UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 23, 2004


                               STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                       0-23702                 13-3588231
----------------------------   ------------------------   ----------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                    Identification Number)


52-16 Barnett Avenue, Long Island City, New York                11104
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(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (718) 446-1800
                                                            --------------


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

      [ ]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
            (17 CFR 230.425)

      [ ]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
            (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

      [ ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
            Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

      [ ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
            Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 8.01         Other Events.
                  ------------

On November 23, 2004, Jamieson A. Karson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Steven Madden, Ltd. (the "Company"), sent a letter to Barington Capital
Group, L.P. ("Barington") in response to a letter dated November 16, 2004 that
was sent to the Company from Barington and was filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as Exhibit 99.3 to Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D filed
by Barington with respect to the Company. A copy of the November 23, 2004 letter
is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by
reference.


Item 9.01(c)      Financial Statements and Exhibits.
                  ---------------------------------

                  99.1     Letter dated November 23, 2004 from Jamieson A.
                           Karson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
                           Steven Madden, Ltd., to Barington Capital Group, L.P.

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                                    SIGNATURE

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                        STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.



                                        By: /s/ JAMIESON KARSON
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name:  Jamieson Karson
                                            Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
                                                   Officer



Date:        November 24, 2004

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