Payless ShoeSource Announces Participation in Fashion's Night Out to Support Fashion, Retail and New York City
Payless Plans Include Three Late-Night Shopping Events Hosted by Guest Designers Christian Siriano, Lela Rose and Patricia Field; Limited-Edition Fashion's Night Out Tote to Benefit The National September 11 Memorial & Museum; and Exclusive Sponsorship of the 'Official Ride of Fashion's Night Out' -- Free Double-Decker Bus Service for the Evening of September 10
TOPEKA, Kan. and NEW YORK, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Payless ShoeSource today announced its participation in New York City's Fashion's Night Out created by Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the City of New York and NYC & Company to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion in NYC. The nation's leading specialty footwear retailer dedicated to democratizing fashion in footwear and accessories announced today its participation to help bring shoppers out for a fantastic night of shopping, style advice, celebration and great fun!
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The Payless program will include late-night shopping events, from 8-10 p.m., hosted by Payless Guest Designers Christian Siriano, Lela Rose and Patricia Field at three New York City stores: 716 Lexington Ave., 437 Fifth Ave. and 513 Broadway in Soho, respectively. The events are unique to each store and each designer. As part of Fashion's Night Out, on September 10 various retailers throughout the five boroughs will stay open until 11 p.m. including these three Payless stores.
Payless is also proud to support The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center with a charity tote that sports the official cityscape graphic originally created for the Fashion's Night Out T-Shirts. The limited-edition Payless Fashion's Night Out Totes will be sold for $10 in about 50 stores throughout the city, while supplies last, beginning September 10 with $5 per tote sold donated to The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.
Additionally, Payless is supporting the evening as the exclusive sponsor of the Official Ride of Fashion's Night Out -- four Gray Line double-decker buses that will provide free shuttle service for shoppers to travel to the range of retail events in various neighborhoods in Manhattan. The buses will pick-up and drop-off at key shopping locations throughout the city including in front of the three Payless stores offering the late-night events.
"Payless is thrilled to participate in New York City's Fashion's Night Out with an exciting program that is sure to help bring shoppers out on this special night," said LuAnn Via, CEO and president, Payless. "At Payless we are democratizing fashion and that means making the latest shoe and accessories designs affordable for all to enjoy. Now more than ever, affordable fashion is taking a front seat. We've ramped up our inventory for our three late-night event stores, particularly with our Fall Designer products. We'll have stronger-than-ever affordable shopping and so much more -- designer meet and greet, style advice and a taste of everything from New York Fashion Week to wedding cake."
Sneak Peek at Christian Siriano's Spring '10 Runway Collection
New York Fashion Designer Christian Siriano and season four winner of Bravo's Project Runway reality fashion series, will be in the Payless Lexington store (716 Lexington Ave. at 58th Street) doing what he normally does 48-hours before his New York Fashion Week show - fitting a look for his runway show. This is a unique opportunity for the general public to be behind-the-scenes, getting a sneak peek at a look from Christian Siriano's ready-to-wear and shoe & handbag line for Spring '10, which will hit the runway on Saturday, September 12, at the Bryant Park tents. Payless and Christian will unveil the full Spring '10 Christian Siriano for Payless collection at the Lexington store event. The fitting will be held from 8-8:30 p.m. and Siriano will be available 8:30-10 p.m. for a meet and greet, photos and to sign his first-ever shoe and handbag collection, which hits Payless stores September 8.
Special Event Style Advice With Lela Rose
Celebrated for her classic-with-a-twist aesthetic, New York Fashion Designer Lela Rose will be at the Payless Fifth Ave. store (437 Fifth Ave. at 39th Street) 8-10 p.m. to provide special event style and fashion tips. Rose, well known for her women's wear and bridal designs, will host a sophisticated evening of chic style, inviting her guests to toast life's most unforgettable moments. Whether the host or the guest of a pending special event or the bride or bridesmaid for an upcoming wedding, women are invited to bring in their outfit inspirations or photos for the chance to receive expert style advice from the designer. To finish off a flawless look, Rose will introduce shoppers to Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose(TM) special occasion and bridal collection and the Lela Rose for Payless(TM) fall designer label. Models will feature designs from Rose's apparel line paired with her Payless shoes, illustrating how to create the perfect combination of elegance and affordability for an event to remember. Wedding cake and desserts to be served.
Downtown Shopping Party With America's Style Icon Patricia Field
Fashionistas armed with the most necessary of party accessories, their dancing shoes, can inspire their next party outfit with advice from one of fashion's greatest visionaries -- stylist and costume designer Patricia Field. America's Style Icon -- renowned for her work as stylist on the Sex and the City(R) TV series and more recently as stylist for the ABC hit Ugly Betty, as well as an Oscar(R) nominee for her costume designs for the movie The Devil Wears Prada -- has also been the styling force behind Payless' TV and print ads for nearly a decade. Field also designs the Payless designer label, Patricia Field for Payless, with capsule collections offered at the retailer. She will be in the Payless store in Soho (513 Broadway between Spring and Broome Streets) for a personal appearance and to spill some of her best style secrets during a downtown shopping party from 8-10 p.m.
Fashion's Night Out Tote
As a company that continues to establish philanthropic programs to support important causes, Payless is thrilled to give back to the New York community by selling a limited-edition Payless Fashion's Night Out Tote. This exclusive tote is one of a few specialty items offered by participating retailers that features the official Fashion's Night Out cityscape graphic. The chic and functional reusable tote is made of black rip-stop nylon with an electric blue lining - perfect for a night of shopping! Retail price is $10 with $5 from each sale donated to The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.
Payless Sponsors the Official Ride of Fashion's Night Out
Payless will be the exclusive sponsor of the four Gray Line double-decker shuttle buses that will operate from 6-11 pm Sept. 10, offering free rides to customers from neighborhood to neighborhood in Manhattan. The buses will pick-up and drop-off at key shopping locations throughout Manhattan including in front of the three Payless stores offering the late-night events.
About Fashion's Night Out
Fashion's Night Out is an unprecedented global initiative created to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, and boost the industry's economy. In the United States, the program is a collaboration between American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Company, and the City of New York. On September 10, 2009, more than 700 stores will stay open late to put the fun back in shopping, with designer appearances, live windows, celebrity guests, and other special events. In addition, two important New York charities--the September 11 Memorial and Museum and the NYC AIDS Fund--will benefit from the initiative via the sale of a charity t-shirt and tote, and citywide clothing drive, respectively. On the same night around the world, and led by twelve international Vogue editions (United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Russia, France, Brazil, India, Spain, China, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan), each country will tailor its Fashion's Night Out celebration to appeal to its city's unique retail environment.
About Payless Guest Designers and 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 designer labels are an expanding group that includes Lela Rose for Payless and special occasion line, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, as well as alice + olivia for Payless by Stacey Bendet, Christian Siriano for Payless, Abaete for Payless by Laura Poretzky, and Patricia Field for Payless capsule collections by style icon Patricia Field. 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 first quarter 2009, the company operated more than 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 Abaete for Payless, Lela Rose for Payless, Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, alice + olivia for Payless, Christian Siriano for Payless and STLPxAirwalk, among others; Stride Rite, 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.
Mardi Larson, +1-612-928-0202, mardi@mardilarson.com, for Payless ShoeSource, Inc.