Add Affordable Runway and Red Carpet Glam to Any Wardrobe This Season With Payless Designer Footwear Collections

TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Payless ShoeSource(R) announced today the continuation of its designer footwear labels this holiday season with special collections of Abaete for Payless by fashion designer Laura Poretzky, Lela Rose for Payless and a special collection by style icon Patricia Field -- all offering affordable runway and red carpet glam to spice up women's holiday wardrobes.

First launched with the Abaete for Payless fall collection in 2006, Payless designer collections are now among the most widely distributed designer footwear labels in America today. Expected Spring 2008 is new addition alice + olivia for Payless by fashion designer Stacey Bendet, who is widely known for designing the "perfect pants." Each Payless Guest Designer has a unique design vocabulary to speak to varying shopper tastes.

Abaete for Payless

Laura Poretzky's inspirations vary each season and embrace an "American international" design direction, drawing from her rich international experiences living in Brazil, France and New York. This season's Abaete for Payless collection includes several dress styles in a "satin" and "patent" grouping.

The faux satin grouping features pleated ruffle detailing in a pump, boot, flat and clutch. The Rose d'orsay pump, $35, has a sleek pointed toe, ruching and ruffle pleat detail offered in fuchsia (this coloration also has a Gold electroplated heel), black and navy. The Kaye dress boot, $48, is a short bootie that hits just above the ankle and also features a sleek pointed toe, ruching and ruffle pleat detailing and is offered in black. The Betty ballet flat, $30, has a d'orsay silhouette, slightly snipped toe, ruching and ruffle pleat detailing and is offered in black and navy. The Bing clutch, $25, is designed to coordinate with the satin shoes and features ruched and pleated faux satin with a metal frame and is offered in black, navy and fuchsia.

The Abaete for Payless patent grouping for holiday includes the Kimberlee flat, $30, with a black patent upper and an open toe with a navy and black satin twist detail. The Bayley open-toe pump, $35, features black patent and a twisted satin detail at the toe done in black and white and black on black options.

Great for holiday gift giving, the Abaete for Payless holiday collection also features designer watches for just $22: the Camelia has a patent strap with gold face detail offered with white and black strap options, while the Chantal is offered in a cuff style in smoke and white options with silver face detail.

Lela Rose for Payless

Lela Rose is well known for her apparel designs that feature unique uses of fabrics. Her shoes are no exception and her seasonal collections for Payless often feature lots of unique fabric details. The Lela Rose for Payless holiday collection includes the "brocade" and "burlap" groupings.

The brocade grouping includes a pump, ballet flat and a clutch. The Jefferson pump, $35, features a round toe and rich silver brocade fabric with tonal trim. The Cavalry ballet flat, $30, includes the same brocade fabric in gold, and the Maiden Lane silver metal framed clutch, $25, includes the same brocade fabric offered in silver and gold options.

The burlap grouping features the Norfolk pump, $35, with a round toe in tan linen/burlap fabric with black patent sling-back straps; the Harrison flat, $30, features the same details; and the coordinating Delancy satchel, $30, features a unique square shape with the burlap fabric bottom with piping and a handle clutch done in contrasting black patent.

Patricia Field for Payless

Earlier this year, Patricia Field was nominated for an Oscar(R) for her costume designs for "The Devil Wears Prada." She walked the red carpet in Payless shoes she personally designed, which became the focal in her special holiday collection for Payless including a dress sandal, boot and clutch. The Tempura dress sandal, $40, was inspired by the shoes Field wore earlier this year to the Oscars. It has a platform sole, ankle strap and features a mix of reptile print in silver metallics. The Sushi short bootie, $55, features a similar platform sole treatment and black faux suede, and the Sake clutch, $25, has a unique barrel shape done in reptile print and silver and pewter metallic options.

In addition to Payless Designer Collections, the Payless women's core collection for holiday features well-known brand names like American Eagle(R), Airwalk(R) and Fioni(R) featuring the latest on-trend styling details to meet every woman's needs -- from winter wardrobe updates to gift gathering and vacation get-aways. The core collection features key trends like silver metallic, lace overlays, peep toes, bows, large stones and mirrored tile embellishments and a range of slippers and scarves that make the perfect gift. The Payless holiday offering features more than 50 new styles available beginning this month, while supplies last.

About Payless Guest Designers

Laura Poretzky, Lela Rose and Stacey Bendet are Payless Guest Designers -- fashion designers that create designer footwear and accessory collections featuring the latest runway looks, which Payless brings to its stores at value prices. Each collection is unique and reflective of the designer's signature style: Poretzky's "American international," drawing from her rich international experiences living in Brazil, France and New York, Rose's strong focus on "classic with a twist," and Bendet's "retro sophisticate." The Payless Guest Designer program is a key strategy in Payless' overall mission to democratize fashion in footwear and accessories. Pricing is generally under $50 per item. For more information about Payless at New York Fashion Week and the company's Guest Designers, please see paylessontherunway.com.

Payless and Patricia Field have had a close working relationship for nearly two years; Field has been styling Payless TV and print ads, as well as the seasonal lifestyle signage featured in the stores. Upon hearing the news of Field's Oscar(R) nomination, Payless approached her with the design project and the opportunity. The capsule collection will be available only while supplies last.

Payless ShoeSource, Inc., the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, is dedicated to democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories to inspire fun fashion possibilities for the family. As of the end of the second quarter 2007, Payless operated more than 4,500 stores. In addition, customers can buy shoes over the Internet through Payless.com(R) at http://www.payless.com/.

Payless is a business unit of Collective Brands, Inc. , the consumer-centric global footwear, accessories and lifestyle brand company, reaching customers through multiple price points and selling channels. Collective Brands, Inc. is the holding company of Payless ShoeSource, Stride Rite and Collective Licensing International. Information about, and links for shopping on, each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at http://www.collectivebrands.com/.

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