Well-heeled and for less money

NEW YORK -- The trend of high-brow clothing going low-price has been around for a few years, ranging from Karl Lagerfield's designs for H&M to Proenza Schouler' s new collection that is about to hit at Target.

But now the idea is being expanded to accessories.

Jill Stuart just inked a deal with LeSportsac . And Payless ShoeSource, as part of its two-year-old rebranding effort to become more fashion forward, last year hired emerging talent Laura Poretzky of the label Abaeté (pronounced a-BYE-a-tay) to design everything from pumps to flats to boots, costing between $25 and $45. Many of the French-born Rhode Island School of Design graduate's shoe styles sold out after first appearing in stores last September.

Payless, which has created a new logo, is renovating stores and has begun advertising in Vogue and Elle . It's keeping up the momentum with an announcement this week that it is expanding its designer collection to include styles by Lela Rose .

Rose, who is known for her dresses, is a Texan trained at Parsons School of Design. She is also creating a line of infant shoes (she just had a baby) for Payless called Teeny Toes Lela Rose Collection, which will be available at Payless stores in August.

"Our first-ever designer collection, Abaeté for Payless, exceeded expectations with many styles selling out," said Payless CEO Matt Rubel.

Meanwhile, Keds is also injecting fashion into its brand. First, the company hired Mischa Barton for an ad campaign and she has worked with the design team to come up with new styles. Last spring, Keds teamed up with BCBG for some new sneaker looks. And on Monday designer Nanette Lepore showed off her own designs for Keds, which will debut in the fall. Lepore sent models down the runway wearing, for example, a cashmere gown paired with sequined sneakers (shown above).

-- TINA CASSIDY