Exclusive First Look: Iggy Azalea's Beg-For-It-Worthy Shoe Line for Steve Madden

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Published on January 30, 2015 @ 12:01AM

Iggy Azalea has hinted that she’s dropping a line of beg-for-it-worthy footwear in collaboration with Steve Madden on her @thenewclassic Instagram—and now InStyle is bringing you an exclusive look at what you can expect.

The shoes, all $150 or less, hit stevemadden.com January 30, and what you’ll be able to shop is as Azalea as it gets—‘90s-inspired styles in bold neon and metallic hues.

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"I wanted to make shoes your girlfriends would love and your boyfriends wouldn't understand," the Aussie rapper told us when we interviewed her about the line for our story on the line in InStyle's February issue, on newsstands and available for download now. "They're a total reflection of me: unapologetic, loud, and fun."

Azalea, who herself is a massive shoe lover and collector, has truly created something for everyone: Chunky platforms for "modern-day Spice Girls," mesh heels that epitomize her "obsession with sportswear," and metallic slides "because no one knows I'm really a flats girl,” she says. Each style channels her signature color-blocked, sporty look.

“I really tried to make sure it didn’t look like anyone else’s shoe,” she tells us. “I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to knock anybody off. I was very observant about what I think will be trends for next year, but also to make sure the line reflected my personality and what people would expect from me. I didn’t want it to look like it was trying to be a high-end designer shoe. I wanted something that is original and quirky and its own thing.”

That’s why she put all of her own personal preferences into the collection, including lots of ankle straps (perfect for staying stable on stage). “My favorite shoe in the entire world is an ankle boot, so everything that I make usually starts off as an ankle boot and works its way down to something else,” she explains. She even added memory foam on the soles to make the kicks more comfy. “I’m very paranoid about having ugly feet after wearing beautiful shoes!” she jokes.

Her fans—6 million Instagram followers and 3.95 million Twitter followers and counting—were her top priority, and she wanted as many people as possible to be able to get them. Hence, all styles are under $150.

As for Madden, he and Azalea make a natural pair. Madden first teamed up with the rapper through his friend and her mentor, T.I. Azalea played one of Steve Madden’s Music Artist Spotlight shows a few years ago, and the friendship began. Meanwhile, Azalea had been a fan of his shoes for years. "The brand was just what was affordable and stylish for me," she says. Together, they worked for a year on the collaboration. "I like to make the coolest shoes I can,” says Madden, “with the coolest people I know." Today, he’s thrilled with the result. “The line has such a sneaker-y vibe, but still dressy,” he says. “They’re a great hybrid between those two looks. You can see Iggy’s vibe in them completely.”

And if you're psyched now, this is just the beginning. Azalea and Madden have collaborated on several additional collections that will be released through 2015 and into 2016.

So, what’s Iggy scooping up first? The Tempo style, a satin bootie embellished with crystals on stage (pictured, below). “These were the first ones I asked to have sent to my house,” she admits. “They are my favorite color, electric blue and I just love any kind of embellishment.”

What will you pick? Scroll down to see some of the highlights and shop them all on stevemadden.com starting now.

"TEMPO-S," $129.95