STEVEN MADDEN, LTD.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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52-16 Barnett Avenue

Long Island City, New York 11104

April 6, 2026

DEAR SHAREHOLDERS,

2025 was a year that tested our business — and demonstrated its resilience.

The operating environment shifted rapidly as new tariffs on goods imported into the United States created significant disruption across our supply chain and wholesale channels. These dynamics pressured our financial performance and made for a challenging year. At the same time, they reinforced the strengths that have defined Steve Madden for decades: our ability to move quickly, adapt to change, and maintain an unwavering focus on the consumer and on delivering compelling product.

For the full year, revenue increased 11% to $2.5 billion, reflecting the addition of Kurt Geiger, while earnings declined compared to 2024 as we navigated higher costs and operational disruption. Despite these near-term pressures, we made meaningful progress strengthening our brands and positioning the Company for long-term growth.

BUILDING MOMENTUM IN THE STEVE MADDEN BRAND

In our flagship brand Steve Madden, our design teams delivered compelling, trend-right assortments that drove a significant acceleration in demand in the back half of the year, particularly in our core category of women’s footwear.

We supported these assortments with enhanced marketing, including richer brand and product storytelling and a more integrated, full-funnel approach. These efforts drove measurable gains in brand heat and consumer engagement as the year progressed — momentum that has continued into early 2026.

ADDING A POWERFUL NEW GROWTH ENGINE: KURT GEIGER

In May 2025, we completed the acquisition of Kurt Geiger, adding a brand with a unique image, distinctive design aesthetic, and compelling value proposition.

Kurt Geiger London’s differentiated and elevated positioning — and its alignment with our strategic priorities of expanding in international markets, accessories categories, and direct-to-consumer channels — make it a highly attractive and complementary addition.

The brand continues to have strong momentum, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead and confident that the acquisition meaningfully enhances our long-term growth profile.

STRENGTHENING OUR OTHER BRANDS

We also made meaningful progress across our other owned brands. Dolce Vita continued to build on its strong growth trajectory, expanding in adjacent categories such as handbags and gaining traction in international markets.

At Betsey Johnson, we drove renewed cultural relevance through elevated talent partnerships, authentic community engagement, high-impact activations, and differentiated product assortments.

NAVIGATING A CHALLENGING OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

The most significant headwind we faced in 2025 was the impact of new tariffs, which created meaningful disruption throughout the year. Our team responded quickly and decisively — diversifying sourcing, adjusting pricing where appropriate, managing inventory carefully, controlling costs, and maintaining strong relationships with our suppliers and customers. While these actions helped mitigate the impact, tariffs placed significant pressure on both revenue and profitability.

Despite these challenges, we believe the actions we took in 2025 have strengthened our operating model and increased our agility, positioning us well for the future.

LOOKING AHEAD

As we enter 2026, we are encouraged by the momentum in our business. Our product assortments and marketing campaigns are resonating with consumers, our brands are powerful and gaining relevance, and our strategy provides multiple levers for growth.

We expect strong growth in our three lead brands — Steve Madden, Kurt Geiger London, and Dolce Vita — while acknowledging ongoing pressure in our private label business, as well as continued uncertainty related to tariffs and the conflict in the Middle East.

Looking further ahead, we believe the combination of our powerful brands, proven business model, and sound strategy positions us to drive sustainable growth and long-term value creation.

Thank you to our employees for their resilience and dedication during a challenging year, to our customers for their continued loyalty, and to you — our shareholders — for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Edward Rosenfeld

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

52-16 Barnett Avenue

Long Island City, New York 11104

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2026

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Steven Madden, Ltd. (the “Company”) will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time in a virtual-only format, for the purposes stated below:

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 27, 2026, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Stockholders who own shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially through a broker, bank or other nominee will also be entitled to attend the Annual Meeting. To participate in the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ SHOO2026, you must enter the 16-digit control number found on your proxy card or your Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote in advance of the Annual Meeting by one of the methods described below. If you have voted over the Internet, by phone or by mail before the Annual Meeting, you do not need to vote again. Guests may listen to the Annual Meeting, but are not entitled to participate.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2026: THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT, ANNUAL REPORT, ELECTRONIC PROXY CARD AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS CONCERNING THE ANNUAL MEETING, TOGETHER WITH ANY AMENDMENTS TO ANY OF THESE MATERIALS, ARE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET ATHTTP:// WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN THE ACCOMPANYING FORM OF PROXY AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED TO: VOTE PROCESSING, C/O BROADRIDGE, 51 MERCEDES WAY, EDGEWOOD, NEW YORK 11717. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR SHARES BY TELEPHONE OR OVER THE INTERNET AS DESCRIBED ON THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this document regarding anticipated financial, business, legal or other outcomes, including business and market conditions, outlook and other similar statements relating to the Company’s future events, developments, or financial or operational performance or results, are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “project,” “predict,” “plan,” or “guidance,” and other similar expressions, or the negative of these expressions. However, the absence of these or similar words or expressions does not mean a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they represent our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding anticipated events and trends affecting our business and industry based on information available as of the time such statements are made. We caution investors that such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy, and some of which may be outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. As such, investors should not rely upon them. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Our operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, those risk factors described in our SEC filings. Refer to “Risk Factors” under Item 1A. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 for a discussion of additional risk factors and a more complete discussion of some of the cautionary statements noted above. If any of the events described in the risk factors actually occur, our business, financial condition or operating results, as well as the market price of our securities, could be materially adversely affected.

52-16 Barnett Avenue

Long Island City, New York 11104 PROXY STATEMENT