We can’t help it—whenever August rolls around we get nostalgic for back-to-school shopping. We used to love picking out notebooks, pens and pencils, and three-ring binders. But the most important item, of course, was the lunchbox and matching thermos! At Ped HQ, we’ve been talking about how we might recapture a little of that magic, and we thought, “Well, every grown-up gal could always use a new bag to get her fall off on the right foot!” So, voila, we bring you the Ped Bag Sale!

From now until August 19, all of the beautiful slings, totes, and satchels from Cydwoq, 49 Square Miles, and Jutta Neumann are all 25% off!!! Here are just a few of the lovelies we’re offering at “back-to-school” prices:

When we laid eyes on the Kerouac Satchel from 49 Square Miles, it was love at first sight! It is one beautiful bag—large enough to hold everything you need but not oversized and awkward. The way the handles lace through the accordion-pleated sides is just so cool. And the leather, aahhhhh, the leather is so deliciously supple, you’ll have a hard time not touching it (but why resist?). Well worth the original price of $548, it’s a steal at $411! (But we love you, so it’s okay.)

For those of you who like a lighter bag (and who manage to leave the kitchen sink where it belongs in the kitchen), Jutta Neumann’s Oslo Bag is simplicity incarnate. It has room for the necessities you need in a day but won’t weigh you down. Plus, we love the surprise of the contrasting suede lining—see that glimpse of brilliant turquoise up there? And Jutta’s craftsmanship is unparalleled. Pretty at $318, it’s positively radiant at $199!

Maybe you really are heading back to school as a teacher, grad student, or professor, in which case Cydwoq’s Bright Bag makes a great campus companion. A Ped classic, loved by so many, the all-rivet construction—not a stitch to be seen—makes this bag an endurance queen, and its capacious interior is large enough for files, a few books, and even a small laptop. Smart at $358, it’s brilliant at $268!

Jump on over to Ped’s main site to see all the other beautiful bags waiting to tote your goods around town! But remember, to bag your favorite before the sale ends on August 19. What a way to say “see ya” to summer and “hey there” to fall!

There’s nothing better than getting dolled up and having someone notice! So, we are always thrilled when independent bloggers find Ped items worth showcasing. After all, these gals (mostly) know a thing or two about design and put us in such good company! So, we want to thank them for their kind attention.

• Blue Moss Design’s Michelle Taylor publishes the loveliest blog, bluemossgirls.blogspot.com, about things she finds inspiring. A wonderful jeweler who repurposes baubles from the past, she makes our day when she shines her light on Ped.
• The anonymous blogger at I Spuddle, who authors books when not blogging, puts up five thematic things  every Friday. We were delighted to discover Ped’s Chie Miharas made her shoe list in June!
• We are absolutely crazy about Nanashi’s taste at if-i-owned-a-boutique.blogspot.com, so we loved it when she got the last pair of Ped’s Giraudon’s Bristol oxfords and then posted pics of how cute they looked on her feet. Sweet!
• Havilah Savage is a Portland designer who blogs about things she finds inspiring at darlingsavage.blogspot.com. What a treat that she found a spark in Ped’s Argila sandals!
• Down under in Melbourne, Australia, MissyP blogs about design in general and textiles in particular at So Sew Poppy, where she recently gave a shout-out to our favorite goddess of crochet, Sophie Digard!
• Finally, Mrs. French, the wonderful photographer who blogs at Bliss, always makes us sigh with her dreamy posts about things we covet and places we’d like to visit. When she notices us, well, it’s bliss.

In July, artist Anna Divinsky made our day by recounting how she wore her Trippen Schneckes to the opening of her Pittsburgh art exhibition, “Nests,” which featured work that grew out of her experiences as a Ukrainian immigrant. Here’s her lovely, sole-ful tale:

Last month I wore my brand new Trippen Silver Schneckes to the opening of “Nests,” my art exhibition at the American Jewish Museum, which is part of Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Center. The show examines the impact of immigration and migration on people’s lives and imagination. Being an immigrant who came to the States 16 years ago with my family from Ukraine, this was a great opportunity to share my experiences with the public and also to learn from their own stories and memories. The exhibit showcases my work and also the work of different age groups, such as local senior citizens, elementary school kids, and college students, each with their own perception of what immigration means to them. Images of nests, birds, eggs, and dollhouses were used as symbols for home, community, and family. This exhibit was intended to bring the Pittsburgh community together, reminding everyone of their own family roots and the nests they have built or will one day re-build with their families.

“Nests," exhibition by Anna Divinsky at the American Jewish Museum, Jewish Community Center, Pittsburgh, 2009. Right: Paintings on silk of nests and nest installation. Left: Installation close-up, Re-Collection 1993-2009, hand painted and heat-set silk.

As a young girl growing up in Ukraine, I had a very modest shoe selection. Wearing the Trippen Silver Schneckes was not only a fashion statement, but also a symbol of what I have accomplished living in the US. They were a huge hit at the opening, and their sculptural swirls were likened to some of the nest images. I could say that I was wearing my own little symbols of home. Thank you, Ped Shoes!

Anna looking lovely in her Trippen Schneckes. Below Right: Close-up of Trippen Schneckes. Bottom Left: Detail of a painting on silk depicting a nest. (See swirls in both?)

Wow, Anna, we are absolutely thrilled to have attended your opening via the Trippen Schneckes! What a wonderful show—congratulations! For making us smile the most in July, a Ped gift certificate for $100 is winging its way to you.

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!

At Ped, we love a long, luxurious summer as much as anyone, but we get pretty excited when fall starts to feel just around the corner. One of our first indications is when the upcoming season’s shoes start arriving at the warehouse—it’s so much fun to open the boxes and feel the “wow”!

Our current queen of “wow”? Chie Mihara! Based in Spain, Chie knows how to take vintage romance, spice it with old-school sex appeal, and turn it all into a wearable shoe that will have every eye in the room admiring your lovely feet. Chie Mihara heels charm with the most beautiful leathers and interesting details but never at the expense of comfort.

And this season, Ms. Mihara has outdone herself. We just got in our fall styles, and each and every one made us swoon. See for yourself! Here are just a few of Ped’s latest from our lady of Spain:

Drink in the loveliness of Chie’s Nerine! We took a poll at Ped HQ, and the vote was unanimous: none of us has ever seen a go-with-everything shoe that’s quite so pretty and flirty and unusual! The elephant grey suede is easy to wear, but the sweet floral detail makes this heel a head-turner. Never a more gorgeous Mary Jane than Nerine!

When Ped’s Laura saw Chie’s new Saura, she said, “It must be mine! After all, it rhymes with my name—it’s meant to be!” And we have to admit, the design is everything she likes: feminine without being fussy, striking in its color combination, and drop-dead sexy. The subtle leather embossing and the mix of the deep purple toe with the tan body and brown heel make the Saura a knockout. Lace it up with the grosgrain ribbon tie, and, well, “sexy secretary” has never looked sexier!

Get ready, this fall black is back and better than ever. Witness Chie’s sweet and girly Piet ankle boot! Although we love Chie’s way with color (nobody better), the woman also knows exactly what to do to make a black heel stand out from the crowd. The gently pleated leather on the toe and ribbon tie at the ankle send this boot into the stratosphere of style! So saucy!

Those are just three of the sweethearts in Ped’s fall Chie Mihara lineup, and we honestly can’t pick a favorite among them. They’re all stellar! Ms. Mihara’s shoes usually fly out Ped’s door, and we never know whether or not she’ll be able to fulfill a reorder (given the time and craftsmanship that go into each shoe, it’s often not an option). So word to the wise: snag your size while you can.

The Dog Days of summer are here, and as much as we love dogs at Ped, it’s so hot that all we can think about is spending a day at the beach, cooling off in the waves and relaxing in the sea breeze. Happily, Ped has quite a few things to make the sand-and-surf experience that much more pleasurable. (And stylish!)

Seaside tip of the day: Don’t leave home without 49 Square Miles’ Carryall Tote:

Four words: Best. Beach. Bag. EVER!!!!! Everyone at Ped HQ is crazy about this sturdy canvas bag because it’s spacious enough to hold a beach towel, paperback, snack, sunscreen, binoculars, frisbee, water bottle, and whatever else you need to make your day in the sun fun. And despite being a workhorse of a bag, it’s so dang cute! The leather appliques are whimsical, and the colors sing of warm weather. We love. We love.

Another great way to haul your beachwear and wares from your house to that umbrella in the sand is Mia Zia’s Parisian Market Tote.

Beautifully woven out of natural raffia, this bag is casual yet undeniably chic. Traditional Moroccan construction means it’s sturdy enough to take on whatever rough-and-tumble adventures you care to carry it on, looking sassy all the while with its colorful tassels.

Another must-have beach accessory is a pair of kick-on, kick-off sandals. Cydwoq’s Lizard is just the ticket!

There’s not much to them, but what there is packs a serious style punch! The ultimate in Zen-like simplicity, these beauties will keep you from burning your tootsies’ tender soles as you skip across the blazing sand.

Finally, every day is sunnier with the beach-inspired dazzle of Jamie Joseph’s Starfish Necklace.

The perfect way to add sparkle to your beachwear—whether you’re baring it in a bikini or keeping covered in a kaftan—this necklace is so sweet with its gold-set diamond twinkling like a star within the silver starfish. And what a way to maintain your beach frame of mind the rest of the year!

So, stretch out on the sand and, with Ped’s help, beach all you can beach!