One of the most successful & best-known brands in the shoe biz, Steve Madden was founded in Brooklyn, NYC in 1990.The man behind the name, Steve Madden, not only encompasses the true meaning of an entrepreneur (creating his company with the US$1,100 in his bank account to design & produce his first shoes), he is also outspoken & controversial, having spent 31 months in a minimum-security Florida prison on money-laundering & fraud charges involving his former brokerage firm headed up by a childhood friend.
But prison didn't break Steve Madden -- or his company. Like so many of today's celebrity convicts (from Martha Stewart to Paris Hilton), Madden emerged stronger than ever & investors welcomed him back to Steve Madden Ltd as the creative & design chief. (The company launched a rather interesting press campaign celebrating Madden's release; one ad featured an empty pair of shoes with the words "There's one pair of shoes that's been impossible to fill. Steve returns Spring 2005." When it comes to sales, the only bad publicity is no publicity. It was a sure fire way to get people talking about the brand.)
Since then Madden has been the driving force behind the company, even striking up collaborations with the Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen “Elizabeth & James” footwear line.
Pointy-toe with stylish metallic squares, the Steven by Steve Madden “Stardom” flats are both delightfully cute & on-trend. (Footwear this season is characterised by fashionable materials & embellishments.)
A fave of Rachelle Lefevre ("Twilight") & Mischa Barton.
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