arches and toes). One of the prettiest shoes of the season is the Chie Mihara Kitaro:

Ooooh, we adore the textured gold leather trim with the blue suede heel and brown suede toe! What a way to add color and sparkle to a little black dress!

Colorful suede also makes the Accessoire Doisneu a welcome guest at any party:

Gorgeous and soooooo comfortable! This beauty’s suede-covered platform slopes from 1.75″ in back to .75″ up front, making the pitch a delightful 1″! And the stylized rosette is beyond chic! (We adore the “grenat” (garnet) version pictured here, but the Doisneau also comes in amethyst.)

Another flower-adorned shoe that will have you shining is Chie Mihara’s Karta:

This glittery oxford is tied up and ready for cocktails! (We also offer the Karta in a red that’s as pretty as a poinsettia.)

If you’re looking for something sparkly but a little airier, you’re guaranteed to wow in Cydwoq’s Gaudi:

Hi ho, silver! In this gorgeous sandal, you’ll turn every head in the room. (And those behind you can swoon over the design on the etched heel!)

Perhaps you like your metallics a little more low-key. If so, say hello to Cydwoq’s understated yet oh-so chic Fluid:

The Fluid is perfect for when you need to go straight from work out for evening drinks—it makes the transition in the most fluid and stylish way!

Another work-to-play knockout is Cydwoq’s strap-a-licious Young:

The Young is so very sexy but in a socially acceptable way! (Make sure you click “Views” to see the saucy corset-like closure in back.)

The same closure adds even more fuel to the fiery hotness of Cydwoq’s Knee, which is ideal if you want to party in a dressy ankle boot:

Isn’t that burnt-out paisley leather breathtaking? The Knee is guaranteed to make you the modern and edgy belle of the ball!

For you Ped fans whose style is more funky than femme, consider rocking the holiday cocktails in Cydwoq’s Love Ankle Boot:

We love the idea of wearing an LBD with this black and red badass beauty! You’ll light hearts on fire! (Where you can roast some chestnuts…)

As usual, there are more ways to make your feet festive over at Ped’s main site (don’t miss Cydwoq’s Skate and Rotate, which we showed you a few posts back).

‘Tis the season to take your tootsies out on the town!

Know what wows us these days? The myriad techniques Italian tanneries use to transform already-beautiful leather into artistic canvases that make shoe and bag designs POP! From twice-dyeing to embossing to hand painting, these methods yield leathers that elicit “oohs” and “aahs” from everyone who sees them.

Cydwoq’s Rafi Balouzian is particularly adept at picking eye-opening leathers for his unusual designs, a skill he’s passed on to his son Ari, who makes shoes for Cliff Dweller. Let’s take a look at some of their gorgeous finds!

Hands down (feet down?), the best way to sparkle and shine at your upcoming holiday parties is to wear Cydwoq’s Skate:

Drink in the way the embossed paisley pattern shimmers in red and gold against the black matte background! We’re sure your favorite LBD is chic, but it’s going to look truly spectacular with the Skate!

Another festive head-turner is Cydwoq’s Rotate:

The design itself is fluid work of art, but it becomes a masterpiece when crafted from this stunning multicolored marbled leather!

Also impressive is how Italian tanners have mastered replicating rare animal hides, like python and alligator, without touching those endangered species. Check out the Cydwoq Range to see what we mean:

We love how the sienna and ocher details enhance the persuasiveness of the embossed scaly midsection of this outstanding oxford!

Another convincing copy is the faux ostrich leather of the Cydwoq Mountain:

The vintage feel of these mid-calf beauties is enhanced by the “ostrich” leather, which calls to mind the romance of a different era.

Cydwoq also use the spectacular leathers it finds to make wonderful bags. The same Picasso leather used for the stunning Larkspur shoe can found in this edition of the Olive bag:

The increased “real estate” of the bag really shows off the jaw-dropping beauty of the leather! (Also, note the stoppers on the bottom, which will help protect the leather when you set the Olive down.)

At Cliff Dweller, Ari Balouzian’s specialty is designing modern versions of classic styles, which he often constructs in unexpected leathers. A perfect example is the Cliff Dweller Canoe:

Here Ari updates the classic deck shoe/loafer hybrid and makes it in a modern blue leather that’s hatched for visual and textural interest.

But perhaps the prettiest shoe yet from Cliff Dweller is the swoon-worthy Yoga:

Let’s face it, ballet flats are a dime a dozen, but the Yoga, crafted in this spectacular floral leather that’s perfectly complemented by the crisscross elastic lacing, is truly one in a million! Talk about a gorgeous shoe!

As usual, there are more specialty leathers to make you (and your fans) wake up and take notice over at Ped’s main site! Let your feet and eyes take pleasure in the leather!

(In case you’re wondering, this week’s Sweet Treat is the Trippen Drama Boot! Zip up with flair for 20% off when you click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages. No code needed—when you click through from “be sweet to your feet,” the discount is automatic when you add the Drama to your shopping bag! Yep, the treat just got a little bit sweeter.)

Ped fans, we are loving the current emphasis on COLOR—all the new shoe hues have the Ped warehouse looking bright and lively! It’s amazing how an infusion of color makes the daily grind less grind-like and more like a party.

Quite a few of you, though, are mystified by how to work the new shades into your wardrobe. It’s easier than you think! You simply need  to realize things don’t have to match as long as they “go.” In fact, matching too precisely can make an outfit look “twee,” as the British say. (Laura says a friend of hers calls it the “flight attendant look.”)

You’ve also told us you worry that you’ll only wear colorful shoes once in a while, with one specific thing. To demonstrate the versatility of some of our more show-stopping shoes, we’ve incorporated them into not one but two outfits, often quite different in tone and purpose, to help spark your imagination. Let’s take a tour, and along the way, we’ll offer a few colorful tips.

First up, the Trippen Calexico:

This fun boot offers a lot more options than simply wearing it with jeans! We love the Calexico with the easy day look on the left, but it can even go after-five when paired with the dress on the right. We’ve also included Jamie Joseph’s Round Rock Crystal Ring since it looks stellar with the white in both the top and the dress.

Another shoe that’s more than simply casual is the Cydwoq Lodge:

Sure, it’s great for weekend apple-picking in the outfit on the left, but look at the chic edge the Lodge gives the argyle sheath dress on the right! The Cydwoq Bright Bag also easily transitions from brunch casual to workweek sleek. OD-ing on all that red? Simply add the Epice Plaza Scarf to change the flavor!

Perhaps your personal style trends toward conservative, and although you like to browse at Ped, you can’t imagine how you’d incorporate a colorful style into your wardrobe. The answer is to let a shoe, like the Cydwoq Larkspur, punctuate your outfit, like a great piece of jewelry.

What a way to jazz up a suit!

Chie Mihara’s Tunisia is a shoe that immediately produces oohs and aahs, but the unusual color and patterned heel mistakenly lead people to think it might be hard to pair.

The key is not to worry about matching the color and instead simply let it “go.” The Tunisia‘s checkerboard heel echoes the black and white photo on the dress on the left and complements the variety of patterns in the skirt on the right. Since the shoe and clothes are doing the heavy lifting style-wise, it’s nice to go with a simple bag, like the Cydwoq Bright.

Sometimes it’s not just the color but also the cut that gives Ped fans pause when they think about how to wear a design. Case in point, the Trippen Drama boot:

A couple options: 1) contrast the Drama‘s fabulous flared top with simple straight lines up top, such as wearing it with a pencil skirt and streamlined top; or 2) let its shape play up the lines and movement of a flirty A-line dress. We tossed in Jamie Joseph’s round carnelian ring for a little extra red zing!

If you approach dressing with a sense of adventure, it won’t matter an iota if you don’t own anything blue to wear with the Trippen Tender:

When you want to reference the color of your shoe, accessories can work that magic. We like the contrast of the floral of the skirt on the left with Epice’s Baya Scarf, which includes a periwinkle color that calls out to, but doesn’t match the blue of the Tender. On the right, it’s fun to mix the squares of the dress with the circles on the Epice Los Lunares Scarf.

Finally, let’s consider  Chie Mihara’s Kalendu, which is simply too juicy to miss!

You don’t have to go be a girly girl to take advantage of its delicious greenness! The Kalendu adds such fun to the workweek look on the left (again without actually matching any of the colors in the sweater) and is utterly chic with the casual jeans and top on the right. We also like Cydwoq’s Bright Bag and Jamie Joseph’s Organic Circle Earrings with both outfits.

As you’ve probably noticed, many of the shoes above work equally well with outfits paired with other shoes. We hope these ideas bolster your confidence that colorful shoes truly can be your constant companions and not just once-in-a-blue-moon friends! Life is so much more fun in color!

(Psst, you only have a few more days to snap up this week’s Sweet Treat, the Trippen Yard. Simply click “be sweet to your feet” at the bottom of the box on the left of most Ped pages to reach the Yard with the code that will bring 20% off at checkout.)