MADDEN STEVEN LTD
10-K, 1999-03-29
FOOTWEAR, (NO RUBBER)
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  -------------

                                    FORM 10-K

[X]  ANNUAL REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934

[ ]  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES  AND
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998       Commission File Number 0-23702

                               STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

              Delaware                                        13-3588231
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
  OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                       IDENTIFICATION NO.)

52-16 Barnett Avenue, Long Island City, New York                 11104
        (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)              (ZIP CODE)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:               (718) 446-1800

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:             None

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:

                    Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share

         Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  registrant:  (1) has  filed all
reports  required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,
to the best of  registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in Part  III of this  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

         The aggregate  market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates
of the registrant as of March 25, 1999 was approximately $83,070,584

         The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's common stock as of
March 25, 1999 was 10,724,235 shares.

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

         PART  III  INCORPORATES  CERTAIN  INFORMATION  BY  REFERENCE  FROM  THE
REGISTRANT'S  DEFINITIVE  PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SCHEDULED FOR MAY 28, 1999.

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<PAGE>

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS.

         Steven Madden,  Ltd.  (together with its  subsidiaries,  the "Company")
designs,  sources and sells fashion footwear under the Steve  Madden(R),  lei(R)
and David Aaron(R) brands for women and girls ages 8 to 45 years.  The Company's
branded  products  are  designed to appeal to  style-conscious  consumers in the
junior and better market segments.  The Company distributes its products through
its twenty eight (28) Steve  Madden(R)  retail  stores,  one (1) David  Aaron(R)
store,  three (3) outlet stores and more than three thousand (3,000)  department
and specialty store locations in the United States,  Australia,  Canada, Israel,
Mexico and Venezuela.  The Company's product line includes core products,  which
are sold  year-round,  complemented by a broad range of updated styles which are
designed to establish or capitalize on market trends.

         The Company's business is comprised of three (3) distinct  segments:  a
wholesale division which includes Steve Madden(R), l.e.i.(R) and David Aaron(R);
a retail  subsidiary;  and a private label  subsidiary.  The Company also has an
aggressive  licensing  program and has through  March 15, 1999 entered into nine
(9)  licensing  agreements  for  belts,  sportswear  and  jeanswear,  outerwear,
handbags,  sunglasses,  hosiery,  intimate apparel,  hair accessory products and
jewelry.  Given the strength of brand awareness in the juniors  marketplace,  in
April,  1998, the Company entered into a license agreement pursuant to which the
Company  has the right to  source,  distribute  and  market  footwear  under the
lei(R).

         The Company  anticipates  continuing  the  execution of its strategy to
increase sales in each of its wholesale, retail and private label divisions. The
wholesale  division expects growth in the number of locations  selling the Steve
Madden(R),  lei(R) and David Aaron(R) brands which will in part be due to adding
new department store accounts. The Company expects to add approximately nine (9)
Steve Madden  retail stores and one (1) outlet store during the 1999 fiscal year
which the  Company  believes  will  increase  revenue  for its retail  division.
Adesso-Madden,  a subsidiary of the Company specializing in sourcing product for
mass merchandisers and other high volume purchasers, anticipates higher revenues
in 1999 because of the  introduction of its new  Jordache(R)  footwear line. And
perhaps most  significantly,  the Company  believes that 1999 may be a good year
for certain of the Company's  licensing  partners.  After engaging a new license
for the Steve Madden(R) sportswear and jeanswear business as of January 1, 1999,
the Company believes that the sales in this category will increase  resulting in
enhanced brand  recognition.  Finally,  the Company intends to focus  additional
efforts to promote sales through its popular web site www.stevemadden.com.

         Steven Madden, Ltd., was incorporated as a New York corporation on July
9, 1990 and reincorporated under the same name in Delaware in November 1998. The
Company was founded and developed by Steven Madden,  its principal  designer and
Chief  Executive  Officer,   President  and  Chairman  of  the  Board,  who  has
established a reputation  for his creative  designs,  popular styles and quality
products at accessible  price


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<PAGE>


points.  The Company  completed its initial public offering in December 1993 and
its  securities  traded on The Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market until  December 1996. In
January  1997,  the  Company's  shares of Common  Stock and Class B Common Stock
Purchase  Warrants began trading on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbols
"SHOO" and "SHOOZ", respectively. In July 1998, the Class B Warrants were called
for  redemption  by  the  Company,   and  as  a  result,  the  Company  received
approximately $10,800,000 in proceeds from the exercise of the Class B Warrants.

         The Company maintains its principal  executive offices at 52-16 Barnett
Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11104, telephone number (718) 446-1800.

STEVEN MADDEN - WHOLESALE DIVISION

         The wholesale  division sources,  sells and markets the Company's Steve
Madden(R) brand to major department  stores,  better specialty stores,  and shoe
stores throughout the country and a small amount in Australia,  Canada,  Israel,
Mexico and Venezuela. During the last few years the Steve Madden(R) product line
has become a leading footwear brand in the fashion conscious junior marketplace.
To serve its customers (women  primarily ages 16 to 25), the wholesale  division
creates and markets  fashion  forward  footwear  designed to appeal to customers
seeking exciting, new footwear designs at reasonable prices.

         As the  Company's  largest  division,  the  Steve  Madden(R)  wholesale
division accounted for $49,891,000 in sales in 1998, or approximately 58% of the
Company's total sales. Many of the wholesale division's newly created styles are
test marketed at the Company's retail stores. Within a few days, the Company can
determine if a test product  appeals to  customers.  This enables the Company to
use its flexible sourcing model to rapidly respond to changing preferences which
is essential for success in the fashion footwear marketplace.

DIVA ACQUISITION CORP. - THE DAVID AARON(R) WHOLESALE DIVISION

         On April 1, 1996, the Company acquired Diva International,  Inc., a New
York corporation  ("Diva").  The Company acquired all of the outstanding capital
stock of Diva for a total purchase price of approximately $1,885,000 in cash and
stock.  In  connection  with the Diva  transaction,  the  Company  entered  into
employment  agreements  with  four  (4)  employees  of  Diva,  none of whom  are
currently employed by the Company.

         Diva  designs  and markets  fashion  footwear to women under the "David
Aaron(R)"  name through one (1) Company  owned retail shoe store  located in the
Soho area of Manhattan,  major department  stores and better footwear  specialty
stores.  Priced a tier above the Steve  Madden(R)  brand,  Diva's  products  are
designed to appeal  principally to fashion  conscious women,  ages 26 to 45, who
shop at department  stores and footwear


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<PAGE>

boutiques.  The  Company  recorded  sales  from  the  David  Aaron(R)  brand  of
$5,846,000  for the year ended  December 31, 1998, or 7% of the Company's  total
sales.

L.E.I. (R)  - WHOLESALE DIVISION

         In April,  1998,  the Company  entered  into a license  agreement  with
R.S.V.  Sport, Inc. pursuant to which the Company was granted the license to use
the lei(R) trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of footwear.  The
lei(R) trademark is well known for jeanswear in the junior marketplace recording
annual sales in excess of $100 million.  The Company's lei(R) footwear  products
are targeted to attract  girls ages 6 to 11 years old and young women ages 12 to
20 years old which are younger than the typical Steve  Madden(R) brand customer.
Despite having only started  selling  lei(R)  products at retail in August 1998,
the Company is encouraged by the initial consumer demand for the lei(R) footwear
products.  Although sales during 1998 are not  necessarily  indicative of future
performance,  the Company anticipates  increased sales of lei(R) footwear during
the 1999  fiscal  year.  The  l.e.i.  Wholesale  Division  generated  revenue of
$3,483,000  for the six month period ended December 31, 1998 and there have been
substantial product reorders in early 1999.

STEVEN MADDEN RETAIL, INC. - RETAIL DIVISION

         As of December 31, 1998,  the Company  owned and operates  twenty eight
(28) retail shoe stores under the Steve  Madden(R) name, one (1) under the David
Aaron(R)  name and three (3) outlet  stores.  Three (3)  stores  are  located in
Manhattan (two (2) in Soho and one (1) on the Upper Eastside),  twenty five (25)
stores are located in major  shopping  malls in  California,  Florida,  Georgia,
Maryland,  Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York and two (2) stores are located
in highly  traveled  urban  street  locations  in  Coconut  Grove,  Florida  and
Washington,  D.C. Each of the Steve Madden(R) stores has been designed to appeal
to young fashion conscious women by creating a "nightclub" type atmosphere.  The
retail stores have been very successful for the Company, generating annual sales
of approximately  $700 per square foot. Sales are primarily from the sale of the
Company's Steve Madden(R)  product line. Same store sales increased 3.8% in 1998
over 1997  sales  and  total  sales for the  retail  division  were  $26,563,000
compared to $13,249,000 for 1997.  Sales from the retail division for year ended
December 31, 1998 were 31% of the Company's total sales.

         The Company  believes that the Retail Division will continue to enhance
overall sales and profits while building equity in the Steve Madden brand. It is
for these  reasons that the Company has embarked  upon an  aggressive  expansion
plan and intends to add approximately ten (10) new retail stores during the 1999
calendar year.  Additionally,  the expansion of the Retail Division  enables the
Company to test and react to new products and  classifications  which strengthen
the Steve Madden wholesale division.


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<PAGE>

THE ADESSO-MADDEN, INC. - PRIVATE LABEL DIVISION

         In September 1995, the Company  incorporated  Adesso-Madden,  Inc. as a
wholly owned  subsidiary  ("A-M").  A-M was formed to serve as a buying agent to
mass market  merchandisers,  shoe store chains and other off-price  retailers in
connection  with their purchase of private label shoes.  As a buying agent,  A-M
arranges  with  shoe  manufacturers  in  Asia  and  South  America  for  them to
manufacture  private label shoes to the  specifications  of their  clients.  The
Company  believes  that by operating in the private  label,  mass  merchandising
market,   the  Company  is  able  to  maximize   additional   non-branded  sales
opportunities and provides for more competitive  sourcing thereby leveraging the
Company's overall  sourcing,  design and distribution  capabilities.  Currently,
this division  manufactures  women's footwear for large retailers including J.C.
Penny, Sears,  Mervyn's, and Target. A-M receives commissions in connection with
the purchase of private  label shoes by its clients.  A-M also sources and sells
footwear under the Soho Cobbler(R)  trademark,  and in 1999, will commence sales
under the Jordache(R) trademark. The private label division generated commission
revenue  of  $2,679,000  for the  year  ended  December  31,  1998  compared  to
$2,192,000 in 1997.

PRODUCTS AND LICENSING

         The Company's  products  emphasize  youthful  styling and  contemporary
design and are  marketed at  moderate  to better  price  points.  The  Company's
primary  products  include Steve  Madden(R),  lei(R) and David Aaron(R)  branded
shoes. The Company also has a private label shoe operation, Adesso-Madden, Inc.,
and has also entered into strategic  licensing  agreements for additional  Steve
Madden(R)  branded  products.  The following  paragraphs  describe the Company's
products:

STEVE MADDEN(R)

         Steve  Madden(R)  branded  products  are  designed  to  appeal to style
conscious  consumers  in the  junior  market  (ages 16 to 25  years).  The Steve
Madden(R)  line  emphasizes  up-to-date  fashion  and  includes  a wide range of
women's footwear including boots,  sneakers,  evening shoes, casual and tailored
shoes and  sandals.  Steve  Madden(R)  brand shoes sell at retail  price  points
generally ranging from $48 to $70 for shoes and up to $99 for boots.

         In order to reduce the impact of changes in fashion trends on the Steve
Madden(R)  brand product sales,  the Company  designs and classifies its product
line into three categories:  CORE,  CORE-PLUS,  and FASHION.  The Company's CORE
line is available year round and consists of classic  products which have proven
to be consistent sellers over several seasons.  The CORE line currently includes
[twelve (12)]  style/color  combinations six (6) of which can be reordered using
the Company's EDI system and shipped to retailers within one to two weeks.  This
results in rapid  replenishment  of the most popular  Steve Madden  styles.  The
Company's  CORE-PLUS line consists of basic styles whose


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<PAGE>

patterns and colors are updated each season to keep pace with  changing  trends.
Finally,  the Company's  FASHION line consists of styles that are designed close
to or in season  and  capitalize  on the  Company's  ability  to  design,  test,
manufacture and market products quickly. CORE and CORE-PLUS products account for
a majority of Steve Madden(R) brand sales.

DAVID AARON(R)

         The  Company  acquired  the  David  Aaron(R)  brand in 1996,  and David
Aaron(R)  products are marketed  through the Company's  Diva  subsidiary.  David
Aaron(R) branded products are designed to appeal to more  sophisticated,  career
and  fashion  oriented  consumers  (ages 26 to 45  years) in the  better  market
segment.  David Aaron(R) products are priced at a tier above the Steve Madden(R)
brand and have retail price points  generally  ranging from $70 to $85 for shoes
and up to $150 for boots.  Similar to the Steve  Madden(R)  line,  the Company's
David Aaron(R) line is organized into CORE,  CORE-PLUS,  and FASHION  categories
with  CORE and  CORE-PLUS  products  accounting  for a large  majority  of David
Aaron(R) brand sales.

l.e.i.(R)

         In April,  1998,  the Company  entered  into a license  agreement  with
R.S.V.  Sport, Inc. pursuant to which the Company was granted the license to use
the lei(R) trademark in connection with the sale and marketing of footwear.  The
lei(R) trademark is well known for jeanswear in the junior marketplace recording
annual sales in excess of $100 million.  The Company's lei(R) footwear  products
are targeted to attract  girls ages 6 to 11 years old and young women ages 12 to
20 years old which are younger than the typical Steve  Madden(R) brand customer.
Despite having only started selling lei(R)  products at retail in August,  1998,
the Company is encouraged by the initial consumer demand for the lei(R) footwear
products.  Although sales during 1998 are not  necessarily  indicative of future
performance,  the Company anticipates  increased sales of lei(R) footwear during
the 1999 fiscal year.

LICENSING

         The Company  believes that  strategic  licensing will enhance the Steve
Madden brand(R),  leverage brand equity and increase  customer  loyalty.  During
1997, the Company began to license the Steve Madden(R) brand  selectively  while
attempting to maintain strict design,  merchandising  and marketing control over
its  licensees.  In 1998,  the Company  terminated  licenses with its sportswear
licensees  and entered  into a new license  with an  affiliate  of the  Jordache
organization as of January 1, 1999. Pursuant to the Agreement, a Jordache entity
will manufacture, market, sell and distribute sportswear and jeanswear under the
Company's  Steve Madden  trademark  to better  department  stores and  specialty
shops.


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<PAGE>

         Presently,  the Company has licensed the Steve Madden trademark for use
in connection  with the  manufacturing,  marketing  and sale of  sportswear  and
jeanswear,  outerwear, belts, handbags,  sunglasses,  hosiery, intimate apparel,
hair  accessory  products  and  jewelry.  Each  license  agreement  requires the
licensee to pay to the Company a royalty based on net sales,  a minimum  royalty
in the event that net sales fail to reach specified  targets and a percentage of
sales for advertising of the Steve Madden(R) brand. During 1999, the Company may
continue to pursue additional  licensees in new product categories as well as to
seek expansion into certain markets outside the United States.

DESIGN

         Steve Madden, the principal designer of the Company,  has established a
reputation  for his creative  designs,  popular  styles and quality  products at
accessible price points.  Mr. Madden has been involved in the footwear  industry
for over twenty (20) years and is responsible for the Company's  overall fashion
direction,  maintaining direct, day-to-day supervision of the Company's ten (10)
person product design and development team.

         The Company believes that its future success will depend in substantial
part on its  ability to continue to  anticipate  and react to changing  consumer
demands in a timely manner. To meet this objective,  the Company has developed a
unique design  process that allows it to recognize and adapt quickly to changing
consumer  demands.  Mr.  Madden and his design  team work  together  to create a
design  which  they  believe  fits the  Company's  image,  reflects  current  or
approaching  trends  and can be  manufactured  in a  timely  and  cost-effective
manner. Once the initial design is complete, a prototype is developed,  which is
reviewed and refined prior to the commencement of limited  production.  Most new
designs are then tested in the Steve Madden(R) retail stores. Designs that prove
popular are then scheduled for mass production overseas and wholesale and retail
distribution nationwide. The Company believes that its unique design and testing
process and  flexible  sourcing  model is a  significant  competitive  advantage
allowing  the  Company  to cut mass  production  lead times and avoid the costly
production and distribution of unpopular designs.

PRODUCT SOURCING

         The Company sources each of its product lines  separately  based on the
individual  design,  styling and quality  specifications  of such products.  The
Company does not own or operate any mass  manufacturing  facilities  and sources
its  branded  products  directly  or  indirectly  through   independently  owned
manufacturers in Brazil,  China,  Italy,  Mexico,  Spain,  Taiwan and the United
States. The Company has established relationships with a number of manufacturers
in each country.  The Company  believes that this sourcing of footwear  products
minimizes its  investment and inventory  risk, and enables  efficient and timely
introduction of new product  designs.  Although the Company has not entered into
any long-term  manufacturing  or supply  contracts,  the Company believes that a
sufficient


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number of alternative  sources exist for the  manufacture  of its products.  The
principal materials used in the Company's footwear are available from any number
of sources, both within the United States and in foreign countries.

         The  Company's  design and  distribution  processes  are intended to be
flexible,  allowing the Company to respond to and accommodate  changing consumer
demand.  The Company's  production staff tracks  warehouse  inventory on a daily
basis,  monitors sell through data and incorporates input on product demand from
wholesale  customers.  The Company can use product feedback to adjust production
or  manufacture  new  products  in as little as five weeks.  Constant  inventory
tracking allows the Company to manage  inventory on a continuous flow basis with
the goal of optimizing  inventory  turns.  More  specifically,  all inventory is
classified  into three  categories:  CORE  products,  which are sold year round,
CORE-PLUS  products which are in-season styles that are  experiencing  unusually
strong sell  through,  and FASHION  products.  The Company  strives to only have
reorder  inventory  in  selected  CORE and  CORE-PLUS  products  that are proven
best-sellers.

         In 1998, the Company  expanded its use of electronic  data  interchange
("EDI")  quick  replenishment   system  to  its  department  store  accounts  on
designated  CORE  items  and  offered  EDI to all of its  significant  wholesale
accounts.  The Company believes that its flexible product introduction  schedule
and perpetual inventory control system are competitive advantages in an industry
that is subject to high fashion risks.

CUSTOMERS

         The  Company's  customers   purchasing  shoes  consist  principally  of
department stores and specialty stores, including shoe boutiques. Presently, the
Company  sells  approximately  sixty percent (60%) of its products to department
stores,  including  Federated  Department  Stores  (Bloomingdales,  Bon  Marche,
Burdines,  Macy's and Rich's),  May Department  Stores  (Famous Barr,  Filene's,
Foley's,  Hecht's,  Kaufmann's,  Meier & Frank and  Robinsons  May),  Dillard's,
Dayton-Hudson  and  Nordstrom  approximately  forty  percent  (40%) to specialty
stores,  including  Journey's,  Wet Seal and The Buckle and  catalog  retailers,
including  Victoria's  Secret and  Fingerhut.  Federated  Department  Stores and
Nordstrom's  presently  account  for  approximately  twenty  percent  (20%)  and
seventeen percent (17%) of the Company's wholesale sales, respectively.

DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

         The Company  sells it products  principally  through its  Company-owned
retail stores,  better department stores and specialty shoe stores in the United
States and abroad.  Retail stores and wholesale sales account for  approximately
thirty-one   percent  (31%)  and  sixty-nine   percent  (69%)  of  total  sales,
respectively.  The  following  paragraphs  describe  each of these  distribution
channels:

STEVE MADDEN AND DAVID AARON RETAIL STORES

         As of  December  31,  1998,  the  Company  operated  twenty  eight (28)
Company-owned retail stores under the Steve Madden(R) name and one (1) under the


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<PAGE>

David Aaron(R)  name. The Company  believes that its retail stores will continue
to enhance  overall sales,  profitability,  and its ability to react to changing
consumer  trends.  The design,  format and  environment  of the Steve  Madden(R)
retail stores  resemble a nightclub type  atmosphere  which has become a popular
destination and gathering place for young women.  The David Aaron(R) store has a
more sophisticated  design and format styled to appeal to its more mature target
audience.  These stores are a powerful marketing tool which allow the Company to
strengthen brand recognition and to showcase certain of its full line of branded
and licensed products. Furthermore, the retail stores provide the Company with a
venue  to  test  and  introduce  new  products  and  merchandising   strategies.
Specifically,  the Company often tests new designs at its Steve Madden(R) retail
stores before scheduling them for mass production and wholesale distribution. In
addition to these test marketing benefits, the Company has been able to leverage
sales  information  gathered  at Steve  Madden(R)  retail  stores to assist  its
wholesale accounts in order placement and inventory management.

         The Company's prototype Steve Madden(R) store is approximately 1,400 to
1,600 square feet and is located in malls and street locations which attract the
highest concentration of the Company's core demographic  --style-conscious young
women ages 16 to 25 years. In addition to carefully analyzing mall demographics,
the Company also sets  profitability  guidelines for each potential  store site.
Specifically,  the  Company  targets  sites at which  the  demographics  fit the
consumer  profile,  the  positioning  of the  site  is well  trafficked  and the
projected  fixed annual rent expense does not exceed a specified  percentage  of
sales  over the life of the lease.  By  setting  these  standards,  the  Company
believes that each store will  contribute to the Company's  overall profits both
in the near- and longer-terms.

OUTLET STORES

         In May 1998,  Shoe Biz, Inc.  (formerly known as Steven Madden Outlets,
Inc.) a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("Shoe Biz"),  purchased  certain
assets from and assumed certain  liabilities of, Daniel Scott, Inc. with respect
to its Shoe Biz  outlet  stores  located  in Mineola  and  Garden  City,  NY. In
connection with the transaction,  the Company hired Robert Schmertz,  the former
President and sole  stockholder  of Daniel Scott,  as the President of Shoe Biz.
Shoe Biz operates the 2 outlet  stores in Garden City,  Mineola,  NY and one (1)
Steve Madden  Outlet store in Woodbury  Commons  Outlet Mall in Harriman,  NY (a
large off-price retail mall). Shoe Biz sells many product lines, including Steve
Madden,  David Aaron and lei(R)  footwear,  at  significantly  lower prices than
prices  typically  charged  by  other  "full  price"   retailers.   The  Company
anticipates opening an additional outlet store in the 1999.


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<PAGE>

DEPARTMENT STORES

         The Company currently sells to over 2,000 locations of twenty five (25)
better department stores throughout the United States and Canada.  The Company's
top accounts include Federated  Department Stores  (Bloomingdale's,  Bon Marche,
Burdine's,  Macy's and Rich's),  May Department  Stores  (Hecht's,  Famous Barr,
Filene's,  Foley's,  Kaufmann's,  Meier & Frank and Robinson's May),  Dillard's,
Dayton-Hudson and Nordstrom.

         Department store accounts are offered extensive  merchandising  support
which  includes  in-store  fixtures  and  signage,  supervision  of displays and
merchandising of the Company's  various product lines. An important  development
in the  Company's  wholesale  merchandising  efforts is the creation of in-store
concept shops,  where a broader collection of the Company's branded products are
showcased. These in-store concept shops create an environment that is consistent
with the Company's  image and enable the retailer to display and stock a greater
volume of the Company's  products per square foot of retail space.  In addition,
these in-store concept shops encourage longer term commitment by the retailer to
the Company's  products and enhance  consumer brand  awareness.  Currently,  the
Steve  Madden(R)  brand is featured in over five  hundred  fifty (550)  in-store
concept shops in its leading department and specialty store accounts.

         In addition to merchandising  support,  the Company's  customer service
representatives maintain weekly communications with their accounts to guide them
in placing orders and to assist them in managing inventory and retail sales. The
Company  leverages its sell-through data gathered at its retail stores to assist
department  stores in allocating their  open-to-buy  dollars to the most popular
styles in the product line and to phase out styles with poor sales  records.  In
addition  to  this  account  order  support,  the  Company  has  implemented  an
electronic data interchange ("EDI") program which allows top accounts rapid size
replenishment  of six (6)  style/color  combinations  of certain  core  products
within one to two weeks. EDI  replenishment of key core styles is offered to all
of the Company's retail customer accounts.

INTERNET SALES

         In 1998, the Company  updated its internet  site,  www.stevemadden.com,
with improved graphics and more efficient e-commerce capabilities. Customers can
now purchase up to several  different styles of the Company's  footwear products
and continue to  participate  in the  Company's  chat forum.  As a result of the
Company's   increased   focus  on   e-commerce,   sales  in  1998  derived  from
stevemadden.com  increased 700% compared with sales in 1997. The Company intends
to increase  advertising and promotion of stevemadden.com and has recently hired
a full time  Internet  Manager.  The Company  has also  recently  implemented  a
fulfillment  center for internet  sales.  In  addition,  in February  1999,  the
Company signed an agreement to sell its products on  Fashionmall.com,  a premier
fashion site on the internet.  The Company hopes that the  Fashionmall.com  site
will be successful in  attracting  new customers for the Company's  footwear and
licensed products.


                                       9
<PAGE>

SPECIALTY STORES/CATALOG SALES

         The Company  currently  sells to  approximately  one  thousand  (1,000)
specialty store locations throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's
top specialty  store accounts  include  Journey's,  The Buckle and Wet Seal. The
Company offers specialty store accounts the same merchandising, sell-through and
inventory  tracking support offered to its department  store accounts.  Sales of
the Company's products are also made through various catalogs, such as Fingerhut
and Victoria's Secret.

COMPETITION

         The fashionable footwear industry is highly competitive.  The Company's
competitors   include  specialty  shoe  companies  as  well  as  companies  with
diversified  footwear product lines. The recent  substantial growth in the sales
of fashionable  footwear has encouraged  the entry of many new  competitors  and
increased  competition from established  companies.  Most of these  competitors,
including  Kenneth  Cole,  Nine West,  DKNY,  Sketchers,  Nike and  Guess,  have
significantly  greater  financial  and other  resources  than the  Company.  The
Company believes effective advertising and marketing,  fashionable styling, high
quality  and value are the most  important  competitive  factors  and intends to
continue to employ these elements as it develops its products.

MARKETING AND SALES

         Prior to 1997, the Company's  marketing plans relied heavily on its few
Steve Madden(R) retail store locations and word-of-mouth referrals. In 1998, the
Company  continued to focus on creating a more integrated brand building program
to  establish  Steve  Madden as the  leading  designer of fashion  footwear  for
style-conscious  young  women.  As a result,  the  Company  developed a national
advertising  campaign for lifestyle and fashion magazines which was also used in
regional  marketing programs such as radio  advertisements  and billboards.  The
Company  also  continues  to promote  its  website  (WWW.STEVEMADDEN.COM)  where
consumers  can purchase  Steve  Madden(R)  products  and interact  with both the
Company and other customers.

         In order to service its wholesale accounts, the Company retains a sales
force  of  thirteen  (13)  independent   sales   representatives.   These  sales
representatives  work on a commission  basis and are responsible for placing the
Company's products with its principal customers, including better department and
specialty stores. The sales  representatives are supported by the Vice President
- -- National Sales Manager,  a staff of three (3)  merchandise  coordinators  and
twenty  (20)  customer  service   representatives   who  continually   cultivate
relationships  with  wholesale   customers.   This  staff  assists  accounts  in
merchandising  and assessing  customer  preferences and inventory  requirements,
which ultimately serves to increase sales and profitability.


                                       10
<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) OPERATIONS

         Sophisticated  information  systems  are  essential  to  the  Company's
ability to maintain its competitive  position and to support  continued  growth.
The Company  operates on a dual AS/400 system which provides  system support for
all aspects of its business including  manufacturing  purchase orders;  customer
purchase orders; order allocations;  invoicing;  accounts receivable management;
real time  inventory  management;  quick response  replenishment;  point-of-sale
support;  and financial and management  reporting  functions.  The Company has a
PKMS bar coded warehousing  system which is integrated with the wholesale system
in order to  provide  accurate  inventory  positions  and  quick  response  size
replenishment for its customers.  In addition,  the Company has installed an EDI
system which provides a computer link between the Company and certain  wholesale
customers  that enables both the customer and the Company to monitor  purchases,
shipments and invoicing.  The EDI system also improves the Company's  ability to
respond to  customer  inventory  requirements  on a weekly  basis.  Anticipating
continued  growth,  the Company  recently  strengthened its systems by adding an
AS/400,  model 620. The Company also  implemented  in 1998 a licensing  tracking
system,  a  disaster  recovery  system and  automated  the  Adesso-Madden  order
placement and fulfillment business.  The Company also anticipates completing its
upgrade for the Year 2000 compliance by June 1999.

RECEIVABLES FINANCING; LINE OF CREDIT

         The Company finances its receivables  through the use of a factor.  The
Company's present relationship with Capital Factors, Inc. permits the Company to
draw down eighty (80%) percent of its invoiced  receivables  at an interest rate
of one (1) point below the Prime Rate (as defined).  The agreement provides that
Capital  Factors is not required to purchase all the Company's  receivables.  On
September  1, 1998,  the  Company  and Capital  Factors  amended  its  Factoring
Agreement to, among other  things,  provide the Company with a credit line of up
to  $15,000,000,  subject to certain  limitations.  The Company has not recently
borrowed  funds  under its  credit  line with  Capital  Factors.  The  Factoring
Agreement terminates in December 2000.

TRADEMARKS

         The Steve Madden and Steve Madden plus Design  trademarks/service marks
have been registered in numerous  International Classes (25 clothing,  shoes; 18
leather  goods,  handbags,  wallets;  9 eye wear,  14 jewelry,  35 retail  store
services) in the United States. The Company also has trademark  registrations in
the U.S. for the marks  Eyeshadows by Steve Madden  (Int'l Cl. 9 eye wear),  Ice
Tea (Int'l Cl. 25 clothing) and Soho Cobbler (Int. Cl. 9 eye wear, 25, shoes).

         The Company further owns  registrations  for the Steve Madden and Steve
Madden plus Design  trademarks/service marks in various International Classes in
China, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea, Panama, Taiwan and the Benelux countries
and has pending  applications  for  registration  for the Steve Madden and Steve
Madden plus Design  trademarks/service  marks in Canada,  Argentina,  Australia,
Brazil, Chile,  throughout 15


                                       11
<PAGE>

cooperating  countries in Europe, Italy,  Malaysia,  Mexico, Peru, South Africa,
Thailand and  Venezuela.  There can be no assurance,  however,  that the Company
will be able to  effectively  obtain rights to the Steve Madden mark  throughout
all of the  countries of the world.  Moreover,  no  assurance  can be given that
others  will not  assert  rights  in,  or  ownership  of,  trademarks  and other
proprietary  rights  to the  Company  or  that  the  Company  will  be  able  to
successfully resolve such conflicts.  The failure of the Company to protect such
rights from  unlawful and  improper  appropriation  may have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operation.

         Additionally,  the  Company  owns  registration  for  the  David  Aaron
trademark and service mark in various International Classes in the United States
(Int'l Cl. 25 clothes,  shoes, 18 leather goods,  handbags,  wallets,  35 retail
store services),  Australia,  Canada, Hong Kong and the 15 cooperating countries
in Europe. The Company further has pending  applications for registration of the
David  Aaron  trademark  and  service  mark in Israel,  Japan,  Panama and South
Africa.  The Company  believes that the David Aaron  trademark has a significant
value and is important to the marketing of the Company's products.

         The  Company  believes  that its  trademarks/service  marks  and  other
proprietary  rights are important to its success and its  competitive  position.
Accordingly,  the Company devotes substantial resources to the establishment and
protection of its trademarks on a worldwide basis. Nevertheless, there can be no
assurance,  however,  that the Company will be able to effectively obtain rights
in its marks  throughout  all the  countries  of the world.  The  failure of the
Company to protect such rights from unlawful and improper appropriation may have
a material  adverse effect on the Company's  business,  financial  condition and
results of operation.

EMPLOYEES

         At March 15,  1999,  the Company  employed  approximately  five hundred
persons,  of whom approximately two hundred and twenty (220) work on a full-time
basis and  approximately two hundred and eighty (280) work on a part-time basis.
The management of the Company considers relations with its employees to be good.

         IN ADDITION TO OTHER  INFORMATION  IN THIS ANNUAL  REPORT ON FORM 10-K,
THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT FACTORS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED IN EVALUATING THE
COMPANY AND ITS  BUSINESS  BECAUSE  SUCH FACTORS  CURRENTLY  HAVE A  SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS, PROSPECTS,  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS.

         DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL.  The Company is dependent,  in particular,
upon the services of Steven  Madden,  its Chief  Executive  Officer,  President,
Chairman of the Board and chief designer and Rhonda Brown,  its Chief  Operating
Officer.  If Mr.  Madden or Ms.  Brown are  unable to  provide  services  to the
Company for whatever  reason,  the business  would be  adversely  affected.  The
Company  therefore  maintains a key person life  insurance  policy on Mr. Madden
with  coverage  in the amount of  $10,000,000;  however,  the  Company


                                       12
<PAGE>

does not maintain a policy on Ms. Brown. The Company has an employment  contract
with Mr. Madden that expires on December 31, 2007,  and an  employment  contract
with Ms.  Brown  that  expires  on June 30,  2001.  In the event  Mr.  Madden is
terminated  for  other  than  cause or total  disability,  the  Company  will be
required to pay Mr. Madden's remaining salary under his contract,  half of which
must be paid upon  termination.  Mr. Madden is also entitled  during the term of
the contract to an annual $50,000  non-accountable expense account. In the event
of a change in control,  Mr.  Madden and Ms. Brown may choose to continue  their
employment  with the Company or terminate  employment  and receive the remaining
salary under their respective contracts.

         Since Mr.  Madden  and Ms.  Brown are  involved  in all  aspects of the
Company's  business,  there can be no assurance that a suitable  replacement for
either could be found if either were unable to perform services for the Company.
As a  consequence,  a loss of Mr.  Madden,  Ms.  Brown or other  key  management
personnel  could have a material  adverse  effect upon the  Company's  business,
results of  operations  and  financial  condition.  In addition,  the  Company's
ability to market its products  and to maintain  profitability  will depend,  in
large  part,  on  its  ability  to  attract  and  retain  qualified   personnel.
Competition for such personnel is intense and there can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to attract and retain such personnel.  The inability of the
Company to attract and retain  such  qualified  personnel  would have a material
adverse  effect on the Company's  business,  financial  condition and results of
operations.

         FASHION  INDUSTRY  RISKS.  The  success of the  Company  will depend in
significant  part upon its ability to anticipate and respond to women's  product
and  fashion  trends  as well as to  anticipate,  gauge  and  react to  changing
consumer  demands  in a  timely  manner.  There  can be no  assurance  that  the
Company's  products  will  correspond to the changes in taste and demand or that
the Company will be able to  successfully  market products which respond to such
trends.  If the Company  misjudges the market for its products,  it may be faced
with significant excess  inventories for some products and missed  opportunities
with others. In addition,  misjudgments in merchandise selection could adversely
affect the  Company's  image  with its  customers  and weak sales and  resulting
markdown  requests from  customers  could have a material  adverse effect on the
Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

         The  industries  in which  the  Company  operates  are  cyclical,  with
purchases tending to decline during recessionary  periods when disposable income
is low.  Purchases of contemporary  shoes and accessories tend to decline during
recessionary  periods and also may decline at other times. While the Company has
fared well in recent years in a difficult  retail  environment,  there can be no
assurance  that the Company  will be able to  maintain  its  historical  rate of
growth in revenues and earnings, or remain profitable in the future. A recession
in the national or regional economies or uncertainties regarding future economic
prospects,  among other things, could affect consumer spending habits and have a
material  adverse  effect on the Company's  business  results of operations  and
financial condition.


                                       13
<PAGE>

         In recent years, the retail industry has experienced  consolidation and
other  ownership  changes.  In addition,  some of the Company's  customers  have
operated  under the  protection of the federal  bankruptcy  laws. In the future,
retailers in the United States and in foreign markets may  consolidate,  undergo
restructurings or reorganizations,  or realign their affiliations,  any of which
could  decrease  the  number of stores  that  carry the  Company's  products  or
increase the  ownership  concentration  within the retail  industry.  While such
changes in the retail industry to date have not had a material adverse effect on
the Company's business or financial  condition,  there can be no assurance as to
the future effect of any such changes.

         INVENTORY  MANAGEMENT.  The Company's ability to manage its inventories
properly is an  important  factor in its  operations.  Inventory  shortages  can
adversely  affect  the timing of  shipments  to  customers  and  diminish  brand
loyalty.  Conversely,  excess inventories can result in increased interest costs
as well as lower gross  margins due to the  necessity of providing  discounts to
retailers.  The  inability of the Company to  effectively  manage its  inventory
would  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,  financial
condition and results of operations.

         DEPENDENCE  UPON  CUSTOMERS  AND RISKS  RELATED TO EXTENDING  CREDIT TO
CUSTOMERS.  The Company's  customers  purchasing  shoes consist  principally  of
department stores and specialty stores, including shoe boutiques. Certain of the
Company's  department  store customers,  including some under common  ownership,
account  for  significant   portions  of  the  Company's  wholesale  net  sales.
Presently,  the Company sells  approximately sixty percent (60%) of its products
to department  stores,  including  Federated  Stores  (Bloomingdales,  Burdines,
Macy's and  Bullocks),  Dillards,  Nordstrom,  Dayton Hudson and May  Department
Stores (Famous Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's,  Kaufmann's, Meier & Frank, and
Robinson's  May) and  approximately  forty (40%)  percent to  specialty  stores,
including shoe boutiques. The Company's largest customers,  Federated Stores and
Nordstrom,  account for approximately twenty percent (20%) and seventeen percent
(17%) of the Company's wholesale sales, respectively.

         The  Company  believes  that a  substantial  portion  of  sales  of the
Company's  licensed products by its domestic licensing partners are also made to
the Company's largest  department store customers.  The Company generally enters
into a number of purchase order  commitments  with its customers for each of its
lines every season and does not enter into long-term  agreements with any of its
customers.  Therefore,  a decision by Federated  Stores,  Nordstrom or any other
significant  customer,  whether motivated by competitive  conditions,  financial
difficulties or otherwise,  to decrease the amount of merchandise purchased from
the Company or its licensing partners, or to change its manner of doing business
could  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,  financial
condition and results of operations. The Company sells its products primarily to
retail stores across the United States and extends credit based on an evaluation
of each customer's  financial condition,  usually without requiring  collateral.
While  various  retailers,  including  some  of the  Company's  customers,  have
experienced  financial  difficulties  in the past few years which  increased the
risk of extending  credit to such  retailers,  the  Company's  losses due to bad


                                       14
<PAGE>

debts have been limited.  However,  financial  difficulties  of a customer could
cause the Company to curtail  business with such customer or require the Company
to assume more credit risk relating to such customer's receivables.

         IMPACT OF FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS. A significant portion of the Company's
products are currently  sourced  outside the United States through  arrangements
with a number of foreign  manufacturers in four different countries.  During the
year ended December 31, 1998,  approximately 95% of the Company's  products were
purchased  from sources  outside the United  States,  including  Mexico,  China,
Brazil and Spain.

         Risks   inherent  in  foreign   operations   include  work   stoppages,
transportation  delays  and  interruptions,  changes in  social,  political  and
economic  conditions  which  could  result in the  disruption  of trade from the
countries in which the Company's  manufacturers  or suppliers  are located,  the
imposition  of additional  regulations  relating to imports,  the  imposition of
additional duties, taxes and other charges on imports,  significant fluctuations
of the value of the dollar against  foreign  currencies,  or restrictions on the
transfer  of funds,  any of which  could have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's business,  financial condition and results of operations.  The Company
does not believe that any such economic or political  conditions will materially
affect the Company's ability to purchase products,  since a variety of materials
and alternative sources exist. The Company cannot be certain,  however,  that it
will be able to  identify  such  alternative  sources  without  delay or without
greater cost to the Company,  if ever.  The Company's  inability to identify and
secure  alternative  sources of supply in this  situation  would have a material
adverse  effect on the Company's  business,  financial  condition and results of
operations.

         The  Company's  imported  products  are also  subject to United  States
customs  duties.  The United  States and the  countries  in which the  Company's
products are produced or sold may, from time to time, impose new quotas, duties,
tariffs, or other  restrictions,  or may adversely adjust prevailing quota, duty
or tariff  levels,  any of which  could  have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

         POSSIBLE  ADVERSE IMPACT OF  UNAFFILIATED  MANUFACTURERS'  INABILITY TO
MANUFACTURE IN A TIMELY MANNER,  TO MEET QUALITY  STANDARDS OR TO USE ACCEPTABLE
LABOR PRACTICES.  As is common in the footwear  industry,  the Company contracts
for the manufacture of a majority of its products to its specifications  through
foreign  manufacturers.  The Company  does not own or operate any  manufacturing
facilities  and is therefore  dependent upon  independent  third parties for the
manufacture of all of its products.  The Company's  products are manufactured to
its  specifications  by  both  domestic  and  international  manufacturers.  The
inability of a manufacturer to ship orders of the Company's products in a timely
manner or to meet the  Company's  quality  standards  could cause the Company to
miss the delivery date  requirements  of its  customers  for those items,  which
could  result in  cancellation  of  orders,  refusal to accept  deliveries  or a
reduction in purchase prices,  any of which could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.


                                       15
<PAGE>

         Although the Company enters into a number of purchase order commitments
each season specifying a time frame for delivery,  method of payment, design and
quality specifications and other standard industry provisions,  the Company does
not have long-term  contracts with any  manufacturer.  As a consequence,  any of
these  manufacturing  relationships  may be terminated,  by either party, at any
time.  Although the Company believes that other facilities are available for the
manufacture  of the  Company's  products,  both within and outside of the United
States, there can be no assurance that such facilities would be available to the
Company  on an  immediate  basis,  if at all,  or that the costs  charged to the
Company by such manufacturers will not be greater than those presently paid.

         The  Company   requires  its   licensing   partners   and   independent
manufacturers  to operate in compliance with  applicable  laws and  regulations.
While the Company promotes  ethical  business  practices and the Company's staff
periodically   visits  and   monitors   the   operations   of  its   independent
manufacturers,  the Company does not control such  manufacturers  or their labor
practices.  The violation of labor or other laws by an independent  manufacturer
of the Company or by one of the Company's licensing partners,  or the divergence
of an independent  manufacturer's  or licensing  partner's  labor practices from
those generally accepted as ethical in the United States,  could have a material
adverse  effect on the Company's  business,  financial  condition and results of
operations.

         INTENSE  INDUSTRY  COMPETITION.  The fashionable  footwear  industry is
highly  competitive  and  barriers to entry are low. The  Company's  competitors
include specialty companies as well as companies with diversified product lines.
The  recent  substantial  growth  in  the  sales  of  fashionable  footwear  has
encouraged  the entry of many new  competitors  and increased  competition  from
established companies.  Most of these competitors,  including Kenneth Cole, Nine
West, DKNY, Sketchers,  Nike and Guess, have significantly greater financial and
other  resources than the Company and there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to compete  successfully  with other  fashion  footwear  companies.
Increased  competition could result in pricing  pressures,  increased  marketing
expenditures  and loss of market share, and could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business,  financial  condition and results of operations.  The
Company believes effective advertising and marketing,  fashionable styling, high
quality and value are the most important competitive factors and plans to employ
these  elements  as  it  develops  its  products.  The  Company's  inability  to
effectively  advertise  and market its  products  could have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

         EXPANSION OF RETAIL BUSINESS. The Company's continued growth depends to
a  significant  degree on further  developing  the Steve  Madden and David Aaron
brands,   creating  new  product   categories   and   businesses  and  operating
Company-owned  stores on a profitable  basis. The Company plans to open ten (10)
Steve Madden retail stores in 1999. The Company's  recent and planned  expansion
includes the opening of stores in new  geographic  markets.  New markets have in
the past presented, and will continue to present,  competitive and merchandising
challenges  that are  different  from those faced by the Company in its existing
markets.  There can be no  assurance  that the Company  will be able


                                       16
<PAGE>

to open new stores, and if opened,  that such new stores will be able to achieve
sales and profitability  levels  consistent with existing stores.  The Company's
retail  expansion is dependent on a number of factors,  including  the Company's
ability to locate and obtain  favorable  store  sites,  the  performance  of the
Company's  wholesale  and retail  operations,  and the ability of the Company to
manage such expansion and hire and train personnel.  Past comparable store sales
results may not be indicative of future  results,  and there can be no assurance
that the Company's  comparable store sales results will increase or not decrease
in the  future.  In  addition,  there  can be no  assurance  that the  Company's
strategies to increase other sources of revenue,  which may include expansion of
its licensing activities, will be successful or that the Company's overall sales
or profitability  will increase or not be adversely  affected as a result of the
implementation of such retail strategies.

         The Company's growth has increased and will continue to increase demand
on the Company's  managerial,  operational  and  administrative  resources.  The
Company has recently invested significant  resources in, among other things, its
management  information systems and hiring and training new personnel.  However,
in order to manage currently  anticipated  levels of future demand,  the Company
may be required  to, among other  things,  expand its  distribution  facilities,
establish  relationships  with new  manufacturers  to produce its products,  and
continue to expand and improve its financial,  management and operating systems.
There can be no assurance  that the Company will be able to manage future growth
effectively  and a failure to do so could have a material  adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

         SEASONAL AND QUARTERLY  FLUCTUATIONS.  The Company's  quarterly results
may fluctuate quarter to quarter as a result of the timing of holidays, weather,
the timing of larger shipments of footwear,  market  acceptance of the Company's
products,  the mix,  pricing and  presentation of the products offered and sold,
the hiring and training of additional  personnel,  the timing of inventory write
downs,  the  cost  of  materials,   the  mix  between  wholesale  and  licensing
businesses,  the  incurrence  of other  operating  costs and factors  beyond the
Company's  control,   such  as  general  economic   conditions  and  actions  of
competitors.  In addition,  the Company expects its sales and operating  results
may fluctuate significantly with the opening of new retail stores, the amount of
revenue  contributed  by new stores,  changes in comparable  store sales and the
introduction  of new  products.  Accordingly,  the results of  operations in any
quarter will not  necessarily  be indicative of the results that may be achieved
for a full fiscal year or any future quarter.

         TRADEMARK AND SERVICEMARK PROTECTION. The Steve Madden and Steve Madden
plus  Design   trademarks/service   marks  have  been   registered  in  numerous
International Classes (25 clothing, shoes; 18 leather goods, handbags,  wallets;
9 eye wear,  14 jewelry,  35 retail store  services) in the United  States.  The
Company also has trademark registrations in the U.S. for the marks Eyeshadows by
Steve Madden  (Int'l Cl. 9 eye wear),  Ice Tea (Int'l Cl. 25 clothing)  and Soho
Cobbler (Int. Cl. 9 eye wear, 25, shoes).


                                       17
<PAGE>

         The Company further owns  registrations  for the Steve Madden and Steve
Madden plus Design  trademarks/service marks in various International Classes in
China, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea, Panama, Taiwan and the Benelux countries
and has pending  applications  for  registration  for the Steve Madden and Steve
Madden plus Design  trademarks/service  marks in Canada,  Argentina,  Australia,
Brazil, Chile,  throughout 15 cooperating countries in Europe, Italy,  Malaysia,
Mexico, Peru, South Africa,  Thailand and Venezuela.  There can be no assurance,
however, that the Company will be able to effectively obtain rights to the Steve
Madden mark throughout all of the countries of the world. Moreover, no assurance
can be given that others will not assert rights in, or ownership of,  trademarks
and other proprietary  rights to the Company or that the Company will be able to
successfully resolve such conflicts.  The failure of the Company to protect such
rights from  unlawful and  improper  appropriation  may have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operation.

         Additionally,  the  Company  owns  registration  for  the  David  Aaron
trademark and service mark in various International Classes in the United States
(Int'l Cl. 25 clothes,  shoes, 18 leather goods,  handbags,  wallets,  35 retail
store services),  Australia,  Canada, Hong Kong and the 15 cooperating countries
in Europe. The Company further has pending  applications for registration of the
David  Aaron  trademark  and  service  mark in Israel,  Japan,  Panama and South
Africa.  The Company  believes that the David Aaron  trademark has a significant
value and is important to the marketing of the Company's products.

         The  Company  believes  that its  trademarks/service  marks  and  other
proprietary  rights are important to its success and its  competitive  position.
Accordingly,  the Company devotes substantial resources to the establishment and
protection of its trademarks on a worldwide basis. Nevertheless, there can be no
assurance  that the actions  taken by the Company to  establish  and protect its
trademarks and other proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent imitation of
its  products by others or to prevent  others from seeking to block sales of the
Company's  products as violative of the  trademarks  and  proprietary  rights of
others.  Moreover,  no assurance can be given that others will not assert rights
in, or ownership of, trademarks and other  proprietary  rights of the Company or
that  the  Company  will be able to  successfully  resolve  such  conflicts.  In
addition,  the laws of certain  foreign  countries  may not protect  proprietary
rights to the same  extent as do the laws of the United  States.  The failure of
the Company to establish and then protect such proprietary  rights from unlawful
and improper appropriation could have a material adverse impact on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.

         FOREIGN  CURRENCY  FLUCTUATIONS.  The Company  generally  purchases its
products in U.S. dollars.  However, the Company sources substantially all of its
products  overseas and, as such,  the cost of these  products may be affected by
changes in the value of the relevant  currencies.  Changes in currency  exchange
rates may also  affect the  relative  prices at which the  Company  and  foreign
competitors  sell their  products in the same market.  There can be no assurance
that foreign  currency  fluctuations  will not have a material adverse impact on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.


                                       18
<PAGE>

         ABSENCE OF DIVIDENDS.  The Company anticipates that all of its earnings
in the foreseeable  future will be retained to finance the continued  growth and
expansion of its business and has no current intention to pay cash dividends.

         OUTSTANDING  OPTIONS. As of March 15, 1999, the Company had outstanding
options to purchase an aggregate  of  approximately  2,968,000  shares of Common
Stock.  Holders  of such  options  are  likely to  exercise  them  when,  in all
likelihood,  the Company could obtain additional capital on terms more favorable
than those provided by the options.  Further, while its options are outstanding,
they may adversely affect the terms in which the Company could obtain additional
capital.

         YEAR 2000. The Company recognizes that a challenging  problem exists in
that many computer  systems  worldwide do not have the capability of recognizing
the year 2000 or the years thereafter. No easy technological "quick fix" has yet
been  developed for this problem.  The Company has spent a  considerable  sum of
money to assure  that all its  software  programs  are year 2000  compliant  and
believes that they will be year 2000 compliant  during 1999,  most likely during
the first half of the year. This "Year 2000 Computer  Problem"  creates risk for
the company from unforeseen  problems in its own software and from third parties
with whom the company deals.  Such failures of the Company and/or third parties'
computer  systems  could have a material  adverse  effect on the Company and its
ability to conduct its business in the future.

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES.

         The Company  maintains its executive  offices at 52-16 Barnett  Avenue,
Long Island City, NY 11104, and wholesale  warehouse at 34-09 Queens  Boulevard,
Long Island City, NY 11101. The Company  maintains  approximately  14,000 square
feet for its executive offices and  approximately  12,000 square feet and 23,600
square  feet at each of its  wholesale  warehouses.  In  addition,  the  Company
maintains a 6,000 square foot retail warehouse space at 43-15 38th Street,  Long
Island City, NY 11101.

         The Company's  showroom is located at 1370 Avenue of the Americas,  New
York, NY. All three of the Company's brands (Steve  Madden(R),  lei(R) and David
Aaron(R))  are sold  from the  3,500  square  foot  showroom.  The lease for the
Company's showroom expires in November, 2002.

         All of the Company's  retail stores are leased  pursuant to leases that
extend for terms  which  average  ten years in length.  A majority of the leases
include  clauses  that  provide for  contingent  rental  payments if gross sales
exceed certain targets. In addition, a majority of the leases enable the Company
and/or the landlord to terminate the lease in the event that the Company's gross
sales do not achieve certain minimum levels during a prescribed period.  Many of
the leases  contain  rent  escalation  clauses to  compensate  for  increases in
operating costs and real estate taxes.


                                       19
<PAGE>

         The  current  terms of the  Company's  retail  store  leases  expire as
follows:

          YEARS LEASE TERMS EXPIRE                    NUMBER OF STORES
          ------------------------------------------------------------
                   2003                                       3
                   2004                                       1
                   2005                                       1
                   2006                                       3
                   2007                                       3
                   2008                                      13
                   2009                                       5
                   2010                                       1

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

         Except as set forth below, no material legal proceedings are pending to
which the Company or any of its property is subject.

         On or about March 13, 1998, the Company,  its wholly owned  subsidiary,
Steven Madden  Retail,  Inc. and Stav Efrat were sued by Ooga  Associates  Corp.
("Ooga"),  a design and construction  firm previously  engaged by the Company to
design and  construct  certain of the  Company's  retail  shoe  stores.  In this
action,  entitled OOGA ASSOCIATES  CORP. V. STEVEN MADDEN,  INC.,  STEVEN MADDEN
RETAIL,  INC.,  STEVEN  MADDEN,  LTD.  AND STAV  EFRAT,  which is pending in the
Supreme Court of New York , County of New York , Ooga  principally  alleges that
(i) the Company  breached an oral contract  pursuant to which it engaged Ooga to
exclusively design and build the Company's retail shoe stores,  (ii) the Company
induced Mr.  Efrat,  an officer and  director of Ooga,  to breach his  fiduciary
duties to Ooga by  improperly  employing  his  services,  and (iii) the  Company
misappropriated  Ooga's trade secrets by  impermissibly  using store designs and
concepts owned by Ooga. In its lawsuit, Ooga seeks damages consisting of amounts
based on its  prospective  earnings  under the alleged  oral  contract  with the
Company,  its lost earnings on certain  projects it claims to have  abandoned or
forgone in reliance on the alleged oral  contract  with the Company,  and on the
value of the designs and concepts allegedly  misappropriated by the Company, and
also seeks an injunction  prohibiting  the Company from using Ooga's  designs or
other proprietary information,  from employing any Ooga employees or interfering
with Ooga's contractual  relationships  with its customers.  On or about July 6,
1998,  the  Company  moved to  dismiss  certain  portions  of Ooga's  complaint,
including its claims for breach of the alleged oral contract, unfair competition
and conversion based upon the alleged  misappropriations.  In or about September
1998,  Ooga moved for a  preliminary  injunction  barring the  Company's  use of
certain  designs  and  plans  in a  retail  store  then  under  construction  in
Washington, D.C., and to amend its complaint to add claims against Steve Madden,
the Company's Chairman,  and the Tricarico Group, an architectural firm retained
by the Company to provide  certain  services in connection  with the Washington,
D.C.  store.  At a hearing  held on October 22, 1998,  the court  denied  Ooga's
motion for a preliminary injunction,  orally dismissed Ooga's breach of contract
claims, and reserved decision with respect to the remainder of


                                       20
<PAGE>

Ooga's motion.  On January 7, 1999, the Court  suspended the action based on the
failure of Ooga to be present  for  mandatory  court  conference.  The action is
subject to being revived upon application by Ooga within a one year period.  The
Company believes that Ooga's claims are completely without merit, and intends to
vigorously contest its lawsuit.

         The lawsuits  commenced by Yves Levenson,  the former president of Diva
Acquisition Corp.  ("Diva"),  and by David Siskin,  the former Vice President of
Design of Diva, discussed in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 1998, were settled by the parties in December, 1998.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

         No matters  were  submitted  to a vote of the holders of the  Company's
Common Stock during the last quarter of its fiscal year ended December 31, 1998.













                                       21
<PAGE>


                                     PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

         The  Company's  shares of Common  Stock,  Class A Warrants  and Class B
Warrants were quoted since December 10, 1993 on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market under
the symbols  SHOO,  SHOOW and SHOOZ,  respectively.  In January 1996 and August,
1998 the Class A Warrants and Class B Warrants, respectively,  ceased trading as
a result of the Company's call for redemption of such securities.  The Company's
shares of Common Stock presently trade on The Nasdaq National Market.

         The following table sets forth the range of high and low bid quotations
for the Common  Stock,  Class B Warrants for the two year period ended  December
31,  1998,  as reported by The Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market and The Nasdaq  National
Market. The quotes represent inter-dealer prices without adjustment or mark-ups,
mark-downs or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
The trading  volume of the Company's  securities  fluctuates  and may be limited
during  certain  periods.  As a result,  the  liquidity of an  investment in the
Company's securities may be adversely affected.

                                 COMMON STOCK              CLASS B WARRANTS
                                ---------------            ----------------
                                HIGH        LOW            HIGH         LOW
                                ----        ---            ----         ---
      1998
      ----
Quarter ended
March 31, 1998                 10 1/8      6 3/8           4 3/4       1 13/16

Quarter ended
June 30, 1998                  11 7/8      8 1/8           6 1/8       3 3/16

Quarter ended
September 30, 1998             11 11/16    5 3/4           5 13/16     3 1/8*

Quarter ended
December 31, 1998               9 1/16     3 9/16             *           *

      1997
      ----
Quarter ended
March 31, 1997                  6 3/8      3 1/2           2 7/16       15/16

Quarter ended
June 30, 1997                   6 3/16     3 1/4           2           1 1/16

Quarter ended
September 30, 1997              8 13/16    5 7/16          3 7/16      1 9/16

Quarter ended
December 31, 1997               8 1/4      6 1/8           3 3/16      1 21/32

- -----------------
* The Class B Warrants  ceased trading as of August 13, 1998 as a result of such
  securities being called for redemption by the Company.


                                       22
<PAGE>

         On March 25, 1999,  the final  quoted  prices as reported by The Nasdaq
National  Market was $8.00 for each share of Common Stock. As of March 25, 1999,
there were 10,724,235 shares of Common Stock  outstanding,  held of record by 88
record holders and approximatley 4,000 beneficial owners.

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

         The  following  selected  financial  data  has  been  derived  from the
Company's  audited financial  statements.  The Income Statement Data relating to
1998,  1997 and 1996 and the Balance Sheet Data as of December 31, 1998 and 1997
should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated  financial
statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere herein.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1998            1997            1996            1995            1994
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:                           
                                                 
Net sales                                           $85,783,000     $59,311,000     $45,823,000     $38,735,000      $8,448,000
Cost of sales                                        49,893,000      34,744,000      31,343,000      25,911,000       6,226,000
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 
Gross profit                                         35,890,000      24,567,000      14,480,000      12,824,000       2,222,000
Commissions and licensing fees                        3,273,000       2,321,000         951,000         378,000
Operating expenses                                  (29,949,000)    (22,262,000)    (13,998,000)     (7,451,000)     (2,975,000)
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 
Income from operations                                9,214,000       4,626,000       1,433,000       5,751,000        (753,000)
Interest income                                         380,000         312,000         322,000         167,000         144,000
Interest expense                                       (235,000)       (339,000)       (162,000)       (265,000)       (128,000)
Loss on sale of net assets                                                                             (104,000)
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before provision for income taxes              9,359,000       4,599,000       1,593,000       5,549,000        (737,000)
Provision for income taxes                            3,912,000       1,899,000         534,000       1,793,000
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 
Net Income                                           $5,447,000      $2,700,000      $1,059,000      $3,756,000       ($737,000)
                                                    ===========================================================================
                                                 
Basic income per share                                    $0.58           $0.33           $0.14           $0.66          ($0.13)
                                                    ===========================================================================
                                                 
Diluted income per share                                  $0.50           $0.30           $0.13           $0.51          ($0.13)
                                                    ===========================================================================
                                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic
income per share                                      9,436,798       8,064,604       7,689,848       5,674,579       5,512,304

effect of potential common shares from exercise of
options and warrants                                  1,546,303         848,462         737,232       1,644,873               0
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  
Weighted average common shares                    
outstanding-diluted                               
income per share                                     10,983,101       8,913,066       8,427,080       7,319,452       5,512,304
                                                    ===========================================================================
BALANCE SHEET DATA                                
                                                  
Total assets                                        $48,928,000     $29,277,000     $22,361,000     $14,530,000      $5,741,000
Working capital                                      33,627,000      16,545,000      13,719,000       9,625,000       4,701,000
Noncurrent liabilities                                  681,000         359,000         166,000               0               0
Stockholders' equity                                 44,960,000      25,793,000      20,101,000      12,765,000       5,168,000
</TABLE>                                  


                                       23
<PAGE>


ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS.

         The  following  discussion  of the  Company's  financial  condition and
results  of  operations  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  Financial
Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this document.

         Statements in this  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of  Operations"  and elsewhere in this document as well as
statements  made in press releases and oral  statements  that may be made by the
Company or by officers,  directors  or  employees  of the Company  acting on the
Company's  behalf  that  are  not  statements  of  historical  or  current  fact
constitute  "forward  looking  statements"  within the  meaning  of the  Private
Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of  1995.  Such  forward-looking  statements
involve known and unknown risks,  uncertainties  and other unknown  factors that
could cause the actual  results of the Company to be materially  different  from
the historical  results or from any future results  expressed or implied by such
forward-looking  statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe
such risks and uncertainties,  readers are urged to consider  statements labeled
with the terms  "believes",  "belief",  "expects",  "intends",  "anticipates" or
"plans"  to  be  uncertain  forward-looking   statements.  The  forward  looking
statements  contained  herein  are also  subject  generally  to other  risks and
uncertainties  that are described from time to time in the Company's reports and
registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         The  following  table  sets forth  information  on  operations  for the
periods indicated:


                                                      PERCENTAGE OF NET REVENUES
                                                          TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              DECEMBER 31

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONSOLIDATED:                        1998                     1997                     1996
- ------------                         ----                     ----                     ----
<S>                              <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>           <C> 
Net Sales                        $85,783,000   100%       $59,311,000   100%       $45,823,000   100%
Cost of Sales                     49,893,000    58         34,744,000    59         31,343,000    68
Other Operating Income             3,273,000     4          2,321,000     4            951,000     2
Operating Expenses                29,949,000    35         22,262,000    38         13,998,000    31
Income from Operations             9,214,000    11          4,626,000     8          1,433,000     3
Interest Income (Expense) Net        145,000     0            (27,000)    0            160,000     0
Income Before Income Taxes         9,359,000    11          4,599,000     8          1,593,000     3
Net Income                         5,447,000     6          2,700,000     5          1,059,000     2
</TABLE>


                                       24
<PAGE>

                                                      PERCENTAGE OF NET REVENUES
                                                          TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              DECEMBER 31

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
By Segment                           1998                     1997                     1996
- ----------                           ----                     ----                     ----
<S>                              <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>           <C> 
WHOLESALE DIVISIONS:

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.
Net Sales                        $49,891,000   100%       $38,487,000   100%       $36,464,000   100%
Cost of Sales                     31,201,000    63         23,385,000    61         24,887,000    68
Other Operating Income               594,000     1            129,000     0                 --    --
Operating Expenses                14,549,000    29         13,348,000    35         10,675,000    29
Income from Operations             4,735,000     9          1,883,000     5            902,000     3
                                                                                  
DIVA ACQUISITION CORP                                                             
Net Sales                         $5,846,000   100%        $6,447,000   100%        $3,013,000   100%
Cost of  Sales                     4,421,000    76          4,086,000    63          2,741,000    74
Operating Expenses                 1,489,000    25          2,207,000    34          1,147,000    38
Income (Loss) from Operations        (64,000)   (1)           154,000     2           (375,000)  (12)
                                                                                  
L.E.I. FOOTWEAR:                                                                  
Net Sales                         $3,483,000   100%                --    --                 --    --
Cost of sales                      2,200,000    63                 --    --                 --    --
Operating Expenses                   828,000    24                 --    --                 --    --
Income from Operations               455,000    13                 --    --                 --    --
                                                                                  
STEVEN MADDEN RETAIL INC.:                                                        
                                                                                  
Net Sales                        $26,563,000   100%       $13,249,000   100%        $3,805,000   100%
Cost of Sales                     12,071,000    45          6,143,000    46          1,871,000    49
Operating Expenses                11,751,000    44          5,501,000    42          1,385,000    36
Income from Operations             2,741,000    10          1,605,000    12            549,000    14
                                                                                  
ADESSO MADDEN INC.:                                                               
 (FIRST COST)                                                                     
                                                                                  
Net Sales                                 --    --         $1,128,000    --         $2,541,000    --
Cost of Sales                             --    --          1,130,000    --          2,344,000    --
Commission Revenue                        --    --          2,192,000    --            951,000    --
Total Operating Revenue           $2,679,000   100%         2,190,000   100%         1,148,000   100%
Operating Expenses                 1,332,000    50          1,206,000    55            791,000    69
Income from Operations             1,347,000    50            984,000    45            357,000    31
</TABLE>


                                                  25
<PAGE>

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 VS. YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

CONSOLIDATED:

         Sales for the year ended  December  31,  1998 were  $85,783,000  or 45%
higher than the  $59,311,000  recorded  in the  comparable  period of 1997.  The
increase  in sales is due to  several  factors  including  additional  wholesale
accounts, increased reorders, EDI size replenishment, increased retail sales due
to the opening of twelve additional retail stores and three outlet stores during
1998.  As a result of  additional  distribution,  management  feels that  "Steve
Madden"  as a brand  name  has  increased  in  popularity  nationwide.  In turn,
increased  sales have enabled the Company to expand its advertising and in store
concept  efforts,  all of which have  contributed to the continuing  increase in
sales. Also, the Company's new l.e.i.  Wholesale  Division ("l.e.i.  Wholesale")
was  launched  in the  third  quarter  of 1998  shipping  to  department  stores
throughout the country. l.e.i. Wholesale generated revenue of $3,483,000 for the
six month period ended December 31,1998.

         Cost of sales as a percentage of sales decreased 1% from 59% in 1997 to
58% in 1998.  Increased  sales  volume has  allowed  the  Company to purchase in
larger volume,  resulting in a lower cost per pair. Gross profit as a percentage
of sales  increased 1% from 41% in 1997 to 42% in 1998. This increase was due to
balanced sourcing,  inventory management,  EDI replenishment and the increase in
retail sales.

         Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by 35% to
$29,949,000  in 1998  from  $22,262,000  in 1997.  The  increase  in SG&A is due
primarily  to a 43%  increase in payroll,  bonuses  and  related  expenses  from
$8,358,000 in 1997 to $11,948,000 in 1998. Additionally, the Company focused its
efforts on  advertising  and marketing by increasing  those expenses by 48% from
$1,698,000 in 1997 to  $2,515,000 in 1998.  The increase in the number of retail
outlets and expanded  office  facilities  resulted in an increase in  occupancy,
telephone,  utilities, computer,  printing/supplies and depreciation expenses by
102% from $3,264,000 in 1997 to $6,593,000 in 1998.


                                       26
<PAGE>

         Income from  operations  for 1998 was  $9,214,000  which  represents an
increase of $4,588,000  or 99% over the income from  operations of $4,626,000 in
1997.  Net income  increased by 102% to  $5,447,000  in 1998 from  $2,700,000 in
1997.

WHOLESALE DIVISIONS:

         Sales from the Steve Madden Wholesale  Division  ("Madden  Wholesale"),
accounted for  $49,891,000 or 58% and  $38,487,000 or 65% of total sales in 1998
and 1997,  respectively.  Cost of sales as a percentage of sales  increased from
61% in 1997 to 63% in 1998 due the changing  product mix in Madden  Wholesale in
1998 compared to 1997. In 1997  sneakers,  which were shipped at a higher margin
are not an important  classification  in 1998.  Gross profit as a percentage  of
sales decreased from 39% in 1997 to 37% in 1998 due to the same reason mentioned
above.  Operating  expenses  increased  by  9%,  from  $13,348,000  in  1997  to
$14,549,000 in 1998.  This increase is due to an increase in payroll and payroll
related  expenses  principally  due  to  the  hiring  of  additional  management
personnel  and an increase in  occupancy  expenses due to  additional  warehouse
space needed for expanding EDI size  replenishment  inventory.  Madden Wholesale
income from  operations  for the Year ended  December  31,  1998 was  $4,735,000
compared to income from operations of $1,883,000 for the Year ended December 31,
1997.

         Sales  from  the  Diva  Acquisition  Corp.  Wholesale  Division  ("Diva
Wholesale") which markets the "David Aaron" brand name in footwear accounted for
$5,846,000  or 7%,  and  $6,447,000  or 11%,  of total  sales in 1998 and  1997,
respectively.  The Company  believes that the decrease in sales is primarily due
to the  introduction  of a new management  team in the first quarter of 1998 for
Diva and the  implementation  of certain  modifications to Diva's business which
the Company  hopes will  enhance  operations  in the future.  Cost of sales as a
percentage  of  sales  has  increased  from  63% in  1997 to 76% in 1998 in Diva
Wholesale, primarily as a result of a higher markdowns experienced in the second
and third quarters of 1998. Gross profit as a percentage of sales decreased from
37% in 1997 to 24% in 1998 due to the same  reason  mentioned  above.  Operating
expenses  decreased by 33% from  $2,207,000 in 1997 to $1,489,000 in 1998 due to
decreases in administrative  payroll,  selling and designing expenses. Loss from
operations  from Diva was $64,000 in 1998 compared to income from  operations of
$154,000 in 1997.

         The  Company's  new  l.e.i.  Wholesale  Division  ("l.e.i.  Wholesale")
commenced  shipping to department stores throughout the country in third quarter
of 1998.  l.e.i.  Wholesale  generated  revenue of $3,483,000  for the six month
period ended December 31, 1998 and there have been substantial  product reorders
in early 1999.

RETAIL DIVISION:

         Sales from the Retail  Division  accounted for  $26,563,000  or 31% and
$13,249,000  or 22% of  total  revenues  in 1998  and  1997,  respectively.  The
increase in Retail  Division sales is primarily due to the Company's  opening of
twelve additional retail stores and three outlet stores during 1998 all of which
generated  aggregate  sales of  $5,725,000.  Same store sales


                                       27
<PAGE>

for the year ended  December  31, 1998  increased  by 4% over the same period of
1997.  This  increase  in same  store  sales is due to EDI basic  replenishment,
expansion of product assortment within  classifications such as sandals, and the
Company's  continued focus on testing new product.  Gross profit as a percentage
of sales has increased by 1% from 54% in 1997 to 55% in 1998.  Selling,  general
and administrative  expenses for the Retail Division increased to $11,751,000 or
44% of sales in 1998 from  $5,501,000 or 42% of sales in 1997.  This increase is
due to increases in payroll and related expenses, occupancy,  printing, computer
and depreciation  expenses as a result of opening twelve  additional  stores and
three outlet stores during the year ended  December 31, 1998 and the addition of
a retail  warehouse.  Income  from  operations  from  the  retail  division  was
$2,741,000 in 1998 compared to income from operations of $1,605,000 in 1997.

ADESSO-MADDEN DIVISION:

         Adesso-Madden,   Inc.,  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  the  Company,
generated commission revenues of $2,679,000 for the year ended December 31, 1998
which represents an increase of $489,000 or 22% over the commission  revenues of
$2,190,000 in 1997 due to having additional accounts. Adesso-Madden arranged for
the shipment of over $34 million of shoes at first cost to the mid-tier and mass
channels of distribution  including  stores such as JC Penneys,  Target,  Famous
Footwear,  MelDisco  and  Walmart.  Operating  expenses  increased  by 10%  from
$1,206,000 in 1997 to $1,332,000 in 1998 due to increases in sales  commissions,
payroll and payroll related expenses.  Income from operations from Adesso-Madden
was $1,347,000 in 1998 compared to income from operations of $984,000 in 1997.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 VS. YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996

         Sales for the year ended  December  31, 1997 were  $59,311,000,  or 29%
higher than the  $45,823,000  recorded  in the  comparable  period of 1996.  The
increase  in sales is due to  several  factors  including  additional  wholesale
accounts,  increased reorders,  increased retail sales due to the opening of two
retail stores in fourth  quarter of 1996 and thirteen  retail stores during 1997
and  increased  sales from the David Aaron brand  (acquired  April  1996).  As a
result of additional  distribution,  management  feels that "Steve  Madden" as a
brand name has increased in popularity nationwide. In turn, increased sales have
enabled the Company to expand its advertising and in store concept efforts,  all
of which have contributed to the continuing increase in sales.

         Cost of sales  decreased 9% from 68% in 1996 to 59% in 1997.  Increased
sales volume has allowed the Company to purchase in larger volume,  resulting in
a lower cost per pair.  Also, the purchase of a higher  percentage of shoes from
overseas suppliers, resulted in a lower cost per pair as compared to 1996. Gross
profit as a percentage of sales increased 9% from 32% in 1996 to 41% in 1997

         Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by 59% to
$22,262,000  in 1997 from  $13,998,000  in 1996.  The increase in the year ended
December  31, 1997


                                       28
<PAGE>

reflect the costs  incurred in  implementing  the  Company's  strategic  plan to
strengthen  it's  management  team  and   infrastructure,   thereby  laying  the
foundation  for future  growth.  The increase in SG&A is due  primarily to a 67%
increase in payroll,  bonuses and related  expenses  from  $5,010,000 in 1996 to
$8,358,000 in 1997.  Additionally,  the Company  focused its efforts on selling,
advertising,  marketing and designing thus increasing those expenses by 61% from
$4,660,000 in 1996 to $7,517,000  in 1997.  Also,  the increase in the number of
retail  outlets  and  expanded  office  facilities  resulted  in an  increase in
occupancy,   telephone,   utilities,   computer,  legal,  printing/supplies  and
depreciation expenses by 150% from $1,507,000 in 1996 to $3,763,000 in 1997.

         Income from  operations  for 1997 was  $4,626,000  which  represents an
increase of $3,193,000 or 223% over the income from  operations of $1,433,000 in
1996. The net income  increased by 155% to $2,700,000 in 1997 from $1,059,000 in
1996.

WHOLESALE DIVISIONS:

         Sales from the Steve Madden Wholesale  Division  ("Madden  Wholesale"),
accounted for  $38,487,000 or 65% and  $36,464,000 or 80% of total sales in 1997
and 1996, respectively.  Cost of sales as a percentage of sales has decreased by
7%  from  68% in 1996 to 61% in 1997 in  Madden  Wholesale.  Gross  profit  as a
percentage  of sales  increased  7% from  32% in 1996 to 39% in 1997.  Operating
expenses increased by 25%, from $10,675,000 in 1996 to $13,348,000 in 1997. This
increase  is due to an  increase in  advertising  expenses,  payroll and payroll
related  expenses  principally  due  to  the  hiring  of  additional  management
personnel  and an increase in  occupancy  expenses due to  additional  warehouse
space needed for expanding EDI size replenishment inventory.  Operating expenses
have also  increased  due to the  development  of a new line of sneakers and the
hiring  of  additional   personnel  to  facilitate  future  growth  of  footwear
classifications/extensions.  Wholesale income from operations for the year ended
December 31, 1997 was $1,883,000  compared to income from operations of $902,000
for the year ended December 31, 1996.

         Sales  from  the  Diva  Acquisition  Corp.  Wholesale  Division  ("Diva
Wholesale"-acquired April 1, 1996) which markets the "David Aaron" brand name in
footwear  accounted for  $6,447,000 or 11%, and $3,013,000 or 7%, of total sales
in 1997 and 1996, respectively.  Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased
from  26% in 1996 to 37% in  1997.  Operating  expenses  increased  by 92%  from
$1,147,000 in 1996 to $2,207,000 in 1997 due to increases in payroll and payroll
related expenses,  computer,  printing, and depreciation  expenses.  Income from
operations  from Diva was  $154,000  in 1997  compared  to a loss of $375,000 in
1996.

RETAIL DIVISION:

         Sales from the Retail  Division  accounted for  $13,249,000  or 22% and
$3,805,000  or  8% of  total  revenues  in  1997  and  1996,  respectively.  The
comparable  stores sales for the year end  increased 17% over the same period of
1996.  The increase in Retail  Division  sales is


                                       29
<PAGE>

primarily  due to the Company's  opening of retail stores in Roosevelt  Field in
Garden City, NY and Garden State Plaza in Paramus,  NJ, in the fourth quarter of
1996, Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst,  NY and Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta,  GA,
in the second quarter of 1997,  Willowbrook  Mall in Wayne, NJ; Cherry Hill Mall
in Cherry Hill, NJ; Staten Island Mall in Staten Island, NY; Glendale Galeria in
Glendale,  CA and  Montgomery  Mall in Bethesda MD, in the third quarter of 1997
and Southshore Plaza in Braintree,  MA; David Aaron in New York, NY;  Smithhaven
Mall in Lakegrove,  NY; Coconut Grove Mall in Coconut Grove, FL; Broward Mall in
Plantation,  FL;  Valleyfair  Shopping Center in Santa Clara,  CA, in the fourth
quarter of 1997 all of which generated  aggregate sales of $8,782,000.  Selling,
general  and  administrative  expenses  for the  Retail  Division  increased  to
$5,501,000 or 42% of sales in 1997 from $1,385,000 or 36% of sales in 1996. This
increase  is due to  increases  in  payroll  and  related  expenses,  occupancy,
printing,  computer and  depreciation  expenses as a result of opening  thirteen
additional  stores in 1997 and the addition of a retail  warehouse at 43-15 38th
Street,  Long Island City, NY. Income from  operations  from the retail division
was $1,605,000 in 1997 compared to income from operations of $549,000 in 1996.

ADESSO-MADDEN DIVISION:

         Adesso-Madden  , a wholly owned  subsidiary  of the Company,  generated
sales of $1,128,000  in 1997  compared to revenue of  $2,541,000  in 1996.  This
decrease in sales in the year ended December 31, 1997 reflects the change in how
Adesso-Madden  sells its  products  or  services,  the  private  label  business
provides  design and sourcing  services to its customers and records  commission
income.  Adesso-Madden  generated commission revenues of $2,192,000 for the year
ended December 31, 1997 which  represents an increase of $1,241,000 or 130% over
the commission income of $951,000 in 1996.  Operating  expenses increased by 52%
from  $791,000 in 1996 to  $1,206,000  in 1997 due to  increases  in selling and
commission, payroll and payroll related expenses, and telephone expenses. Income
from operations from Adesso-Madden was $984,000 in 1997 compared to an income of
$357,000 in 1996.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

         The Company had working  capital of  $33,627,000  at December  31, 1998
which  represents an increase of  $17,082,000  in working  capital from December
31,1997.

         As of July 9, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company  approved the
redemption of all of the Company's  outstanding  Class B Redeemable Common Stock
Purchase Warrants (the "Class B Warrants). Warrantholders had until the close of
business on August 13, 1998 to exercise  their Class B warrants for the purchase
of shares of  Common  Stock at an  exercise  price of $5.50 per  share.  Class B
Warrants not exercise were redeemed by paying $.05 for each outstanding  Class B
Warrant.  The Company  received net proceeds of $10,826,000 from the exercise of
Class B Warrants and redeemed 15,310 Class B Warrants.


                                       30
<PAGE>

         The  Company's  customers   purchasing  shoes  consist  principally  of
department stores and specialty stores, including shoe boutiques. Presently, the
Company  sells  approximately  sixty percent (60%) of its products to department
stores,  including  Federated  Department  Stores  (Bloomingdales,  Bon  Marche,
Burdines,  Macy's and Rich's),  May Department  Stores  (Famous Barr,  Filene's,
Foley's,  Hecht's,  Kaufmann's,  Meier & Frank and  Robinsons  May),  Dillard's,
Dayton-Hudson  and  Nordstorm  approximately  forty  percent  (40%) to specialty
stores,  including  Journey's,  Wet Seal and The Buckle and  catalog  retailers,
including  Victoria's  Secret and  Fingerhut.  Federated  Department  Stores and
Nordstorm's  presently  account  for  approximately  twenty  percent  (20%)  and
seventeen percent (17%) of the Company's sales, respectively.

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

         During the year ended  December  31, 1998,  cash  provided by operating
activities was $1,054,000.  Uses of cash arose  principally  from an increase in
accounts  receivable  factored of $4,552,000  and an increase in  inventories of
$2,716,000  and a decrease in accrued  bonuses of  $362,000.  Cash was  provided
principally by an increase in accounts  payable and accrued expenses of $386,000
and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets of $717,000.

         The Company has lease  agreements  for  office,  warehouse,  and retail
space,  expiring at various times through 2009.  Future  obligations under these
lease agreements total approximately $30,000,000.

         The Company has employment  agreements with various officers  currently
providing for aggregate annual salaries of approximately $1,327,000,  subject to
annual bonuses and annual  increases as may be determined by the Company's Board
of Directors. In addition, as part of the employment agreements,  the Company is
committed to pay incentive bonuses based on income before interest, depreciation
and taxes to the officers.

         The Company  continues to increase its supply of products  from foreign
manufacturers,  the majority of which are located in Brazil and Mexico. Although
the Company has not entered into long-term  manufacturing  contracts with any of
these  foreign  companies,  the Company  believes  that a  sufficient  number of
alternative  sources exist outside of the United States for the  manufacture  of
its products if current suppliers need to be replaced. In addition,  because the
Company deals with U.S. currency for all transactions and intends to continue to
do so, the Company believes there should be no foreign exchange considerations.

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

         During the year ended  December  31,  1998,  the  Company  used cash of
$4,017,000 to acquire computer equipment and make leasehold  improvements on new
retail  stores,  warehouse  space  and  office  space.  The  Company  also  sold
investment securities resulting in proceeds of $1,492,000.


                                       31
<PAGE>

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

         During  the  year  ended  December  31,  1998,  the  Company   received
$13,345,000 from the exercise of options and warrants.

LICENSE AGREEMENTS

         During  the second  quarter of 1997,  the  Company  entered  into three
license agreements for hosiery,  jewelry and  ready-to-wear,  bringing the total
number of license  agreements to six, including three license agreements entered
into  during the year ended  December  31,  1997 for  handbags,  sunglasses  and
outerwear. The Company added its seventh license, Van Mar, Inc. for Steve Madden
intimates  which  contract  commenced  on April 1,  1998  and the  Company  also
extended its agreement  with CO  International  to include hair  accessories  in
Canada and U.S.A.  due to  requests  from  customers.  The Company is pleased to
announce  that as of January 1, 1999 an affiliate of the Jordache  organization,
will now be the  Company's  jeanswear  and  sportswear  licensee.  The  previous
license agreement with Winer Industries was mutually ended.  Also, in October 1,
1998 the  Company  entered  into a license  agreement  with  Daniel M.  Friedman
Associates, Inc., for belts. Additionally,  our license income increased by 360%
from $129,000 in 1997 to $594,000 in 1998. By December 31, 1998, the Company had
eight license partners covering ten product categories. The Company is exploring
additional licensing opportunities.

         On April 21, 1998 the Company  signed a License  Agreement  with R.S.V.
Sport,  Inc.,  pursuant  to which the  Company  has the right to use the  l.e.i.
trademark in connection with the sale of women and girls footwear. R.S.V. Sport,
Inc.,  is a $130  million  jeanswear  company and is among the most popular jean
brands  for young  women  ages 12 to 20.  This  provides  the  Company  with the
opportunity  to market shoes to a different  customer base than those  customers
presently  targeted by the Steve Madden brand. The line will be offered at lower
retail prices than the Steve Madden brand.

         As of January 1, 1999,  the Company  entered  into a license  agreement
with  Jordache  organization  that will enable the  Company to use the  Jordache
brand name in the mass channels of  distribution,  such as Walmart.  The Company
believes  that this  strategy  will continue to support the growth of its Adesso
Madden subsidiary beginning in the third quarter of 1999.

YEAR 2000

         The Company  recognizes that a challenging  problem exists in that many
computer  systems  worldwide do not have the capability of recognizing  the year
2000 or the years  thereafter.  No easy  technological  "quick fix" has yet been
developed for this problem. The Company is expending  approximately  $200,000 to
assure that its computer  systems are  reprogrammed in time to effectively  deal
with transactions in the year 2000 and beyond. This "year 2000 Computer Problem"
creates  risk for the  Company  from  unforeseen  problems  in its own  computer
systems and from third parties with whom the Company deals. Such failures of


                                       32
<PAGE>

the Company and/or third parties' computer systems could have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its business in the future.


INFLATION

         The Company does not believe that inflation has had a material  adverse
effect on sales or income during the past several  years.  Increases in supplies
or other  operating  costs  could  adversely  affect the  Company's  operations;
however,  the Company  believes it could increase prices to offset  increases in
costs of goods sold or other operating costs.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

         See  financial  statements  following  Item 14 of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.

ITEM 9.  CHANGES  IN  AND  DISAGREEMENT   WITH  ACCOUNTANTS  ON  ACCOUNTING  AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

         None.

                                    PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS,   EXECUTIVE   OFFICERS,   PROMOTERS  AND  CONTROL   PERSONS;
         COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT OF THE REGISTRANT.

         The names  and ages of the  directors  and  executive  officers  of the
Company are set forth below:

NAME                     AGE            POSITION(S) WITH THE COMPANY
- ----                     ---            ----------------------------

Steven Madden            41             Chairman of the Board,  Chief  Executive
                                        Officer and President

Rhonda Brown             43             Chief Operating Officer and Director

Arvind Dharia            49             Chief  Financial  Officer,  Director and
                                        Secretary

John Basile              47             Executive Vice President and Director

Gerald Mongeluzo         58             President of Adesso-Madden, Inc.

Charles Koppelman        58             Director

John L. Madden           51             Director

Peter Migliorini         50             Director

Les Wagner               58             Director


                                       33
<PAGE>

BACKGROUND OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

         STEVEN MADDEN has been since the Company's  inception,  the Chairman of
the Board,  Chief  Executive  Officer and President.  In 1980, Mr. Madden joined
L.J. Simone, a domestic footwear manufacturer,  as an Account Executive. At that
time, L.J.  Simone had annual sales of  approximately  $800,000.  Mr. Madden was
promoted  to  Sales  Manager  and  Director  of  Product   Development  and  was
instrumental  in the  company's  growth to $28  million in annual  sales.  After
leaving  L.J.  Simone in 1988,  Mr.  Madden  joined  M.C.M.  Footwear,  where he
commenced  the design,  development  and  marketing  of the  "Souliers"  line of
footwear for women. In 1990, Mr. Madden founded the Company.

         RHONDA J. BROWN has been the Chief  Operating  Officer  of the  Company
since July 1996 and a director  of the Company  since  November  1996.  Prior to
joining the Company,  Ms. Brown served as President and Chief Executive  Officer
of Icing, Inc. from May 1995 to December 1995.  Previously,  from August 1992 to
December  1994,  Ms.  Brown  served as  Merchandise  President of Macy's East, a
division of R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. From July 1988 to July 1992.  Ms. Brown served
as Senior  Vice-President  and General  Merchandise  Manager to Lord & Taylor, a
division  of the May  Company.  Ms.  Brown  attended  the  American  University,
receiving a BS in Marketing and Public Communications in 1976.

         ARVIND DHARIA has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since
October 1992 and a Director since December 1993. From December 1988 to September
1992, Mr. Dharia was Assistant Controller of Millennium III Real Estate Corp.

         JOHN BASILE has been the Director of  Operations  of the Company  since
June 1994 and a Director of the Company since November 1996.  From 1990 to 1994,
Mr. Basile was Executive  Vice  President of Cougar U.S.A.  responsible  for the
United States  Division of Susan Shoes of Canada.  Previously,  Mr. Basile was a
Sales Manager at Bellini Imports from 1980 to 1990.


                                       34
<PAGE>

         GERALD  MONGELUZO has been President of  Adesso-Madden,  Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company, since September 1995. Previously, Mr. Mongeluzo
was the founder and President of Adesso  Shoes,  Inc., a buying agent of private
label  shoes.  From  1987-1991,  Mr.  Mongeluzo  was the  President of the Prima
Barabaro Division of Cells  Enterprise,  Inc. Mr. Mongeluzo founded Prima Shoes,
Inc., a buying agent of private label shoes,  and served as President  from 1984
to 1987.

         CHARLES  KOPPELMAN  has been a director  of the  Company of the Company
since June 1998. Since February 4, 1998, Mr. Koppelman has been the Chairman and
Chief Executive  Officer of CAK Universal  Credit Corp., a joint venture created
with Prudential Securities to provide financing to the entertainment, sports and
licensing  industries.  From 1988 to 1997, Mr.  Koppelman served as the Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of EMI Capital Music, N.A.

         JOHN L. MADDEN has been a Director of the Company  since the  Company's
inception. From April 1992 until August 1993, Mr. Madden was associated with GKN
Securities,  Inc. as a Senior Account Executive. From August 1993 to April 1994,
Mr.  Madden was  employed  by Biltmore  Securities  as a Managing  Director  and
registered sales representative. From May 1994 to May 1996, Mr. Madden served as
Vice President of  Investments  for GKN  Securities,  Inc. From May 1996 through
December  1996,  Mr. Madden was  associated  with Kenny  Securities,  Inc. As of
January 1997,  Mr. Madden has been  associated  with Merit  Capital,  Corp.  Mr.
Madden is the brother of Steven  Madden,  the  Company's  Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President.

         PETER MIGLIORINI has been a Director of the Company since October 1996.
From 1994 to present, Mr. Migliorini has served as Sales Manager for Greschlers,
Inc., a major supply company  located in Brooklyn,  New York.  From 1987 to 1994
Mr.  Migliorini  served as Director  of  Operations  for  Mackroyce  Group.  Mr.
Migliorini  has  previously  served  in a number  of  capacities,  ranging  from
Assistant  Buyer  to  Chief   Planner/Coordinator  for  several  shoe  companies
including Meldico Shoes, Perry Shoes, and Fasco Shoes.

         LES WAGNER has been a Director of the Company since October 1996.  From
1993 to 1996,  Mr. Wagner served as the President of  Baker/Leeds  Shoe Store, a
Division of Edison  Brothers  Stores,  Inc. Mr. Wagner has served in a number of
other  capacities  for  Baker/Leeds  from 1963 to 1993 which  included,  General
Merchandise Manager from 1989 to 1993; Vice President Real Estate Northeast Area
from 1988 to 1989;  and President,  Gussini  Discount Shoe Division from 1987 to
1988. Mr. Wagner attended Harvard University, completing the Advanced Management
Program (AMP 100). Mr. Wagner performs  consulting services for the Company from
time to time.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  requires  the
Company's  directors and executive  officers,  and persons who own more than ten
percent (10%) of a


                                       35
<PAGE>

registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission  initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in
ownership of common stock and other equity securities of the Company.  Officers,
directors  and  greater  than  ten  percent  shareholders  are  required  by SEC
regulation  to furnish the Company  with copies of all Section  16(a) forms they
file.

         To the Company's knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of
such reports  furnished to the Company  during the year ended December 31, 1998,
all Section 16(a) filing  requirements  applicable to its officers and directors
and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were satisfied.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         Incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive  proxy
statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation  14A under the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.

         Incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive  proxy
statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation  14A under the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

         Incorporated  herein by reference from the Company's  definitive  proxy
statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation  14A under the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934.

                                     PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)(1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                  The  following  consolidated  financial  statements  of Steven
                  Madden, Ltd. and subsidiaries are included in Item 8:

                  Consolidated Balance Sheets--December 31, 1998 and 1997
                  Consolidated  Statements of  Operations--Years  ended December
                  31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
                  Consolidated    Statements   of   Changes   in   Stockholder's
                  Equity--Years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.

                  Notes to Financial Statements.


                                       36
<PAGE>

(a)(2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

                  All  other  schedules  for  which  provision  is  made  in the
                  applicable  accounting   regulations  of  the  Securities  and
                  Exchange   Commission  are  not  required  under  the  related
                  instructions  or are not applicable  and therefore,  have been
                  omitted.

(b)  REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(1) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 18, 1998, Item 5.

(c) EXHIBITS.

EXHIBITS
- --------

3.01**       Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

3.02**       By-Laws of the Company.

4.01*        Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock.

10.01***     Amended Employment Agreement between the Company and Steven Madden,
             as amended.

10.02        Employment Agreement of John Basile.

10.04***     Employment Agreement of Rhonda Brown.

21.01        Subsidiaries of Registrant.

*    Previously  filed  with  and  incorporated  hereby  with  reference  to the
     Registrant's  Registration  Statement  on Form  SB-2  (No.  3367162-NY,  as
     amended, declared effective on December 10, 1994).

**   Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed
     on November 23, 1998 with the Commission.

***  Previously  filed  with  and  incorporated  hereby  with  reference  to the
     Company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1996.




                                       37
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     PAGE
                                                                                                     ----
<S>                                                                                                  <C>
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   Independent auditors' report                                                                       F-2

   Balance sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997                                                    F-3

   Statements of operations for the years ended December 31 1998, 1997 and 1996                       F-4

   Statements of changes in stockholders' equity for the years ended December 31, 1998,
      1997 and 1996                                                                                   F-5

   Statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996                      F-6

   Notes to financial statements                                                                      F-7
</TABLE>


                                                    F-1



<PAGE>


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Steven Madden, Ltd.
New York, New York


We have audited the accompanying  consolidated  balance sheets of Steven Madden,
Ltd.  and  subsidiaries  as of  December  31,  1998,  and 1997,  and the related
consolidated statements of operations,  changes in stockholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1998.
These financial  statements are the responsibility of the Company's  management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based
on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements enumerated above present fairly, in all
material respects,  the consolidated  financial position of Steven Madden,  Ltd.
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the consolidated  results
of their operations and their  consolidated  cash flows for each of the years in
the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1998 in  conformity  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.



Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP

New York, New York
February 19, 1999


                                       F-2
<PAGE>



STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                                            ----------------------------
                                                                                1998            1997
                                                                            ------------    ------------
<S>                                                                          <C>              <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                $ 14,642,000    $  3,887,000
   Investments                                                                   499,000       1,991,000
   Accounts receivable - net of allowances of $462,000  and $351,000             924,000       1,127,000
   Due from factor - net of allowances of $351,000  and $335,000               9,357,000       4,821,000
   Inventories                                                                 7,971,000       5,081,000
   Prepaid advertising                                                           896,000         441,000
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                   2,091,000       2,322,000
   Deferred taxes                                                                534,000
                                                                            ------------    ------------

        Total current assets                                                  36,914,000      19,670,000

Property and equipment, net                                                    8,991,000       5,931,000
Prepaid advertising, less current portion                                                      1,041,000
Deferred taxes                                                                   293,000         401,000
Deposits and other                                                               247,000         258,000
Cost in excess of fair value of net assets acquired - net of accumulated
   amortization of $297,000  and $170,000                                      2,483,000       1,976,000
                                                                            ------------    ------------

                                                                            $ 48,928,000    $ 29,277,000
                                                                            ============    ============
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
   Current portion of lease payable                                         $    106,000    $    105,000
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                       2,950,000       2,427,000
   Accrued bonuses                                                               231,000         593,000
                                                                            ------------    ------------

        Total current liabilities                                              3,287,000       3,125,000

Deferred rent                                                                    385,000
Lease payable, less current portion                                              296,000         359,000
                                                                            ------------    ------------

                                                                               3,968,000       3,484,000
                                                                            ------------    ------------
Commitments, contingencies and other (Note I)

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (NOTE D)
Common stock - $.0001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized, 10,940,643
   and 8,429,073 shares issued and outstanding                                     1,000           1,000
Additional paid-in capital                                                    36,601,000      21,721,000
Retained earnings                                                             11,256,000       5,809,000
Unearned compensation                                                         (1,661,000)     (1,281,000)
Treasury stock at cost - 270,204 and 101,800 shares                           (1,237,000)       (457,000)
                                                                            ------------    ------------
                                                                              44,960,000      25,793,000
                                                                            ------------    ------------
                                                                            $ 48,928,000    $ 29,277,000
                                                                            ============    ============


                      SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
</TABLE>

                                                   F-3

<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                       --------------------------------------------
                                                           1998            1997            1996
                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>             <C>        
Net sales                                              $ 85,783,000    $ 59,311,000    $ 45,823,000
Cost of sales                                            49,893,000      34,744,000      31,343,000
                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------

Gross profit                                             35,890,000      24,567,000      14,480,000
Commission and licensing fee income                       3,273,000       2,321,000         951,000
Operating expenses                                      (29,949,000)    (22,262,000)    (13,998,000)
                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------

Income from operations                                    9,214,000       4,626,000       1,433,000

Other income (expenses):
   Interest income                                          380,000         312,000         322,000
   Interest expense                                        (235,000)       (339,000)       (162,000)
                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------

Income before provision for income taxes                  9,359,000       4,599,000       1,593,000
Provision for income taxes                                3,912,000       1,899,000         534,000
                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------

NET INCOME                                             $  5,447,000    $  2,700,000    $  1,059,000
                                                       ============    ============    ============

BASIC INCOME PER SHARE                                 $       0.58    $       0.33    $       0.14
                                                       ============    ============    ============

DILUTED INCOME PER SHARE                               $       0.50    $       0.30    $       0.13
                                                       ============    ============    ============

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC
   INCOME PER SHARE                                       9,436,798       8,064,604       7,689,848
EFFECT OF POTENTIAL COMMON SHARES FROM EXERCISE OF
   OPTIONS AND WARRANTS                                   1,546,303         848,462         737,232
                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING - DILUTED
   INCOME PER SHARE                                      10,983,101       8,913,066       8,427,080
                                                       ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

                                  SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


                                                 F-4
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           COMMON STOCK           ADDITIONAL                                    
                                                      ----------------------       PAID-IN          RETAINED          UNEARNED  
                                                        SHARES       AMOUNT        CAPITAL          EARNINGS        COMPENSATION
                                                      ---------     --------    ------------      -----------      -------------
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>         <C>               <C>              <C>          
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1995                           6,415,776     $  1,000    $ 11,179,000      $ 2,050,000      $  (464,000) 
Exercise of stock options and warrants                1,417,818                    6,342,000                                    
Common stock purchased for treasury                                                                                             
Costs incurred in connection with registration                                       (40,000)                                   
Tax benefit from exercise of options                                                 288,000                                    
Net income                                                                                          1,059,000                   
Amortization of unearned compensation                                                                                  144,000  
                                                      ---------     --------    ------------      -----------      -----------  

BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1996                           7,833,594        1,000      17,769,000        3,109,000         (320,000) 
Exercise of stock options                               487,000                    1,339,000                                    
Common stock issued in  connection  
with  purchase of subsidiary                            108,479                      809,000                                    
Compensation in connection with                                     
issuance of stock options                                                             39,000
Tax benefit from exercise of options                                                 420,000                                    
Net income                                                                                          2,700,000                   
Unearned compensation relating  
to issuance of stock options                                                       1,345,000                        (1,345,000) 
Amortization of unearned compensation                                                                                  384,000  
                                                      ---------     --------    ------------      -----------      -----------  

BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1997                           8,429,073        1,000      21,721,000        5,809,000       (1,281,000) 
Exercise of stock options,  
units and warrants net of costs of $60,000            2,447,050                   13,345,000                                    
Common stock issued in connection with acquisition       64,520                      667,000                                    
Compensation  in connection with issuance of stock
options to consultant                                                                 14,000                                    
Tax benefit from exercise of options                                                 198,000                                    
Net income                                                                                          5,447,000                   
Unearned  compensation  relating        
to issuance of stock options                                                         656,000                          (656,000) 
Amortization of unearned compensation                                                                                  276,000  
Common stock purchased for treasury                                                                                             
                                                     ----------     --------    ------------      -----------      -----------  

BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1998                          10,940,643     $  1,000    $ 36,601,000      $11,256,000      $(1,661,000) 
                                                     ==========     ========    ============      ===========      ===========  
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           TREASURY STOCK               TOTAL     
                                                        --------------------        STOCKHOLDERS' 
                                                        SHARES       AMOUNT            EQUITY     
                                                        ------     -----------      ------------  
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>              <C>           
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1995                                                         $ 12,766,000  
Exercise of stock options and warrants                                                 6,342,000  
Common stock purchased for treasury                    101,800     $  (457,000)         (457,000) 
Costs incurred in connection with registration                                           (40,000) 
Tax benefit from exercise of options                                                     288,000  
Net income                                                                             1,059,000  
Amortization of unearned compensation                                                    144,000  
                                                       -------     -----------      ------------  

BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1996                            101,800        (457,000)       20,102,000  
Exercise of stock options                                                              1,339,000  
Common stock issued in  connection
with purchase of subsidiary                                                              809,000  
Compensation  in connection with
issuance of stock options                                                                 39,000  
Tax benefit from exercise of options                                                     420,000  
Net income                                                                             2,700,000  
Unearned  compensation  relating
to issuance of stock options                                                                   0  
Amortization of unearned compensation                                                    384,000  
                                                       -------     -----------      ------------  

BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1997                            101,800        (457,000)       25,793,000  
Exercise of stock options,  units and warrants net                                                
of costs of $60,000                                                                   13,345,000  
Common stock issued in connection with acquisition                                       667,000  
Compensation  in connection
with issuance of stock options to consultant                                              14,000  
Tax benefit from exercise of options                                                     198,000  
Net income                                                                             5,447,000  
Unearned compensation relating
to issuance of stock options                                                                   0
Amortization of unearned compensation                                                    276,000  
Common stock purchased for treasury                    168,404        (780,000)         (780,000) 
                                                       -------     -----------      ------------  

BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1998                            270,204     $(1,237,000)     $ 44,960,000  
                                                       =======     ===========      ============  
</TABLE>

                                               F-5
<PAGE>
STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                       -------------------------------------------
                                                                           1998           1997            1996
                                                                       ------------   ------------   -------------
<S>                                                                    <C>            <C>              <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net income                                                          $  5,447,000   $  2,700,000     $ 1,059,000
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by          
      (used in) operating activities:                                   
        Options issued for consulting services                               14,000         39,000
        Depreciation and amortization                                     1,357,000        774,000         368,000
        Deferred taxes                                                     (426,000)        50,000        (233,000)
        Deferred compensation                                               276,000        384,000         144,000
        Tax benefit from exercise of options                                198,000        420,000         288,000
        Provision for doubtful accounts and chargebacks                     228,000        664,000         675,000
        Deferred rent expense                                               385,000                        (36,000)
        Changes, net of acquisitions, in:                               
           Accounts receivable                                               (9,000)    (1,269,000)        365,000
           Due from factor                                               (4,552,000)        41,000        (876,000)
           Inventories                                                   (2,716,000)    (2,324,000)     (1,381,000)
           Prepaid expenses and other assets                                717,000       (680,000)       (199,000)
           Accounts payable and accrued expenses                            386,000      1,144,000         280,000
           Accrued bonuses                                                 (362,000)       160,000        (163,000)
           Other current liabilities                                                       303,000         (11,000)
           Tax liability                                                    111,000         (1,000)     (1,154,000)
                                                                       ------------   ------------   -------------
             Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities          1,054,000      2,405,000        (874,000)
                                                                       ------------   ------------   -------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Purchase of property and equipment                                    (4,017,000)    (3,686,000)     (1,180,000)
   Acquisition of lease rights                                             (242,000)      (235,000)       (200,000)
   Acquisition of subsidiary                                                                            (1,076,000)
   Repayment of debt assumed in acquisition                                                               (476,000)
   Purchases of investment securities                                      (499,000)    (1,991,000)
   Maturity of investment securities                                      1,991,000

   Payments in connection with acquisition of business                      (35,000)
                                                                       ------------   ------------   -------------
             Net cash used in investing activities                       (2,802,000)    (5,912,000)     (2,932,000)
                                                                       ------------   ------------   -------------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Proceeds from options, units and warrants exercised - net             13,345,000      1,339,000       6,302,000
   Purchase of treasury stock                                              (780,000)                      (457,000)
   Payments of lease obligations                                            (62,000)       (96,000)        (11,000)
                                                                       ------------   --------------   -----------
             Net cash provided by financing activities                   12,503,000      1,243,000       5,834,000
                                                                       ------------   --------------   -----------

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                     10,755,000     (2,264,000)      2,028,000
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year                             3,887,000      6,151,000       4,123,000
                                                                       ------------   --------------   -----------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF YEAR                                $ 14,642,000   $  3,887,000     $ 6,151,000
                                                                       ============   ==============   ===========

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH INVESTING AND
   FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
      Acquisition of leased assets                                                    $    358,000     $   194,000
      Note issued in connection with acquisition                                                       $   645,000
      Common stock issued in payment of acquisition note and
        additional acquisition cost                                                   $    809,000
      Common stock issued in connection with acquisition               $    667,000

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
   Cash paid during the year for:
      Interest                                                         $    235,000   $    339,000     $   162,000
      Income taxes                                                     $  3,902,000   $  1,351,000     $ 1,116,000
</TABLE>

                                SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                               F-6
<PAGE>


STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

[1]    ORGANIZATION:

       Steven Madden, Ltd. was incorporated on July 9, 1990, in the state of New
       York and  reincorporated  in the state of Delaware on November  10, 1998.
       The  Company  is  engaged   primarily  in  the  business  of   designing,
       wholesaling   and  retailing   women's  shoes.   Revenues  are  generated
       predominately  through the sale of the Company's brand name  merchandise.
       See Note J for operating segment information.

[2]    PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION:

       The  consolidated  financial  statements  include the  accounts of Steven
       Madden, Ltd. and its wholly owned subsidiaries  (collectively referred to
       as the "Company"). All significant intercompany balances and transactions
       have been eliminated.

[3]    USE OF ESTIMATES:

       The  preparation  of financial  statements in conformity  with  generally
       accepted accounting  principles requires management to make estimates and
       assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and  liabilities
       and  disclosure of contingent  assets and  liabilities at the date of the
       financial  statements  and the reported  amounts of revenues and expenses
       during the  reporting  period.  Actual  results  could  differ from those
       estimates.

[4]    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:

       Cash  equivalents  at  December  31,  1998,   amounted  to  approximately
       $9,592,000 and consist of money market funds, certificates of deposit and
       commercial  paper.  The Company  considers all highly liquid  instruments
       with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

[5]    INVESTMENTS:

       Investments,  which are to be held to  maturity,  are stated at amortized
       cost which approximates  market value and consist primarily of government
       securities and corporate  commercial  paper with  maturities of less than
       one year.

[6]    INVENTORIES:

       Inventories,  which consist of finished goods, are stated at the lower of
       cost (first-in, first-out method) or market.

[7]    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

       Property  and  equipment  are stated at cost.  Depreciation  is  computed
       utilizing  the  straight-line  method  based on  estimated  useful  lives
       ranging  from five to ten years.  Leasehold  improvements  are  amortized
       utilizing the  straight-line  method over the shorter of their  estimated
       useful lives or the lease term.  Depreciation  and  amortization  include
       amounts relating to property and equipment under capital leases.

       Impairment losses are recognized for long-lived assets, including certain
       intangibles, used in operations when indicators of impairment are present
       and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets
       are not sufficient to recover the assets' carrying amount. The impairment
       loss is  measured  by  comparing  the  fair  value of the  assets  to its
       carrying amount.


                                       F-7
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  (CONTINUED)

[8]    COST IN EXCESS OF FAIR VALUE OF NET ASSETS ACQUIRED:

       Cost in  excess  of fair  value of net  assets  acquired  relates  to the
       acquisitions of Diva International,  Inc. and Daniel Scott, Inc. (Note B)
       and is being amortized over 20 years.

[9]    NET INCOME PER SHARE:

       Basic income per share is based on the weighted  average number of common
       shares outstanding during the year. Diluted income per share reflects the
       potential  dilution  assuming common shares were issued upon the exercise
       of outstanding options and warrants and the proceeds thereof were used to
       purchase outstanding common shares.

[10]   ADVERTISING COSTS:

       The Company expenses costs of print,  radio and billboard  advertisements
       as of the first date the advertisements  take place.  Advertising expense
       included in operating expenses amounted to $2,515,000 in 1998, $1,698,000
       in 1997 and $1,024,000 in 1996. Prepaid  advertising at December 31, 1998
       and 1997 includes barter credits  received in exchange for merchandise in
       a prior year.  The Company  intends to utilize the  remaining  credits in
       1999.

[11]   FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

       The carrying  value of the Company's  financial  instruments  approximate
       fair value due to their short term nature or their underlying terms.

[12]   STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION:

       The  Company  has  elected to  continue  to account  for its  stock-based
       compensation  plans  using  the  intrinsic  value  method  prescribed  by
       Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 25 ("APB No. 25"),  "Accounting
       for Stock  Issued to  Employees".  Under the  provisions  of APB No.  25,
       compensation  arising from the grant of stock  options is measured as the
       excess,  if any, of the quoted market price of the Company's common stock
       at the date of the grant over the amount an employee  must pay to acquire
       the stock.


NOTE B - ACQUISITIONS

         On May 1, 1998, the Company  purchased  certain assets from and assumed
certain  liabilities  of Daniel  Scott,  Inc.  which  operated two retail outlet
stores  under the name Shoe Biz  located in Mineola  and Garden  City,  N.Y.  in
exchange for 64,520 shares of common stock.  The  acquisition  was recorded at a
total cost of  approximately  $703,000,  including  related  expenses,  of which
$635,000 was allocated to cost in excess of fair value of the  identifiable  net
assets   acquired.   The  acquisition  was  accounted  for  as  a  purchase  and
accordingly,  the results of operations of the acquired  entity were included in
the consolidated statements of operations from the date of acquisition.  The pro
forma results for 1998 and 1997,  assuming this acquisition had been made at the
beginning of 1997, would not be materially different from reported results.


                                      F-8
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE B - ACQUISITIONS  (CONTINUED)

On April 1, 1996, the Company acquired all the outstanding  common stock of Diva
International,  Inc., which designs and markets women's footwear under the David
Aaron name. The purchase price  consisted of an initial payment of $1,000,000 in
cash and a note of $644,839, as adjusted,  payable within one year. In 1997, the
Company  issued  108,479 common shares valued at $809,000 in payment of the note
and as an adjustment of the purchase price. The transaction was accounted for as
a purchase.  The pro forma results for 1996 assuming this  acquisition  had been
made at the  beginning  of such year,  would not be  materially  different  from
reported results.


NOTE C - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The major classes of assets and accumulated depreciation and amortization are as
follows:

                                                            DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                        1998           1997
                                                    ------------   ------------
   Leasehold improvements                           $  8,196,000   $  4,660,000
   Machinery and equipment                               474,000        323,000
   Furniture and fixtures                                710,000        325,000
   Computer equipment                                  1,636,000      1,419,000
   Equipment under capital lease                         217,000        217,000
                                                    ------------   ------------

                                                      11,233,000      6,944,000
   Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (2,242,000)    (1,013,000)
                                                    ------------   ------------

   Property and equipment - net                     $  8,991,000   $  5,931,000
                                                    ============   ============

NOTE D - DUE FROM FACTOR

Under the terms of a factoring agreement,  the Company may request advances from
the factor up to 80 percent of aggregate  receivables purchased by the factor at
an interest rate of prime minus 1%. The Company also pays a fee equal to .70% of
the gross invoice amount of each receivable purchased.  In addition,  the factor
charges an annual unused line fee of .25% of the average daily unused portion of
the maximum  credit line which is  $15,000,000.  The Company sells and assigns a
substantial  portion of its receivables,  principally  without recourse,  to the
factor.  The factor assumes the credit risk to all assigned accounts approved by
it, but maintains liens on all trade  receivables  (whether or not assigned) and
the goods  represented  thereby.  These  transfers  are  recognized  as sales of
receivables.


                                      F-9
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE E - STOCK OPTIONS

Through  1998,  the Company  established  various stock option plans under which
options  to  purchase  shares  of  common  stock may be  granted  to  employees,
directors,  officers, agents, consultants and independent contractors. The plans
provide  that the option  price shall not be less than the fair market  value of
the  common  stock on the date of grant and that no portion of the option may be
exercised  beyond ten years from that date.  No  incentive  stock  option can be
granted  for more than five  years to a  stockholder  owning  10% or more of the
Company's  outstanding common stock.  Options granted under the plans during the
three years ended  December  31, 1998 vest on date of grant or up to three years
from such date.  Through  December  31,  1998,  options had been granted for the
maximum number of shares for which options were available under the plans and as
of such date no shares were  available for the granting of future  options under
the plans.



                                      F-10

<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE E - STOCK OPTIONS  (CONTINUED)

In addition to options granted under the stock options plans, in March 1995, the
Company  issued  options to purchase  1,000,000  shares of its common stock to a
company wholly owned by the Company's  President,  Chief Executive Officer and a
stockholder.  The options were  subsequently  transferred to the President.  The
options  which are fully  exercisable,  have an  exercise  price of $1.75 and an
exercise period of 10 years. Unearned compensation was recorded in the amount of
$575,000,  which  represented the difference  between the exercise price and the
fair value of the stock on the date of grant,  and is  classified as a component
of stockholders' equity. The unearned compensation was being amortized over four
years, however, there was no net charge to earnings since the amount which would
otherwise have been recorded as compensation  reduced the President's  bonus. If
such  bonus was not  sufficient  to offset the  amortization  in any of the four
years,  the  President was required to pay to the Company an amount equal to the
shortage.  The  unamortized  portion  was  charged  to  operations  in  1997  in
connection with the President's amended employment agreement.

In connection with the amended employment agreement, in 1997, the Company issued
the  President  options to  purchase  500,000  shares of its common  stock.  The
options,  which  vested in August 1998,  have an exercise  price of $3.31 and an
exercise period of 10 years. Unearned compensation was recorded in the amount of
$1,345,000  which  represents the difference  between the exercise price and the
fair value of the stock on the date of grant,  and is  classified as a component
of stockholders'  equity. The unearned  compensation is being amortized over the
ten year term of the amended agreement.

The Company issued options to purchase  1,500,000  shares of its common stock to
its  President in 1995 with an exercise  price of $7.00 (market price on date of
grant) and an  exercise  period of 10 years.  The  options  were to have  vested
equally over a period of three years beginning January 1, 1997. Subsequently, in
January 1996, these options were returned to the Company and canceled.

Activity  relating to stock  options  during the three years ended  December 31,
1998, including the options described in Note I[1], follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               1998                     1997                   1996
                                   -------------------------    --------------------  -----------------------
                                     NUMBER       AVERAGE       NUMBER      AVERAGE      NUMBER      AVERAGE
                                       OF         EXERCISE        OF        EXERCISE        OF       EXERCISE
                                     SHARES        PRICE        SHARES       PRICE       SHARES       PRICE
                                   ----------     --------    ---------   ----------  ----------     --------
<S>                                 <C>           <C>         <C>            <C>       <C>             <C>  
Outstanding at January 1            2,300,000     $  4.54     1,718,000      $ 3.93    2,963,000       $5.06
Granted                             1,070,000        7.07     1,153,000        4.70      510,000        5.86
Exercised                            (222,000)       5.55      (487,000)       2.75     (165,000)       2.37
Cancelled                            (180,000)       7.44       (84,000)       4.67   (1,590,000)       6.80
                                   ----------                 ---------               ----------

Outstanding at December 31          2,968,000        5.16     2,300,000        4.54    1,718,000        3.93
                                   ==========                 =========               ==========

Shares exercisable                  2,530,000        4.79     1,297,000        4.53    1,718,000        3.93
                                   ==========                 =========                =========
</TABLE>


                                                     F-11
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE E - STOCK OPTIONS  (CONTINUED)

The following table summarizes  information  about stock options to employees at
December 31, 1998:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 OPTIONS OUTSTANDING                   OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
                                     -----------------------------------------      ------------------------
                                                       WEIGHTED
                                                       AVERAGE
                                                      REMAINING       WEIGHTED                      WEIGHTED
                                                     CONTRACTUAL       AVERAGE                       AVERAGE
                                       NUMBER            LIFE         EXERCISE        NUMBER        EXERCISE
       RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICE       OUTSTANDING      (IN YEARS)        PRICE       EXERCISABLE       PRICE
       -----------------------       -----------     ------------     --------      -----------     --------
       <S>                            <C>                 <C>         <C>            <C>              <C>
       $1.50 to $3.50                 1,045,000           7.3         $  2.55        1,045,000        $2.55
       $5.50 to $6.00                 1,120,000           8.8            5.73          894,000         5.67
       $6.50 to $7.97                   693,000           9.4            7.46          591,000         7.43
       $9.13 to $10.25                  110,000           9.4            9.74
                                     ----------                                      ---------

                                      2,968,000                          5.16        2,530,000         4.79
                                     ==========                                      =========
</TABLE>

As set forth in Note A[10], the Company applies APB No. 25 in accounting for its
stock option incentive plans and, accordingly,  recognizes  compensation expense
for the difference between the fair value of the underlying common stock and the
grant price of the option at the date of grant. Pro forma information  regarding
net  income  and  earnings  per share is  required  by  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting   Standards  No.  123  ("SFAS  123")   "Accounting   for  Stock-Based
Compensation"  and has been  determined  as if the Company had accounted for its
employee  stock  options  under the fair value  method of SFAS 123. The weighted
average fair value of options granted in 1998,  1997 and 1996 was  approximately
$4.57, $3.25 and $3.06, respectively.  The following pro forma information gives
effect  to the  fair  value  of the  options  on the  date of  grant  using  the
Black-Scholes  option-pricing  model with the  following  assumptions:  dividend
yield of 0%,  volatility  of 79% for 1998,  56% for 1997 and 73% for 1996,  risk
free interest rates of 4.22% - 5.57% for 1998,  5.80% - 6.17% for 1997 and 5.98%
- - 6.82% for 1996,  and expected  life of 3 to 5 years for 1998, 3 to 5 years for
1997 and 1 1/2 to 5 years for 1996. For purposes of pro forma  disclosures,  the
estimated  fair value of the options is  amortized  to expense  over the options
vesting period.  Substantially all options granted in 1998, 1997 and 1996 vested
on date of grant, and accordingly, the estimated fair value of such options were
charged to expense in the year of grant for pro forma disclosures. The Company's
pro forma information follows:

                                      1998            1997            1996
                                      ----            ----            ----
    Net income:
       As reported                  $5,447,000     $2,700,000     $1,059,000
       Pro forma                    $2,619,000     $  504,000     $  135,000
    Basic income per share:
       As reported                     $.58           $.33           $.14
       Pro forma                       $.28           $.06           $.02
    Diluted income per share:
       As reported                     $.50           $.30           $.13
       Pro forma                       $.24           $.06           $.02




                                      F-12
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE F - WARRANTS

The Company issued  1,252,818  shares of its common stock in 1996 resulting from
the exercise of Class A warrants. In connection therewith,  the Company received
proceeds of approximately $5,950,000.

In  connection  with the initial  public  offering,  the Company  granted to the
underwriter an option to purchase an aggregate of 150,000 units  exercisable for
four years  commencing  December 10, 1995 (one year after the effective date) at
an exercise  price of $5.80 per unit.  Each unit consists of one share of common
stock,  one  Class A warrant  and one Class B  warrant.  During  the year  ended
December  31,  1998  120,000  units were  exercised  and the Class A and Class B
warrants issued in connection with the units were also exercised.  In connection
therewith, the Company received proceeds of $1,926,000. As of December 31, 1998,
30,000 units remain outstanding and expire on December 9, 1999.

During July 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company  approved the redemption
of all of the Company's outstanding Class B warrants.  Warrant holders had until
the close of business on August 13, 1998 to exercise  their Class B warrants for
the purchase of shares of common stock at an exercise  price of $5.50 per share.
Unexercised Class B warrants were redeemable on August 14, 1998 at $.05 for each
outstanding  Class B warrant.  The Company issued 1,859,690 shares of its common
stock  resulting from the exercise of Class B warrants and received  proceeds of
approximately  $10,228,000.  The Company  redeemed  15,310  Class B warrants not
exercised.

The Company also had  outstanding  150,000 Class C warrants issued in connection
with a bridge  financing  which  entitled  the holder to  purchase  one share of
common  stock at a price of $15.00  per share.  The Class C warrants  expired on
December 10, 1998.


NOTE G - LEASES

[1]    CAPITAL LEASES:

       The Company leases certain equipment under capital leases. Future minimum
       lease payments consist of the following:

            1999                                                    $ 145,000
            2000                                                      144,000
            2001                                                      136,000
            2002                                                       43,000
            2003                                                        4,000
                                                                    ---------

            Total minimum lease payments                              472,000
            Less amounts representing interest                         70,000
                                                                    ---------

            Present value of minimum lease payments                   402,000
            Less current maturities                                   106,000
                                                                    ---------

            Capital lease obligation, less current maturities       $ 296,000
                                                                    =========


                                      F-13
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE G - LEASES  (CONTINUED)

[1]    OPERATING LEASES:

       The Company  leases  office,  showroom,  warehouse and retail  facilities
       under noncancelable operating leases with terms expiring at various times
       through 2009.  Future minimum  annual lease payments under  noncancelable
       operating leases consist of the following at December 31, 1998:

                 1999                             $  3,521,000
                 2000                                3,224,000
                 2001                                3,274,000
                 2002                                3,235,000
                 2003                                3,011,000
                 Thereafter                         10,806,000
                                                  ------------

                                                  $ 27,071,000
                                                  ============

       A majority  of the retail  store  leases  provide for  contingent  rental
       payments if gross sales exceed certain targets. In addition,  many of the
       leases  contain rent  escalation  clauses to compensate  for increases in
       operating  costs and real estate taxes.  Rent expense for the years ended
       December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 was approximately $3,561,000, $1,434,000
       and $626,000, respectively. Included in such amounts are contingent rents
       of $82,000 and $85,000 in 1998 and 1997, respectively.


NOTE H - INCOME TAXES

The income tax provision consists of the following:

                                 1998            1997         1996
                              ----------    -------------  ---------
        Current:
           Federal            $3,211,000     $1,318,000    $ 510,000
           State and city      1,127,000        531,000      257,000
                              ----------    -----------    ---------

                               4,338,000      1,849,000      767,000
                              ----------    -----------    ---------

        Deferred:
           Federal              (346,000)       (16,000)    (101,000)
           State and city        (80,000)        66,000     (132,000)
                              ----------    -----------    ---------

                                (426,000)        50,000     (233,000)
                              ----------    -----------    ---------

                              $3,912,000    $ 1,899,000    $ 534,000
                              ==========    ===========    =========



                                      F-14
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE H - INCOME TAXES  (CONTINUED)

A  reconciliation  between taxes computed at the federal  statutory rate and the
effective tax rate is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                                                ---------------------------
                                                                1998       1997       1996
                                                                ----       ----       ----
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>        <C>  
   Income taxes at federal statutory rate                       34.0%      34.0%      34.0%
   State income taxes - net of federal income tax benefit        7.9        7.7        5.9
   Nondeductible items                                            .1        3.7        1.6
   Net operating loss carryforward benefit                                  (.4)      (4.6)
   Other                                                         (.1)      (3.8)      (3.4)
                                                                ----       ----       ----
   Effective rate                                               41.9%      41.2%      33.5%
                                                                ====       ====       ====
</TABLE>

The Company applies the liability  method in accounting for income taxes.  Under
this  method,  deferred  tax  assets and  liabilities  are  determined  based on
differences  between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities
and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in
effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

                                                           DECEMBER 31,
                                                   -------------------------
                                                       1998          1997
                                                   -----------   -----------
      Deferred tax liabilities:
         Accelerated depreciation                                $   (94,000)
      Deferred tax assets:
         Depreciation                              $    43,000
         Accounts receivable allowances                333,000       356,000
         Capitalization of inventory                   201,000       139,000
         Deferred compensation                          94,000
         Deferred rent                                 156,000
                                                   -----------   -----------

      Net deferred tax asset                       $   827,000   $   401,000
                                                   ===========   ===========

NOTE I - COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER

[1]    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS:

       The  Company  has  an  employment   agreement  with  its  President/Chief
       Executive  Officer  which was  amended  in July  1997 to extend  the term
       through  December  2007.  The  employment  agreement  provides for salary
       commitments  of $3,706,000  over the next nine years.  Additionally,  the
       agreement  provides for a discretionary  bonus in cash,  capital stock or
       other  property as the board may determine  from time to time.  The prior
       agreement provided for a bonus plan based on graduated rates at specified
       levels of net revenue.  The bonus was payable in cash or in the Company's
       stock at the  option of the  officer.  Bonus  payable  in stock was to be
       based on 2/3 of the market price on the date of election. Bonuses payable
       for the years ended  December 31, 1997 and 1996 have each been reduced by
       approximately  $144,000 for the amortization of the unearned compensation
       discussed in Note E.


                                      F-15
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE I - COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER  (CONTINUED)

[1]    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS:  (CONTINUED)

       During  1997 and  1998,  the  Company  entered  into  three and four year
       employment agreements with various executives which provide for aggregate
       annual  salaries of  $1,210,000,  subject to  increases.  With respect to
       certain  executives,  the  agreements  provide  for  bonuses  based  upon
       earnings,  as defined.  In  connection  with one  agreement,  the Company
       granted  options  to one  executive  to  purchase  250,000  shares of the
       Company's  common stock at $7.50 per share. The market value of the stock
       at the  date of  grant  was  $10.125  per  share.  The  Company  recorded
       approximately $656,000 as unearned compensation relating to such options,
       of which approximately $148,000 was charged to operations during the year
       ended December 31, 1998.

[2]    LETTERS OF CREDIT:

       At December  31,  1998,  the  Company had open  letters of credit for the
       purchase of imported inventories of approximately $3,565,000.

[3]    PENDING LITIGATION:

       On or about March 13, 1998,  the Company and Stav Efrat were sued by Ooga
       Associated  Corp.  ("Ooga"),  a design and  construction  firm previously
       engaged by the Company to design and  construct  certain of the Company's
       retail shoe stores. In this action, which is pending in the Supreme Court
       of New York,  County of New York, Ooga  principally  alleges that (i) the
       Company  breached an oral  contract  pursuant to which it engaged Ooga to
       exclusively  design and build the Company's retail shoe stores,  (ii) the
       Company induced Mr. Efrat, an officer and director of Ooga, to breach his
       fiduciary duties to Ooga by improperly employing his services,  and (iii)
       the Company  misappropriated  Ooga's trade secrets by impermissibly using
       store  designs and concepts  owned by Ooga.  In its  lawsuit,  Ooga seeks
       damages consisting of amounts based on its prospective earnings under the
       alleged  oral  contract  with the Company,  its lost  earnings on certain
       projects  it claims to have  abandoned  or  forgone  in  reliance  on the
       alleged oral contract  with the Company,  and on the value of the designs
       and concepts  allegedly  misappropriated by the Company and also seeks an
       injunction  prohibiting  the Company from using  Ooga's  designs or other
       proprietary information, from employing any Ooga employees or interfering
       with Ooga's contractual  relationships with its customers. On October 22,
       1998, the Court orally  dismissed Ooga's breach of contract claims and on
       January 7, 1999,  the Court  suspended the action based on the failure of
       Ooga to be  present  for a  mandatory  court  conference.  The  action is
       subject  to being  revived  upon  application  by Ooga  within a one year
       period.  The Company  believes that Ooga's claims are completely  without
       merit, and intends to vigorously contest its lawsuit.

[4]    LITIGATION SETTLEMENT:

       In  December  1998,  the  complaint  brought by former  officers  of Diva
       International, Inc. against the Company was settled for a nominal amount.


                                      F-16
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE I - COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER  (CONTINUED)

[5]    CONCENTRATIONS:

       The  Company  maintains  cash and cash  equivalents  with  various  major
       financial  institutions  which  at  times  are in  excess  of the  amount
       insured.

       During  the  year  ended  December  31,  1998,   the  Company   purchased
       approximately  41% of their  inventory  from two  suppliers in Brazil and
       Mexico. Purchases are made in United States dollars.

       Sales to one customer  represented  approximately 13%, 11% and 17% of net
       sales and amounts  receivable at year end from such customer  represented
       11%,  13%  and  28% of  accounts  receivable  in  1998,  1997  and  1996,
       respectively.  Sales  to such  customer  are  included  in the  wholesale
       segment (see Note J).

[6]    VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS:

       The following is a summary of the allowance for doubtful accounts related
       to accounts  receivable  and  allowance  for  chargebacks  related to the
       amount due from factor for the years ended  December 31,  1998,  1997 and
       1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1998         1997         1996
                                                                   ---------    ---------    ---------
<S>                                                                <C>          <C>          <C>      
      Balance at beginning of year                                 $ 686,000    $ 325,000    $ 161,000
      Charged to expense                                             228,000      664,000      675,000
      Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries         (101,000)    (303,000)    (511,000)
                                                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

      Balance at end of year                                       $ 813,000    $ 686,000    $ 325,000
                                                                   =========    =========    =========
</TABLE>


NOTE J - OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION

The  Company's  reportable  segments  are  primarily  based on  methods  used to
distribute its products.  The wholesale and retail segments derive revenues from
sales of women's footwear.  The wholesale  segment,  through sales to department
and specialty stores, and the retail segment through operation of its own retail
stores,  derive  revenues from sales of branded women's  footwear.  In addition,
commencing  in 1997,  the  wholesale  segment  began a  licensing  program  that
extended the Steve Madden brand to  accessories  and ready-to wear apparel.  The
other segment represents  activities of a subsidiary which earns commissions for
serving as a buying agent to  mass-market  merchandisers,  shoe chains and other
off-price retailers with respect to their purchase of private label shoes.


                                      F-17
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE J - OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION  (CONTINUED)

The accounting  policies of the segments are the same as those  described in the
summary of significant  accounting policies.  The Company evaluates  performance
based on profit or loss from  operations  before  interest  income and  interest
expense and before  income  taxes.  Following is  information  for the Company's
reportable segments:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        WHOLESALE        RETAIL        OTHER        CONSOLIDATED
                                                        ---------        ------        -----        ------------
<S>                                                   <C>              <C>          <C>             <C>
Year ended December 31, 1998:
   Net sales to external customers (a)                $59,221,000     $26,562,000                 $ 85,783,000
   Commissions and licensing fees                         594,000                   $ 2,679,000      3,273,000
   Operating earnings                                   5,126,000       2,741,000     1,347,000      9,214,000
   Depreciation and amortization                          516,000         837,000         4,000      1,357,000
   Other significant noncash items:
      Deferred compensation                               276,000                                      276,000
      Deferred rent                                        47,000         336,000         2,000        385,000
      Provision for doubtful accounts                     127,000                                      127,000
   Segment assets (b)                                  33,731,000      14,663,000       534,000     48,928,000
   Capital expenditures                                   550,000       3,467,000                    4,017,000

Year ended December 31, 1997:
   Net sales to external customers (a)                 44,934,000      13,249,000     1,128,000     59,311,000
   Commissions and licensing fees                         129,000                     2,192,000      2,321,000
   Operating earnings                                   2,037,000       1,605,000       984,000      4,626,000
   Depreciation and amortization                          371,000         401,000         2,000        774,000
   Other significant noncash items:
      Deferred compensation                               384,000                                      384,000
      Provision for doubtful accounts                     361,000                                      361,000
   Segment assets (b)                                  20,424,000       8,341,000       512,000     29,277,000
   Capital expenditures                                   640,000       3,038,000         8,000      3,686,000

Year ended December 31, 1996:
   Net sales to external customers (a)                 39,477,000       3,805,000     2,541,000     45,823,000
   Commissions and licensing fees                                                       951,000        951,000
   Operating earnings                                     527,000         549,000       357,000      1,433,000
   Depreciation and amortization                          293,000          75,000                      368,000
   Other significant noncash items:
      Deferred compensation                               144,000                                      144,000
      Provision for doubtful accounts                     714,000                                      714,000
   Segment assets (b)                                  19,184,000       2,293,000       546,000     22,023,000
   Capital expenditures                                   379,000         795,000         6,000      1,180,000
</TABLE>

(a)  Attributed  to the United  States  based on the  location in which the sale
     originated.
(b)  All  long-lived  assets,  consisting  of property and equipment and cost in
     excess of fair  value of net  assets  acquired,  are  located in the United
     States.


                                      F-18
<PAGE>

STEVEN MADDEN, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997


NOTE K - QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

The following is a summary of the quarterly  results of operations for the years
ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 (000's):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    MARCH 31  JUNE 30    SEPTEMBER 30    DECEMBER 31
                                    --------  -------    ------------    -----------
<S>                                 <C>       <C>          <C>           <C>
1998:
   Revenues                         $16,511   $18,733      $23,991         $26,548
   Costs of goods sold                9,485    11,200       13,908          15,300
   Commissions and licensing fees       764       779          992             738
   Net income                           773       881        1,880           1,913
   Net income per share:
      Basic                            0.09      0.10         0.19            0.18
      Diluted                          0.08      0.08         0.17            0.17

1997:
   Revenues                         $13,218   $12,270      $18,055         $15,768
   Costs of goods sold                8,608     7,409       10,192           8,535
   Commissions and licensing fees       362       492          748             719
   Net income                           401       357          881           1,061
   Net income per share:
      Basic                            0.05      0.04         0.11            0.13
      Diluted                          0.05      0.04         0.10            0.11
</TABLE>


                                      F-19
<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  New York, New York
        March 25, 1999

                                           STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.

                                           By: /s/ STEVEN MADDEN
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Steven Madden
                                               Chairman of the Board, President
                                               and Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this  report has been  signed  below by the  following  persons on behalf of the
registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

    SIGNATURE                            TITLE                        DATE
    ---------                            -----                        ----

/s/ STEVEN MADDEN            Chairman of the Board, President   March 25, 1999
- ---------------------        and Chief Executive Officer
Steven Madden


/s/ RHONDA BROWN             Chief Operating Officer            March 25, 1999
- ---------------------        and Director0
Rhonda Brown


/s/ JOHN BASILE              Director of Operations             March 25, 1999
- ---------------------        and Director
John Basile


/s/ ARVIND DHARIA            Chief Financial Officer            March 25, 1999
- ---------------------        and Director
Arvind Dharia

/s/ CHARLES KOPPELMAN        Director                           March 25, 1999
- ---------------------
Charles Koppelman

/s/ JOHN L. MADDEN           Director                           March 25, 1999
- ---------------------
John L. Madden

/s/ PETER MIGLIORINI         Director                           March 25, 1999
- ---------------------
Peter Migliorini

/s/ LES WAGNER               Director                           March 25, 1999
- ---------------------
Les Wagner



                                                                    Exhibit 10.2

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT,  dated as of  January 1,  1998,  by and  between
Steven Madden, Ltd., a New York corporation (the "Company"), and John Basile, an
individual residing at 2 Edgemont Road, Montclair, NJ 07042 (the "Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  the  Company  and the  Executive  entered  into that  certain
Employment  Agreement  dated  as of  June  17,  1994  (the  "Initial  Employment
Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to continue the Executive's
employment  with the  Company  and to  supersede  in its  entirety  the  Initial
Employment Agreement with this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties mutually agree as follows:

                  1. EMPLOYMENT.   The Company hereby employs  Executive and the
Executive   hereby   accepts   such   employment,    as   the   Executive   Vice
President-Product  Development  and Design,  subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in this  Agreement.  This  Agreement  supersedes  and  replaces in its
entirety the Initial Employment Agreement.

                  2. DUTIES.  The Executive  shall serve as the  Executive  Vice
President-Product  Development  and  Design  and shall be the  senior  executive
responsible for the matters and staff  identified on Exhibit A attached  hereto.
During  the  term of this  Agreement,  the  Executive  shall  devote  all of his
business  time to the  performance  of his  duties  hereunder  unless  otherwise
authorized by the Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company.  The Executive shall
report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.


<PAGE>


                  3. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT; VACATION.

                  (a) The  term of the  Executive's  employment  shall  be for a
period of thirty six (36)  months  commencing  on  January  1, 1998 (the  "Start
Date"),  subject to earlier  termination  by the  parties  pursuant to Section 6
hereof (the "Term").

                  (b) The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation
during each year of the Term.

                  4. COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE.

                  4.1 SALARY.  The Company  shall pay to Executive a base salary
of Two Hundred Seventy Five Thousand ($275,000) Dollars per annum, subject to an
increase  of $25,000  on each of January 1, 1999 and  January 1, 2000 (the "Base
Salary"), less such deductions as shall be required to be withheld by applicable
law and  regulations.  All salaries  payable to Executive  shall be paid at such
regular  weekly,  biweekly or  semi-monthly  time or times as the Company  makes
payment of its regular payroll in the regular course of business.

                  4.2 BONUSES.

         (a) During the Term, the Executive  shall be entitled to receive a cash
performance  bonus  based upon the annual  earnings of the  Company's  wholesale
division  (with  respect  to sale of the  Steve  Madden(R)  and  David  Aaron(R)
footwear brands) (the "Wholesale  Division")  before the payment of interest and
taxes  ("Wholesale  EBIT").  By March 30, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Company
shall pay to the  Executive  a cash bonus equal to four  percent  (4%) of annual
Wholesale  EBIT for the fiscal year ending on the  December  31  preceding  such
date, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

         (b)  Upon the  execution  of this  Agreement,  the  Executive  shall be
entitled to receive  options to purchase  50,000 shares of the Company's  common
stock ("Common Stock")  exercisable for a period of five (5) years following the
date of grant at an exercise  price of $7.50 (the closing price of the Company's
Common Stock on January


                                       2
<PAGE>

1, 1998), all of which options shall vest  immediately and be exercisable  until
December  31,  2002,  so long as the  Executive  remains  in the  employ  of the
Company. On the date of approval of the Company's stockholders of the 1998 Stock
Plan  (the  "Approval  Date"),  currently  anticipated  to be voted  upon at the
Company's  annual  meeting to be held during Spring 1998,  the  Executive  shall
receive  options  ("1998  Options") to purchase  200,000  shares of Common Stock
exercisable  for a period  of five (5)  years  following  the date of grant at a
price  equal to $7.50  per  share,  all of which  shall  vest  immediately  upon
issuance and options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock  exercisable for
a period of five (5) years  following  the date of grant at a price equal to the
average  closing bid price of the Company's  shares of Common Stock for the five
(5)  trading  days ending two (2) trading  days prior to Approval  Date,  all of
which shall vest on December 31, 1999, so long as the  Executive  remains in the
employ  of the  Company.  The  options  granted  under  this  paragraph  will be
substantially  in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto and the shares of Common
Stock  issuable  upon the  exercise  thereof  will be  included  in a stock plan
presented by the Company for approval by the Company's  stockholders at the next
stockholders meeting. In the event that the 1998 Options are not approved at the
next  annual  meeting of the  Company's  stockholders,  the  Executive  shall be
entitled to a lump sum payment of $250,000 in  immediately  available  funds and
this Agreement shall become null and void.

         (c) In the event that the Company  records  Wholesale  EBIT of not less
than an aggregate of $10,000,000 during any four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters
during the Term, the Executive  shall be entitled to receive (i) a cash bonus of
$100,000 and (ii) options (the "Additional  Options") to purchase 100,000 shares
of the  Company's  Common  Stock  (which shall be subject to the approval of the
stockholders of the Company). The Additional Options shall vest over a period of
five (5) years  following the date of grant and shall be  exercisable at a price
equal to the average  closing bid


                                       3
<PAGE>

price of the  Company's  shares of Common  Stock for the five (5)  trading  days
ending two (2) trading days prior to the date of issuance.

                  4.3  EXPENSES.  During the Term,  the Company  shall  promptly
reimburse the Executive for all  reasonable  and necessary  travel  expenses and
other  disbursements  incurred by the  Executive on behalf of the Company in the
performance of the Executive's duties hereunder, assuming Executive has received
prior approval for such travel expenses and  disbursements by the Company to the
extent  possible  consistent  with  corporate  practices  with  respect  to  the
reimbursement  of expenses  incurred by the Company's  employees.  The Executive
shall also be entitled to an automobile allowance equal to $1,215 per month.

                  4.4 BENEFITS. The Executive shall be permitted during the Term
to participate in any  hospitalization  or disability  insurance  plans,  health
programs,  pension plans,  bonus plans or similar benefits that may be available
to other  executives of the Company  (including  coverage under any officers and
directors liability insurance policy),  subject to such eligibility rules as are
applied to senior managers generally.

                  5. DISABILITY   OF   THE   EXECUTIVE.   If  the  Executive  is
incapacitated or disabled by accident, sickness or otherwise so as to render the
Executive  mentally or physically  incapable of performing the services required
to be performed  under this Agreement for a period of 60 consecutive  days or 90
days in any period of 360 consecutive days (a "Disability"), the Company may, at
the time or during the period of such Disability,  at its option,  terminate the
employment of the Executive  under this  Agreement  immediately  upon giving the
Executive written notice to that effect.

                  6. TERMINATION.

                  (a) The Company may terminate the  employment of the Executive
and all of the Company's  obligations under this Agreement at any time for Cause
(as  hereinafter  defined) by giving the Executive  notice of such  termination,
with reasonable  specificity of the details thereof.  "Cause" shall mean (i) the
Executive's  wilful


                                       4
<PAGE>

misconduct  which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the business and affairs of the Company,  (ii) the  Executive's  disregard of
lawful  instructions  of the  Company's  Board of Directors  or Chief  Executive
Officer  consistent with the Executive's  responsibilities  under this Agreement
relating to the business of the Company, (iii) the Executive's neglect of duties
or failure to act, which, in each case,  could  reasonably be expected to have a
material  adverse  effect on the business  and affairs of the Company,  (iv) the
commission  by the  Executive  of an act  constituting  common law  fraud,  or a
felony,  or criminal act against the Company or any affiliate  thereof or any of
the assets of any of them, (v) the  Executive's  abuse of alcohol or other drugs
or controlled  substances,  or conviction of a crime involving moral  turpitude,
(vi) the Executive's  material breach of any of the agreements  contained herein
or (vii) the Executive's death or resignation hereunder;  provided however, that
if the  Executive  resigned  as a result of a material  breach by the Company of
this Agreement,  such resignation shall not be considered "Cause"  hereunder.  A
termination pursuant to Section 6(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) (other than as a
result of a conviction of a crime involving moral  turpitude) or (vi) shall take
effect 30 days  after the giving of the notice  contemplated  hereby  unless the
Executive   shall,   during  such  30-day  period,   remedy  to  the  reasonable
satisfaction of the Board of Directors of the Company the misconduct, disregard,
abuse  or  breach  specified  in  such  notice;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  such
termination shall take effect  immediately upon the giving of such notice if the
Board of Directors of the Company  shall,  in its  reasonable  discretion,  have
determined that such  misconduct,  disregard,  abuse or breach is not remediable
(which  determination shall be stated in such notice). A termination pursuant to
Section  6(a)(v)  (as a  result  of a  conviction  of a  crime  involving  moral
turpitude) or (vii) shall take effect  immediately upon the giving of the notice
contemplated hereby.

                  (b) The Company or the Executive may terminate the  employment
of the  Executive  and all of the  Company's  obligations  under this  Agreement
(except as


                                       5
<PAGE>

hereinafter  provided) at any time during the Term  without  Cause by giving the
Executive or the Company, as appropriate, written notice of such termination, to
be  effective  15  days  following  the  giving  of  such  written  notice.  For
convenience of reference,  the date upon which any termination of the employment
of the  Executive  pursuant  to  Sections  5 or 6 shall  be  effective  shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Termination Date".

                  7. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

                  (a) Upon the  termination  of the  Executive's  employment for
Cause or a Disability,  neither the Executive nor the Executive's  beneficiaries
or estate shall have any further rights to compensation  under this Agreement or
any claims against the Company arising out of this  Agreement,  except the right
to receive  (i) the unpaid  portion of the Base Salary  provided  for in Section
4.1, earned through the Termination Date (the "Unpaid Salary Amount"),  and (ii)
reimbursement   for  any  expenses  for  which  the  Executive  shall  not  have
theretofore  been   reimbursed,   as  provided  in  Section  4.3  (the  "Expense
Reimbursement Amount").

                  (b) Upon the  termination  of the  Executive's  employment for
other than Cause or a  Disability,  neither the  Executive  nor the  Executive's
beneficiaries or estate shall have any further rights to compensation under this
Agreement  or any claims  against  the Company  arising  out of this  Agreement,
except  the  Executive  shall have the right to  receive  (i) the Unpaid  Salary
Amount, (ii) the Expense Reimbursement Amount, and (iii) severance  compensation
equal to the Base Salary  (including  medical  benefits),  the 1998  Options and
Additional  Options for the remainder of the term of this  Agreement (as if this
Agreement was not terminated).

                  8.   DISCLOSURE   OF   CONFIDENTIAL   INFORMATION.   Executive
recognizes  that he has had and will  continue  to have  access  to  secret  and
confidential information regarding the Company, including but not limited to its
customer list, products,  know-how,  and business plans.  Executive acknowledges
that such information is of


                                       6
<PAGE>

great value to the Company,  is the sole  property of the Company,  and has been
and will be acquired by him in confidence.  In  consideration of the obligations
undertaken by the Company  herein,  Executive  will not, at any time,  during or
after his employment hereunder, reveal, divulge or make known to any person, any
information acquired by Executive during the course of his employment,  which is
treated  as  confidential  by the  Company,  including  but not  limited  to its
customer list, not otherwise in the public domain, other than in the ordinary of
business during his employment hereunder. The provisions of this Section 8 shall
survive Executive's employment hereunder.

                  9. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE.

                  (a) Executive  recognizes that the services to be performed by
him hereunder are special, unique and extraordinary. The parties confirm that it
is reasonably  necessary for the protection of Company that Executive agree, and
accordingly,  Executive  does  hereby  agree,  that he shall  not,  directly  or
indirectly,  at any time during the term of the  Agreement  and the  "Restricted
Period" (as defined in Section 9(e) below):

                      (i)   except as  provided  in  Subsection  (d)  below,  be
                            engaged   in  the   sale,   marketing,   design   or
                            distribution  of  footwear   products,   or  provide
                            technical assistance, advice or counseling regarding
                            the  footwear  industry  in any state in the  United
                            States in which the Company or an affiliate  thereof
                            transacts  business,  either on his own behalf or as
                            an   officer,   director,   stockholder,    partner,
                            consultant,   associate,   employee,  owner,  agent,
                            creditor,  independent contractor, or co-venturer of
                            any third party; or
                           
                      (ii)  employ or engage, or cause or authorize, directly or
                            indirectly,  to be employed  or  engaged,  for or on
                            behalf of


                                       7
<PAGE>

                            himself or any third party, any employee or agent of
                            Company or any affiliate thereof.

                  (b)  Executive  hereby  agrees  that he will not,  directly or
indirectly,  for or on behalf of himself or any third party,  at any time during
the term of the Agreement and during the Restricted Period solicit any customers
of the Company or any affiliate thereof in a manner which directly or indirectly
competes with the Company.

                  (c) If any of the  restrictions  contained  in this  Section 9
shall be  deemed  to be  unenforceable  by reason  of the  extent,  duration  or
geographical   scope  thereof,   or  otherwise,   then  the  court  making  such
determination shall have the right to reduce such extent, duration, geographical
scope, or other  provisions  hereof,  and in its reduced form this Section shall
then be enforceable in the manner contemplated hereby.

                  (d) This Section 9 shall not be construed to prevent Executive
from owning,  directly or indirectly,  in the aggregate, an amount not exceeding
two percent (2%) of the issued and outstanding voting securities of any class of
any  company  whose  voting  capital  stock is traded on a  national  securities
exchange or on the over-the-counter market other than securities of the Company.

                  (e) The term  "Restricted  Period," as used in this Section 9,
shall mean the period of  Executive's  actual  employment  hereunder plus in the
event the Executive's employment is terminated with Cause for a period of twelve
(12) months thereafter.

                  (f) The  provisions of this Section 9 shall survive the end of
the Term as provided in Section 9(e) hereof.

                  (g) In the event  that the  Executive  breaches  the terms and
provisions  of Section  9(a)(i)  above,  the Company may  terminate all unvested
options comprising the 1998 Options and Additional Options.


                                       8
<PAGE>

                  10. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  10.1  INJUNCTIVE  RELIEF.   Executive  acknowledges  that  the
services to be rendered under the provisions of this Agreement are of a special,
unique and extraordinary  character and that it would be difficult or impossible
to replace  such  services.  Accordingly,  Executive  agrees  that any breach or
threatened  breach by him of  Section  8 or 9 of this  Agreement  shall  entitle
Company,  in addition to all other legal  remedies  available to it, to apply to
any court of competent  jurisdiction to seek to enjoin such breach or threatened
breach.  The parties  understand and intend that each  restriction  agreed to by
Executive  hereinabove  shall be construed as separable and divisible from every
other restriction,  that the unenforceability of any restriction shall not limit
the enforceability,  in whole or in part, of any other restriction, and that one
or more or all of such  restrictions  may be enforced in whole or in part as the
circumstances  warrant.  In the event that any  restriction in this Agreement is
more  restrictive  than  permitted by law in the  jurisdiction  in which Company
seeks  enforcement  thereof,  such  restriction  shall be  limited to the extent
permitted by law.

                  10.2 ASSIGNMENTS. Neither Executive nor the Company may assign
or  delegate  any of their  rights or duties  under this  Agreement  without the
express written consent of the other.

                  10.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes and embodies
the full and complete understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to
Executive's  employment  by Company,  supersedes  all prior  understandings  and
agreements,  whether oral or written,  between Executive and Company,  and shall
not be amended,  modified or changed except by an instrument in writing executed
by the party to be charged.  The invalidity or partial invalidity of one or more
provisions of this Agreement  shall not  invalidate any other  provision of this
Agreement.  No  waiver by  either  party of any  provision  or  condition  to be
performed  shall be deemed a waiver


                                       9
<PAGE>

of similar or dissimilar  provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior
or subsequent time.

                  10.4 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of, be  binding  upon and  enforceable  against,  the  parties  hereto and their
respective successors, heirs, beneficiaries and permitted assigns.

                  10.5  HEADINGS.  The headings  contained in this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

                  10.6  NOTICES.  All  notices,   requests,  demands  and  other
communications  required or permitted to be given  hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally  delivered,  sent by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,  postage prepaid,  or by
private  overnight  mail  service  (e.g.  Federal  Express)  to the party at the
address set forth above or to such other  address as either party may  hereafter
give notice of in accordance with the provisions hereof. Notices shall be deemed
given on the sooner of the date  actually  received  or the third  business  day
after sending.

                  10.7 GOVERNING  LAW. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed in  accordance  with the laws of the State of New York without  giving
effect to such  State's  conflicts  of laws  provisions  and each of the parties
hereto  irrevocably  consents to the  jurisdiction  and venue of the federal and
state courts located in the State of New York, County of New York.

                  10.8   COUNTERPARTS.    This   Agreement   may   be   executed
simultaneously  in two or more  counterparts,  each of which  shall be deemed an
original,  but  all  of  which  together  shall  constitute  one  and  the  same
instrument.

                  10.9  SEPARABILITY.  If any of the  restrictions  contained in
this  Agreement  shall be deemed to be  unenforceable  by reason of the  extent,
duration or


                                       10
<PAGE>

geographical   scope  thereof,   or  otherwise,   then  the  court  making  such
determination shall have the right to reduce such extent, duration, geographical
scope, or other provisions  hereof, and in its reduced form this Agreement shall
then be enforceable in the manner contemplated hereby.

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  executed  this
Agreement as of the date set forth above.


                                        STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.



                                        By: /s/
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:


                                            /s/ JOHN BASILE
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                John Basile









                                       11



                                                                   Exhibit 21.01

                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT


NAME                                        STATE OF INCORPORATION
- ----                                        ----------------------

Diva Acquisition Corp.                      Delaware
Steven Madden Retail, Inc.                  Delaware
Adesso-Madden, Inc.                         Delaware
Shoe Biz, Inc.                              Delaware



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<NAME>                        STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.
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