Payless ShoeSource and fashion designer Lela Rose announced today that they have signed a new multi-year agreement for Rose to continue to design her popular collection, Lela Rose for Payless(TM), available exclusively at the footwear retailer. To further expand the partnership and draw from Rose's 2007 launch of her wedding collection, Payless and Rose have also agreed to Rose designing Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose(TM), a special occasion collection exclusively for Payless initially due out in early 2009.

    Lela and Payless initiated their relationship in September 2006 to launch the Lela Rose for Payless seasonal collection, a line of original footwear and accessory designs created in conjunction with Lela Rose's ready-to-wear clothing. Together, the footwear and clothing collections are unveiled on the runway at Lela Rose's New York Fashion Week show. Payless makes the designer collection available in stores and at payless.com for under about $40 an item.

    The new multi-year agreements include four seasonal Lela Rose for Payless collections per year, as well as having Rose continue to design a line of infant and toddler shoes under the brand name Teeny Toes(R) Lela Rose Collection. Inspired by the birth of her daughter, Rosey Potter Jones, the line was first launched as an infant-only collection in spring 2008.  The line will continue to be inspired by Rosey and, reflective of her growth, it will expand to toddlers and also include "me too" styles that mimic the shoes from the seasonal women's line.

    Based on the tremendous positive consumer reaction and the first-time shoppers that the Lela Rose designs have lured to Payless stores, this new deal expands the partnership further into Rose designing a special occasion dyeable line of shoes under the label Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose. This new collection will include several core classic styles, as well as refreshed seasonal silhouettes featuring the latest trend details, which can be dyed in 64 colors hand-picked by the designer.

    "Lela is a tremendous design talent with a truly unique view of American fashion. Her shoe designs are amazing with a strong focus on utilizing unconventional fabrics and colors paired with the right silhouette and design details to make a $30 pair of shoes look like they
are $300," said Matthew Rubel, chief executive officer of Payless ShoeSource. "We are thrilled to extend our relationship with Lela Rose, and to expand into an infant and toddler line, as well as a special occasion line. Payless Guest Designers like Lela are a powerful element in our mission to democratize fashion in footwear -- through this partnership we are able to bring Lela Rose designs to shoppers nationwide so that more and more women, and little girls, can have access to her incredible sense of style and taste."

    Rose will draw her inspiration for the Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose special occasion line from her wedding collection designs, which have been featured in a variety of high-end magazines such as New York Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Weddings, The Knot and Town and Country Weddings. Moreover, Lela Rose outfitted the house-party members for Jenna Bush's wedding in May, including maid-of-honor Barbara Bush.

    "It has been absolutely amazing to work with Payless. They have given me the opportunity to translate my collections into shoes and accessories that are not only fashionable and designer-looking, but more importantly, available to every woman," said Lela Rose. "Nearly every woman I know has a closet with a range of items to mix and match inexpensive with expensive. My line at Payless fits right into that high-low idea."

    About Payless Designer Collections

    Lela Rose, Laura Poretzky, Stacey Bendet and Patricia Field are Payless Guest Designers -- select fashion designers and stylists that create designer footwear and accessory collections featuring the latest runway looks, which Payless brings to its stores at affordable prices. Each
collection is unique and reflective of the designer's signature style: Rose's strong focus on "classic with a twist"; Poretzky's "American international," drawing from her rich international experiences living in Brazil, France and New York; Bendet's "contemporary retro," and style icon Patricia Field's with her award-winning design aesthetic. The Payless Guest Designer program is a key strategy in Payless' overall mission to democratize fashion in footwear and accessories. For more information about Payless at New York Fashion Week and the company's Guest Designers, please see http://www.paylessontherunway.com.

    About Lela Rose

    Lela Rose is a Texas native and 1993 graduate of the Parson's School of Design. She worked at Christian Francis Roth as Design Assistant and soon after with Richard Tyler as Design Assistant and Fabric Buyer. In 1998, Rose's vision and passion compelled her to create her signature ready-to-wear collection, Lela Rose, with studio headquarters in New York City. Through intricately designed and finely detailed separates, dresses and jackets, Rose has established herself as a renowned designer. In 2007, Rose launched a wedding collection focused on pairing unconventional fabrics and techniques -- a trademark of the designer. Rose is rounding out her offering with the designer footwear and accessory collection, Lela Rose for Payless.