Payless ShoeSource Democratizes Runway Style for the Fall Season With the Unveiling of Designer Collections at New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Fashion fans will be keeping a sharp eye on the runways this New York Fashion Week as the hottest upcoming looks for fall '10 are unveiled under the tents at Bryant Park, including the latest footwear trends from Payless designer labels: Christian Siriano for Payless and Lela Rose for Payless.

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Payless designer collections are among the most widely distributed designer footwear labels in America today.  The Payless fall '10 designer footwear and handbag collections will be available in stores in September with average price points under $40 an item.  In the meantime, shoppers can refresh their spring wardrobes with the spring '10 Payless designer lines including Lela Rose for Payless, alice + olivia for Payless, and Christian Siriano for Payless all available now in select Payless stores nationwide and Payless.com.

"We are committed to democratizing fashion in footwear and that means making the latest runway looks available too.  Each season our designer labels embody high-fashion style and design, but at affordable prices for all to enjoy," said LuAnn Via, CEO and president of Payless ShoeSource.  "Our designer partners create these lines to complement their ready-to-wear (RTW) collections and the resulting pieces represent each designer's truly unique and distinctive style stamp.  We are thrilled to be with our Guest Designers again at the nation's premier fashion event and to debut their latest shoe and handbag creations."

Christian Siriano will showcase his fall '10 collection with Payless today at the Bryant Park tents.  Siriano's collection is inspired by 1960s European women with a strong focus on Parisian women and their daily practice of getting dressed -- donning suits, coats, gloves, a great bag, signature shoes -- all culminating in an effortless, soft and romantic style that could transcend day to evening.  Siriano's shoes gain a strong inspiration from antique furniture from the 18th and 19th century with its filigree and clawfoot detailing.  A focal design in the runway collection is the Rocaille style -- a platform pump featuring a signature heel reminiscent of a clawfoot.   Christian Siriano's modernized approach to his Payless runway collection features various croc and python patent, over-sized ruffles, and gold filigree detailing on platform pumps and boots.

The Lela Rose for Payless fall '10 collection will debut this Sunday at Bryant Park. The collection's inspiration stems from the textural and "craggy" landscapes of the moon and earth and the graphite works by Vija Celmins featuring lunar floors and nighttime skies.  The collection features a "Satellite" print fabric, which takes Hubble telescope imagery of the moon as seen from the earth and the earth as seen from the moon and parlays these tech images into fashion, resulting in a sprayed graphical look.  The shoes mix the "Satellite" print fabric in shades of blue and black with crystals scattered about to evoke a celestial vibe.  Whitson, a unique design in the collection, is an ankle bootie featuring a sculpted curved wedge heel, peep-toe and an upper done in colored suedes with a "rocky" cut-out detail on the vamp that was inspired by craggy surfaces of the Galapagos Islands and moon rocks.  Lela Rose's collection features high heels and booties with hidden platform soles in a variety of colored suede and wool fabrics.  

About Payless Designer Collections

Payless is on a mission to democratize fashion and design in footwear and accessories.  The Payless Designer Collections – seasonal lines of original footwear and handbags created by New York fashion designers and hot-off-the-runway – are a key piece of that strategy.

Payless Guest Designers include Lela Rose and the Lela Rose for Payless and Unforgettable Moments™ by Lela Rose labels, Stacey Bendet with alice + olivia for Payless, Christian Siriano and Christian Siriano for Payless and style icon Patricia Field with Patricia Field for Payless capsule collections.  This select group of fashion designers and stylists create designer footwear and accessory collections for Payless featuring the latest runway and red carpet styling details.  Each collection is unique and reflective of the designer's signature style.   For more information about Payless at New York Fashion Week and the company's Guest Designers, please see paylessontherunway.com.

About Payless & Collective Brands, Inc.

Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a unit of Collective Brands, Inc., is the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere and is dedicated to democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories and inspiring fun, fashion possibilities for the family at a great value.  As of the end of third quarter 2009, the company operated nearly 4,500 stores.  In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet through Payless.com® at www.payless.com.

Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide.  The company operates three strategic units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing.  Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its nearly 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands Airwalk®, Dexter®, Champion®, Zoe & Zac™, the first-ever affordable green footwear brand, and designer collections Lela Rose for Payless, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, alice + olivia for Payless, Christian Siriano for Payless and STLP x Airwalk, among others;  Collective Brands Performance + Lifestyle Group, focused on lifestyle and performance branded footwear and high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands  including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Sims®, Lamar® and LTD®.  Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.

Editor's Note: Runway images from the fall '10 shows and product photos of the currently available Payless spring '10 Designer Collections available upon request.  For more information see also paylessontherunway.com.

SOURCE Payless ShoeSource