Christian Siriano Wants You To Payless For Shoes (Har, Geddit?)

Ladies, I'm pleased to announce that by this time next year, the average woman's wardrobe in these United States is going to get substantially more fabulous. Why? Because Christian Siriano -- winner of "Project Runway" Season Four and the archetype of every woman's ideal gay BFF -- is presently in the process of creating a line of shoes and handbags for Payless ShoeSource.

Yes, I did just say Payless ShoeSource.

You can get up off the floor now. Are you okay?

In a turn that is sure to have some classist, label-fetishizing snootypiepantses all adither, Siriano will be unveiling his Payless collection at New York Fashion Week in February, with the intention of having the $25-$45-priced shoes and handbags available in Payless stores and on the Payless website by Fall 2009. In a statement released Monday, Siriano effused:

“I’m so excited to design and create with such an amazing brand that is all about fashion and trend but, most importantly, is also about affordability... I’ve already been working with the Payless Design Team in New York, and I can’t wait to see how they will take the high- end shoes and bags I’m designing for the runway and turn them into pieces that everyone can buy. I’m all about the runway and the sidewalks!”

You go, girlfriend.

Listen, I know there are people out there who are going to rake Siriano over the coals for this association with Payless -- much as Martha Stewart was lambasted for partnering with Kmart back in the day -- but you know what? Those people can take their condescending, elitist bullcrap and shove it. Because seriously, what in god's name is wrong with a talented, high-fashion designer mass-producing their stylistic vision for The People? What, the great unwashed masses of us who can't afford Manolos simply don't deserve to have attractive clothing and accessories? We the proletariat must, as penance for our sin of relative poverty, resign ourselves to a life of dull frumpdom befitting our light wallets and low position in the great socioeconomic chain of being?

Three words for ya'll: FUCK. THAT. SHIT.

I for one applaud Siriano for being bold enough to break away from the classist BS that pervades the world of high fashion, and for making his style accessible to us averagely-monied folk. Just because you don't have a trust fund doesn't mean you don't need a really, really cute pair (or, uhh, twenty) of heels, yo.

What do you betches think? Will you be purchasing items from the Christian Siriano for Payless label?

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Comments

[Kate]

Will I? WILL I? That's a big Hellz Yes. I feel fierce already.

[rebecca]

I love that he is doing this. And SLP's line is affordable, and that designers do lines for Target. You are SO right...why shouldn't I be hawt just because I am on a budget?

[rebecca]

I love that he is doing this. And SjP's line is affordable, and that designers do lines for Target. You are SO right...why shouldn't I be hawt just because I am on a budget?

[makyo]

i haven't bought from payless in a few years, but i'll totally be stopping in for a look at siriano's collection. name recognition, decent prices - seems like a no brainer to me.

[Darcey]

My biggest concern with pairings like these is that Christian's actual line that Payless is basing everyone off of is made of high-quality materials with appropriate labor involved in making them.

But in order for Payless to recreate them for the masses, the quality will end up looking half-assed and not only just be cheap, but LOOK cheap.

I mean, I'm not expecting a $25 pair of kitten heels to look like I spent $150 on them, but I often find that the materials used cause the shoes to prematurely fall apart, give me horrible blisters, or cause my feet to fall off at the ankles (or all of the above).

This isn't to say I won't check out the line in person and assess once I've seen them in hand, but I remain skeptical.

[Jean]

Oh yeah I will...cannot wait!

[Anna]

Heck yeah, if I can get a pair of hot shoes or a bag at an affordable price I'm there.

[BaltimoreGal]

If I like the way they look, hells yes. They'll probably hurt my feet like every other cute shoe anyway.

[Hilary]

I agree 100%. I have had some ups and downs with Payless; some fall apart, others cause bleeding while a treasured few kick. total. ass. I will keep my eyes open for sure.

[Jennifer]

Well, I'm one of the few women who are not the slightest bit interested in watching Project Runway so I have no idea if I (or my husband) would even like his styles. But I'll check it out. I'm so-so with payless in general, I've gotten some great shoes there and some really crappy ones. I haven't been there in a couple of years because the last couple of times I did go I couldn't even find anything I liked.

[Miss Banshee]

OMG. SHOES.

[Becki]

HECK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sportin Payless now.

The way I figure, I can buy 5-10 pairs of payless shoes (even more if I included clearance) for every ONE pair of departments store shoes.

And I am usually happy with 80% of them. Which means I am WAY AHEAD FINANCIALLY AND CUTELY. Because, MANY times peeps ask where to get those shoes . ...

And the 20% I dont like I donate to Salvation Army etc. And if 80% of THOSE buyers are happy . . . and . so on and so on . .lol

[KateM]

I think he should just cut to the chase and call the line FIERCE! - totally with the exclamation point included.

[KateM]

Oh and I'll take a look-see-and-probably-purchase-too.

[PomJob]

I tend to only spend $40, $50 max, on shoes anyway. But usually for that price, I can find cute, leather shoes. I'm afraid that this new line at Payless won't be that cheap or well enough made to warrant a $45 price tag.

[Amy]

The only thing that bums me out about this is that every pair of shoes I've ever gotten at Payless has made me want to cut off my feet to MAKE THE PAIN STOP!
Otherwise, yay!

[Fairly Odd Mother]

He'll probably design shoes so 'fierce' I have no where to wear them, since my lifestyle is so kid-centric and non-glamorous that shaving my legs is considered 'dressing up'. That said, I'll totally check them out and hope he sells a ton.