Shoppers Revamp Their Fall Wardrobes with the Latest Affordable Accessory Trends from Payless ShoeSource

TOPEKA, Kan., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Payless ShoeSource, the retailer on a mission to democratize fashion in footwear and accessories by offering the most in-demand styles at affordable prices, announced today the availability of its fall collection including the first-ever Isabel Toledo for Payless™ designer line, as well as additional exclusive Payless designers labels Christian Siriano for Payless™ and Lela Rose for Payless™.

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As the seasons shift, shoppers are looking for an easy, affordable  wardrobe renovation and accessories are key.  Fortunately for fashion fans, Payless delivers the latest fall trends at prices that make it possible to channel the season's hottest looks for less.

Fall's must-have accessories will be hitting the retailer's shelves, including plaid flats and sneakers, western-inspired boots, studded clogs and oxford pumps.  Shoppers can also scoop up handbags, scarves, legwarmers, patterned tights, hair accessories, fedoras and cabbie-style hats.  Price points start as low as under $10 -- with designer labels starting at $35 -- an item.

"The Payless fall collection includes all the latest footwear and accessory trends to help women affordably revamp their wardrobes and complete their signature looks for fall," said LuAnn Via, president and CEO of Payless ShoeSource.  "We are thrilled by our four designer labels for fall -- all are truly unique and representative of each designers' personal design aesthetic.  With our designer lines alone, we deliver a range of unique items from stylish flats and d'Orsay pumps to wellie rain boots, other boots and wedges.  We continue to lead the Fashion Democracy movement to bring forward all the latest accessory items at a great value for all to enjoy."

The Isabel Toledo for Payless designer line debuts for fall with seven footwear and three handbag styles -- a range of important essential silhouettes including boots, pumps, heeled wedges, flats, and handbags done in fresh new ways, resulting in wearable chic shoes and bags with a practical elegance. The collection reflects Toledo's desire to create smart, graphic and functional shoes that she would personally wear on a daily basis while walking in NYC.  The line includes the focal "Ghillie" style done in a wedge heel and a flat; three boots: a tall "Poodle Belted" boot, the "Sliver" bootie, and "Front-Fold" bootie; the "Pom Pom" ballet flat;  and the "Toreador" d'Orsay pump.  The shoes all feature a unique zig-zag ripple sole treatment  -- a fashionable tread and nod to the often severe weather indicative of NYC in the fall.  Handbags include a satchel, tote, and clutch.

The Christian Siriano for Payless designer label is back this fall season with a collection inspired by 1960s Parisian women and their daily practice of getting dressed.  Siriano's fall line is his fifth for Payless and it features seven shoe styles and three handbags with a strong use of exotic "croco" material.  Shoes pull from an antique furniture inspiration and feature such details as scrolled filigree ornamentation on flats and pumps.   Styles include the "Exotic" sandal, "Exotic" platform pump, "Storm" wellie rain boot, "Empress" dress boot, "Royalty" flat, "Midnight" d'Orsay evening shoe, and "Walk It Out" sneaker.  A clutch, tote, and  satchel complement the footwear silhouettes for a polished look.

Lela Rose has done more than a dozen collections for Payless. The Lela Rose for Payless fall '10 collection includes four shoe styles and three handbags all inspired by the textural landscapes of the moon and earth. The shoes channel this inspiration with details such as a "Satellite" print fabric with crystals scattered about to evoke a celestial vibe.  An ankle bootie and flat style feature chop-out detailing on the vamp to suggest moon rocks and the craggy surface of the Galapagos Islands.  The line features the "Gerlinde" ankle bootie, "Aamelia" and "Isala" flats, "Linzia" pump,  as well as a clutch, shopper, and  satchel.

Patricia Field has had a long-standing and close relationship with Payless for years – she styles the retailer's TV and print ads and creates capsule collections.  The most recent Patricia Field for Payless collection features a set of what she calls  "Lucky Charms" -- necklaces featuring unique charmed items, such as the Turkish Eye intended to ward off the Evil Eye of Medusa, or the over-sized four-leaf clover, inspired by her work on Sex and the City 2.

Additional key footwear trends for the fall season include:

• Silhouettes – ankle booties, western-inspired boots, over-the-knee cuff  boots, clogs, "shootie" heels, peep-toe pumps, ballet flats, oxford pumps, flat boots, graphic skate sneakers
• Colors – deep red, plum, grey, navy, purple, pewter, shades of taupe
• Materials – cozy suede, tweed, plaid, argyle, denim, graphic canvas
• Details – studs, straps, ruffles, cuffs, slouchy looks, cut-outs, filigree and crystal accents

The Payless fall collection for women is currently available in stores nationwide and on Payless.com with Payless designer lines available in select stores and Payless.com.  The full fall line boasts dozens of new footwear styles, trend-right handbags, and cool-weather accessories with fresh products arriving every few weeks throughout the fall season.   In addition to Payless designer labels, styles are available under well-recognized brands including Airwalk®, Champion®, Dexter® and Zoe & Zac green brand, among others.

About Payless Guest Designers and Designer Collections

Payless designer collections are among the most widely distributed designer footwear labels in America today and a key strategy for Payless in its mission to democratize fashion, design and the latest ideas in footwear and accessories for all to enjoy.   Payless Guest Designers are an expanding group and include Lela Rose, who has two labels: Lela Rose for Payless and a special occasion line, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose; Christian Siriano with Christian Siriano for Payless; Patricia Field with Patricia Field for Payless and Isabel Toledo and the retailer's latest designer label Isabel Toledo for Payless.  Previous designers also included Laura Poretzky with Abaete for Payless and Stacey Bendet with alice + olivia for Payless.

The Payless Designer Collections are seasonal lines of original footwear and handbags created by New York fashion designers and are hot-off-the-runway.   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 offered at value prices.   Each collection is unique and reflective of the designer's signature style.

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 second quarter 2010, 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(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R), Zoe & Zac(TM), the first-ever affordable green footwear brand, and designer collections Lela Rose for Payless, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, Christian Siriano for Payless, Patricia Field for Payless, Isabel Toledo for Payless and STPL 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(R), Keds(R), Sperry Top-Sider(R), Robeez(R), and Saucony(R), among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit, with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk(R), Vision Street Wear(R), Sims(R), Lamar(R) and LTD(R). Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.

SOURCE Payless ShoeSource