Putting our best foot forward
Hands down (or is it feet up?), the largest specialty footwear retailer in the Western hemisphere is Payless ShoeSource, and with its partnership with Footwear Specialty Retailers, Inc. (FSRI), a division of Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI), Payless opens its doors here in the Philippines. Starting with a stand-alone store at the Festival Mall in Alabang, and with eight more to be opened within the year — Shangri-La Plaza, SM Megamall, Ali Mall, Rockwell’s Power Plant, Robinsons Galleria, Marquee Mall Pampanga, Market! Market! and Greenhills Shoppesville — Payless is entering our local market in a big way. Payless’ mission vision is to “democratize fashion and design in footwear and accessories, and to inspire fun fashion possibilities for the whole family.” This they do with collections for women, men and children.
Anton Huang, EVP of SSI, and Crickette Tantoco, brought out of “premature retirement,” and now marketing communications manager of FSRI, were one in voice extolling the thrill of having Payless in the Philippine market. Its brand promise makes a perfect match between the Filipinos’ love for shoes on one hand (foot), and how we appreciate it when style and value go hand-in-hand (OK, enough! Hahaha!). The predilection we have for American brands is also addressed with Payless’ entry. One of the basic concepts of any Payless store is “self-select.” What this means is that the display area entices the customer with product stories that showcase the latest shoes and accessory trends. And then, at the back of the store, racks of shoes are sorted by size to allow the client to self-select the shoes they’re looking for, and to try them on, with minimum fuss.
This notion of democratizing shoe fashion, a cornerstone of the Payless philosophy, becomes a reality as we peruse the wide selection of brands found within Payless. There’s Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, high feminine designs that exude casual luxury and refinement. A Texas native, Lela graduated from Parsons, and worked with Christian Francis Roth and Richard Tyler. There’s Isabel Toledo for Payless — Toledo designed the Lemongrass day dress Michelle Obama wore to her husband’s inauguration — noted for her blending of art, fashion and invention. Christian Siriano worked with Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, and is the youngest winner to date of Project Runway, and he has a Payless shoe and handbag collection. Zoe & Zac is a fashion-forward line of eco-friendly shoes and accessories developed in collaboration with model and environmentalist Summer Rayne Oakes. Airwalk is youth-oriented, capturing the appeal of boardsport fashion culture; and there’s Fioni, Smartfit and Dexter. Evidently, when it comes to shoes and accessories, Payless is all about diversity and affordability, making fashion reachable to all!
Blood ties
While one novel takes blood ties literally with its new twist to the vampire genre; our second novel uses it as a metaphor, and examines Family with humor and compassion. Our third novel is a collection of short stories that shows once again the power of that literary form.
Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth (available at National Bookstore): Zach Barrows is a White House staffer on the rise until he’s caught with his pants down with the President’s daughter. Reassigned to be baby sitter to one Nathaniel Cade, the big surprise comes when we discover that Cade is a vampire who has been serving the US President for over 140 years, as a secret agent protecting the USA from forces sinister and supernatural. Welcome to the world of Christopher Farnsworth’s latest novel, a clever twist on the vampire and zombie genres that have become so popular over the last few years. A Dr. Johann Konrad has been animating corpses for Muslim extremists, and a lawn attack on the White House is just one of the delights to be found in this “fun” novel.
This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (available at Fully Booked): Judd Foxman is in one big mess — he loses his wife, his job and his father in one fell swoop, and this novel by Jonathan Tropper is all about picking up the pieces with humor and hilarity. Dysfunctional to the max — Judd’s mother wanted to know how much to tip the coroner after her husband passed away — the plot thickens when the family is told that their late father’s last request is that the family spend seven days of “shiva” together. Old wounds are reopened, fights between siblings occur like clockwork, and how Judd lost his wife and job is a priceless anecdote. Think Woody Allen but more mainstream, and with more sit-com sensibilities. A must read for anyone who wants to laugh and cry... at the same time!
And Thereby Hangs A Tale by Jeffrey Archer (available at National Bookstore): Having served time, convicted for perjury and perverting justice, former MP Jeffrey Archer returns with this collection of short stories that resonate with petty criminal activity and characters who are “doing time.” Author of Kane and Abel, and most recently, the excellent A Prisoner of Birth, this is one sterling set of stories, showcasing why the form still holds merit when placed in capable hands. As Archer explains, a majority of these tales are inspired by real events, and come from all over the globe. It’s as he fills in the details, and paints in the “color,” that Archer turns these stories into little morality tales and turns the spotlight, alternatively, on human frailty and fortitude.
