Exhibit 10.1

                               STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.
                              52-16 BARNETT AVENUE
                           LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11104
                                T (718) 308-2292
                                F (718) 308-8992

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                                                        March 9, 2007

Dear Mr. Schmertz:

Set forth below are the terms of your employment with Steven Madden, Ltd.:

1.       Term of Agreement: March 9, 2007 through December 31, 2009.

2.       Position: Brand Director.

3.       Salary: $600,000 per annum, less any deductions as shall be required to
         be withheld by any applicable laws and regulations.

4.       Signing Bonus: Upon your execution and delivery of this Agreement you
         shall receive a signing bonus of $500,000, less any deductions as shall
         be required to be withheld by any applicable laws and regulations.

5.       Bonus: The Company may pay you a bonus in such amount, if any, and at
         such time or times, as the Board of Directors may determine in its
         absolute discretion subject to the Company's ordinary payroll practice.

6.       Restricted Stock: You shall receive 100,000 shares of restricted stock
         as provided for in the Restricted Stock Agreement attached hereto.

7.       Expenses: The Company shall pay for all reasonable and necessary
         business-related expenses, including a cellular phone.

8.       Car Allowance: You shall receive a car allowance of $1,250 per month.

9.       Vacations: You shall be entitled to vacations, sick days and personal
         days in accordance with the Company's policy for executives.

10.      Death: This Agreement shall terminate upon your death; provided,
         however, that the Company shall continue to pay to your estate 50% of
         the Base Salary as set forth in paragraph 3 hereof for the twelve
         (12)-month period immediately subsequent to the date of your death.

11.      Change of Control: If, during the period commencing 30 days prior to a
         Change of Control and ending 180 days after a Change of Control, you
         are terminated by the Company other than For Cause, you are entitled to
         receive an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the average amount of
         total compensation actually received by you for the preceding three
         calendar years multiplied by 3 or (ii) the maximum amount which is tax
         deductible to the Company under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G.
         "Change of Control" shall mean when any person or group (excluding the
         Company or any of its affiliates) becomes the beneficial owner of
         securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
         Company's then outstanding securities. "For Cause" shall mean (i) your
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         repeated failure to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to
         you by the Company, (ii) your conviction of a crime involving moral
         turpitude, or (iii) your willfully and knowingly engaging in any
         conduct materially detrimental to the business, goodwill or reputation
         of the Company.

12.      Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition Agreement: You recognize that the
         services to be performed by you hereunder are special and unique. In
         consideration of the compensation granted herein, you agree that, in
         the event you either terminate your employment of your own accord or
         are terminated by the Company For Cause prior to the expiration of this
         agreement, for a period of 12 months following such termination, you
         shall not (i) become employed by or otherwise affiliated with, nor
         furnish services to, any business that competes with, or otherwise
         furnishes goods or services to, the Company, (ii) solicit any business
         from any customers of the Company, or (iii) hire, offer to hire, entice
         away, or in any manner persuade or attempt to persuade any employee of
         the Company to discontinue his/her employment with the Company.



Signature:                                        /s/ JAMIESON A. KARSON
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Jamieson Karson, CEO



Counter-signature:                                /s/ ROBERT SCHMERTZ
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                                                  Robert Schmertz

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