The footwear trend setters set the trend in Bourke Street’s bastion

Written by James Banham

Who doesn’t love shoes?! That’s right, no one. We knew it.

So you’ll love that smack-bang in the middle of the busiest shopping precinct in Melbourne, Steve Madden made lots of new fans with its mighty foray back onto the retailer scene at the official opening of its flagship store and the launch of its new AW12 range right in our friendly neighbourhood, Melbourne. 

Tucked nice and prominently next to leading Spanish label Zara, the gothic façade of the Steve Madden outlet makes a great impression on the passer-by.

At their recent launch, the music pumped courtesy of guest DJ Ruby Rose, the alcohol flowed, the shoes were flaunted and the shoppers outside all the while looked inquisitively as they wondered what was happening at the reinvigorated retailer’s newest addition to its shopfront offerings.

Walk into the store and you’re met with a three level split, a whole lot of colour and a great lofty feel.

Fiona Healy, general manager of Steve Madden said, “Think New York loft meets urban ghetto and you’re somewhere close to the look and feel of the store.”

It’s very cool regardless of how you look at it.

The store, in a festive mood, offered all guests a chance at winning free shoes from their new range, or a massive discount of anywhere between 20 to 50 per cent for the night, which plenty of people took advantage of.

The new range of AW12 shoes draws inspiration from faraway lands, bygone eras and the boys club. The footwear coated the walls in a haze of soft suede, fringed boots, high energy animal prints, sequined stilettos and electric block colours, which kept guests on the night busy as they rummaged through shoe-after-shoe.

Split over three levels, the store casts the men down to the basement, where the offering is a lot more masculine. However, by combining it with the sale items and a lovely cooler haven for the summer months, the basement is an unavoidable stop.

Work your way back up to the ground floor and you’re met with women’s footwear, accessories and handbags while you’re heading toward a very prominent cascading stairwell, which leads to the third and top floor, playing home to the Betsey Johnson range; a range filled with the whacky and eclectic as well as plenty of animal print ottomans, zany pop art and glossy retro mirrored tiling.

Betsy is an American icon, a breast cancer survivor, an advocate for the cause and a true New Yorker.

The third floor is also where our entertainment for the night, legendary Melbourne DJ Ruby Rose spun her tracks for the heaving crowd.

A few of the more enthusiastic in the bunch threw caution to the wind and had a wallflower’s boogie while trying to take photos of the star, about to embark on a month-long working trip.

For a man who famously said, ‘The streets are my runways’, he’s sure to have found a niche that will see the streets of Melbourne come alive with footwear fever.

Steve Madden store
280 - 282 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9639 2090
Website: www.stevemadden.com.au
Facebook: facebook.com/stevemadden.aust

Ilker, Chris, Irish of StyleZilla and Demi

Genna of Fashion Methodology blog, James Banham & Christoher Rivera from FashionMuuse

Lisa Teh from Couturing.com with Ilker an upcomind model

Stylist Iyan Difuntorum of iy.dStyle & Genna of Fashion Methodology

DJ Ruby Rose spinning the decks LIKE A BAWWSSSSSS!

Calvin Chong from Vanity Press

QUEEN B!

James, Chris & Irish with our Steve Madden goody bags!

TUTU from WOW People

Bow, Ulyana designer of None the Richer & Geneva

... here's a few more pics from Steve Madden - join their Facebook page to check them all out...

Mini, Marika & Nicole from Material Girl PR