Payless Shoesource is one of those guilty pleasures I occasionally just must indulge. Today I popped in to see what had trickled down into the land of affordable winter fashion and was pleasantly surprised at the number of lined winter boots options that are available. An in-store Buy One Get One 1/2 off is just a nice bonus. While the BOGO is not currently showing online, there are also several styles that are still on sale at the Payless website.

There were also a few styles that I saw in-store that would definitely be appropriate for the bargain shopper looking for cozy winter footwear:

First, the cute and casual Airwalk Tabitha Flat Sweater Boot $39.99. It’s just plush enough inside to make that cold winter wind seem less intimidating.

Next, the Funky bejewelled American Eagle Beaded Wedge Boot $49.99. Definitely a boot for when you want to feel both cozy and still dressed-up.

For those of you who are already into toe-freezing weather and snowy days, a more serious cold-temperature snow boot is the Nora Weather Boot $34.99. Good to -20 Farenheit, it’s also got a nice practical sole meant to provide traction in slippery areas.

Finally, we come to my favorite, a quick side zip pull-on ankle boot with a cozy lined interior, the Marcia Fur Boot $34.99 is a perfect choice for the cold and rainy season when your unlined fall boots are just not up to the job of keeping your toes warm but you do not really need a full snow-boot.

I do find it refreshing when a boot is not automatically $150 and above - yet can still get the job done; Payless has stepped in with some reasonable winter values.

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For those of you in the United States, Labor day is one of those three-day weekends that is synonymous with shopping (although for plenty of men it is synonymous with grilling). For many of the younger set, it is the last big holiday weekend before school resumes. What is interesting to me is that a holiday that originated with the intent to give a day of rest and appreciation to the working citizens has morphed into a day where those folks working in service industries (particularly retail and food service) continue to work during the holiday to serve the rest of us who are lucky enough to have 9-5 employment.

If you happen to work in a government or white collar job, enjoy your day off.  For those of you in the service industry, been there, done that; I do hope you’re eligible for overtime. 

To all of those working through the holiday, THANK YOU for your commitment and work ethic.   This is my cheerleader moment: Our people are what keep our nation strong.

And, to those in a shopping frame of mind, there are a few sales. Unfortunately, there are not as many as I might have hoped:

1.) Asos has a shopping discount code good until Sunday, Sept 7th; Enter “ASOSGLAMOUR” at checkout for 20% off (I do not know if there is a price floor on this discount):

(Lotus Long Vintage Panelled Boots £190.00 before ASOS discount)

2. Bloomingdales is having a “Big Brown Bag Sale” through today [Extra 30-50% off Select Sale Items valid thru September 1st, 2008 on Bloomingdales.com only. Sale Items as marked. Discount Automatically Taken at Checkout. Offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Delivery charges and applicable sales taxes are additional. No adjustments to prior purchases. Offer excludes Electronic Gift Cards Beauty, Gifts, and Home (Including Furniture & Mattresses). Online Offer differs in Bloomingdale's store locations and is not valid on bloomingdales.weddingchannel.com]:

3. Bluefly has select shoes at and additional 25% off through today. I don’t know about you, but in my book extra discounts at Bluefly are always a good idea:

4. Eluxury is giving an additional 30% off sale items:

How about these D&G patchwork sandals for an additional discount off the $539 sale price (Originally $895). That puts these under $400:

5. Nieman Marcus has free shipping for orders over $200 and for any shoe or handbag purchase over $350, a gift set of 12 designer notecards will be sent as a gift with purchase. 

I don’t happen to have any $350 shoes that I can’t live without. However, the notecards are darned cute.

6. Payless Shoe Source is having an online and in-store BOGO: Buy one; Get one for 1/2 Price. Always a crowd pleaser:

7. Shoebuy has a 20% off discount code; Enter “LD2008″ during checkout.  This is a great time to purchase a last-season clearance boot for fall.  With few exceptions, boots are a classic, trend-proof fall staple.  Don’t forget that if you are registered with Shoebuy, you normally receive an additional 10% discount above any current sales promotions.

Bronx ‘Zari’ on sale for $194 -20% -additional 10% = $139.68; 35% off the original $215.  Gotta love them stacked discounts.  I know I already said it, but the extra discounts make this a great time to browse; great time to buy.

As always, happy browsing!

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I love online-surfing at shoe sites to see what gorgeous shoes are being offered out there in world-wide-web-land.

This is evidenced by the favorites folder on my computer (which has at least 50 different online retailers and shoe manufacturers bookmarked for easy perusal). However, in doing so much online window shopping, I sometimes forget about retailers that have a local retail presence in my community.

So, here’s a little peek at some trendy styles that are accessible to tighter budgets. Today’s focus is Payless. In this price range, there may be certain materials substitutions to maintain a lower price-point; things such as glue and synthetics versus stitching and natural leathers which may be found on higher-end shoes. Over the years,  I have purchased and worn many so-called ‘low quality’ shoes; shoes that, incidentally, lasted through years of hard use. Although I love several brands that hover in the $90-200 range, I’m definitely willing to take a chance on an attractive shoe at a great price.

So, here’s some of what Payless Shoesource has to offer us this fall:

“Tate Oxford Bootine” $29.99 (on sale for $24.99); Trend: Booties, Oxford detail, Menswear styling.

“Jana Peep-toe Maryjane” in brown Herringbone or black/white Plaid $24.99; Trend: Maryjanes, Menswear styling.

“Flare Button Flat” $22.99; Trend: Fall Plaids, Oxford details, Faux Maryjane straps.

“Harley Oxford Pump” $24.99; Trend: Oxford detailing, Spectator, Peep-toe, Bootie, Menswear styling.

“Madison Button Ankle Boot” in Grey or Black $34.99 (On sale for $27.99); Trend: Ankle boots, Romantic/retro styling, Hidden Platform.

“Koko Gilley Pump” $24.99; Trend: Peep-toe, Platform, Oxford, Color-trend Purple.

“American Eagle Tattoo Splash Rain Boot” $37.99; Trend: Colorful Graphics, Tattoo Art detailing.

For those of you on budgets: Yes, you can look trendy without having to switch over to a diet of Macaroni and Cheese.

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Patricia Field, the fab costume designer of the Devil Wears Prada and Sex in the City fame, has something new for sushi lovers.

Sure to give anyone a lot of lift, the Patricia Field for Payless $55 sushi boot features a towering 4.5″ heel and 1″ platforms.

If you liked the shoes Patricia Field wore to the Oscars, you can get the tempura platforms, which are battered in faux snake, for $40.

And finally, to complement the tempura and sushi, Patricia gave us this beautiful saki clutch, which is very nicely priced at $25.

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Here’s a peek at the Alice + Olivia shoes for Payless that will be coming out for next Spring (available to buy around February 2008).

My faves? The sparkly silver pseudo-Chuck Taylors, the lime green cap-toe wedge slingbacks, and the mirrored version of that same wedge.

Can’t wait to see these in the flesh.

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