Summer Fashion Sizzles With Affordable Accessories to Suit Every Personality Under the Sun

TOPEKA, Kan., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer style has never been so hot.  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 debut of its Summer Collection featuring the season's hottest shoe and accessory trends.  The line includes peep-toe flats, embellished sandals, canvas boat shoes, strappy heels, huarache-style sandals, satchel totes, caps, a variety of sunglasses, and jewelry galore -- covering a range of fashion-forward styles guaranteed to suit every fashion personality under the sun.

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"The Payless summer collection includes all the latest footwear trends -- a diverse array of silhouettes, colors, materials and details --  and an expansive range of accessory items to help women complete their looks for fun summer events," said LuAnn Via, president and CEO of Payless ShoeSource.  "We continue to lead the Fashion Democracy movement to bring forward all the latest accessory items at a great value for all to enjoy."

Fashion fans shopping on a budget will be happy to know that Payless is currently stocking shelves with hot summer styles at prices starting under $10 an item. Whatever the occasion, the retailer can provide a pair of heels or a summer tote to perfectly complement an ensemble.   Wedge cork sandals done in woven and natural upper materials help create a breezy, casual look for seaside strolling, while oxford flats keep city girls skipping across the hot pavement with ease. 

The most popular colors of the season are represented in the line -- footwear and totes pop with shades of lemon yellow, cobalt blue, blush gold, bright fuchsia, and sunset orange.         

Payless' summer offerings also include its popular Designer Collections, exclusive labels featuring original designs by New York fashion designers including Christian Siriano for Payless™  by Christian Siriano, Lela Rose for Payless™ by Lela Rose; and alice + olivia for Payless™ by Stacey Bendet.  Payless Designer Collections are among the most broadly distributed designer footwear labels in America today.

The sneakers and flats in the Christian Siriano for Payless summer line feature a unique pattern of splashy purples and pinks accented with pops of fuchsia.  Strappy sandals and peep-toe flats also dazzle in soft blush gold. Stacey Bendet's alice+olivia for Payless styles channel a funky downtown vibe with a canvas clog, oxford flats, gladiator-inspired platform heels, among other modern details.  The Lela Rose for Payless summer collection represents the designer's classic-with-a-twist focus with flats, wedges and thong sandals rendered in patterned fabrics, vivid cobalt and lemongrass colorations, and delicate bow accents.

Footwear and accessory trends for the summer include:

• Silhouettes – embellished sandals, peep-toe flats, strappy heels, huarache-style sandals, t-strap sandals, platform sandals, sculpted-wedge heels, gladiator-inspired flats, espadrilles, slip-on sneakers
• Colors – lemon yellow, cobalt blue, blush gold, bright fuchsia, and sunset orange
• Materials  – patterned fabrics, canvas, patent, jersey cotton, cork- and woven straw-inspired materials
• Details – bead embellishments, flower and bow accents
• Handbags featuring zebra, giraffe and croco patterns, as well as metallics and black & white prints offer an overall polished look
• Other accessories include: sunglasses, caps and hats, scarves and colorful, layered jewelry

The Payless summer collection for women is currently available in stores nationwide.  The line boasts dozens of fresh footwear styles, handbags and an expansive range of accessories, with new products arriving every few weeks throughout the summer season.   Beyond the women's collection, additional styles are available for the family and include a range of well-recognized brands including Airwalk®, Champion®, Smartfit® and Dexter®, among others.

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, style icon Patricia Field with Patricia Field for Payless capsule collections and newcomer Isabel Toledo with Isabel Toledo for Payless due to debut this fall.  This select group of fashion designers and stylists create designer footwear and accessory collections for Payless featuring the latest runway and red carpet looks.  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 year-end 2009, the company operated nearly 4,500 stores. In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet through Payless.com(R) 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 more than 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 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(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, Inc.