Photo by John Grant.
Three years ago I sat on my kitchen floor setting up my first fashion blog. I never in my wildest dreams thought it this blog would lead me to the green room at Boston Store with Steve Madden peering over me.
He was here at Brookfield’s store to sign autographs and be interviewed publicly by the Style Network’s Julissa Bermudez (“Empire Girls”), who revved up the waiting crowd of Madden lovers as she walked up and down the line interviewing fans.
Before I walked into the green room I looked at Milwaukee Magazine photographer John Grant and told him to hit me, just so I knew this was actually happening (he wouldn’t). As I sat down on the couch next to the creative director and head of design for Steven Madden Ltd., I immediately noticed his perfectly polished black loafers as he lounged comfortably in his signature baseball cap and button up.
And thus we started the biggest interview of my life.
If you weren’t designing shoes, what would you do?
I would be in the music business. Producing film and music. It’s kind of similar to what I do. Although I design shoes, I design my business too. I’m a business man. What I do is not just shoes but the whole thing. So with film or music it’s the same; you get everyone together, you get ideas together. I’m good at bringing people together to create that end result.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I’m inspired by other artists. I’m inspired by women that I meet in the streets all over the place. I’ll see something, and I like the way it looks. Or I’ll see something from a distance, and up close it’s not often what I thought it was, but the angle I saw it at inspires me to see things in my mind’s eye. I’m inspired by art, films and music. Truly the literal sense of inspiration; [the] spirit is where it all comes from. I’m embarrassed to be seen at a sad movie because I cry over how inspired I am. I’m supposed to be a macho man, and then I’m mortified by the crying.
Honestly, seeing you crying would make me love you all the more. What were the very first pair of shoes like that you designed?
It was a moccasin. A random moccasin. With Steve Madden I started with clogs. We don’t really make them anymore, but I love how when you wear jeans over a clog it almost looks like a boot.
Do you see shoe trends heading in a certain direction?
There is an overall trend of more embellished shoes, fabrics. Look what you’re wearing (he pointed down at my gold sequined stiletto’s, by Steve Madden, of course.). The shoes you have on were considered almost freaky four years ago, and now it’s almost a classic. Everyone has shoes like that now.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’ve had a few. Oh, my. I suppose on my kids’ birthdays, we have all the mothers and fathers bring their children to work on that day. I’m proud we have a business that people grow in, and have children and then can bring their children in. I’m proud of that; I was very proud of that day. This is the second year we’ve done that. I’m also proud of seeing the people I work with, and how they grow in their jobs. It thrills me. We’ve done a lot of good stuff, by surprising people in our industry. We were always a bit of an outsider, and now we’ve sort of become “the establishment.”
It’s odd, I always liked being the outsider. I’ve always been the one “behind the school smoking cigarettes,” and now I’m not that guy. It’s strange but good.
You were just at Fashion Week. Tell me about it.
It was great, we did a show for Betsy Johnson. She was amazing. She did the signature cartwheel at the end of the show. You probably know now we own Betsy Johnson.
Yes! Also, Big Buddha. I love what you’re doing with that brand. Last question, will you sign the back of my shoes?
Of course.
As we wrapped up the interview and said our goodbyes, he shouted as I left, “You have wonderful taste, my dear!”
And in short, it was the best day ever.
Boston Store carries a huge Steve Madden collection, and the fall selections are to die for. Here are some of my favorites.
