It isn’t easy living in the very large shadow of uber star Madonna, but her brother Christopher Ciccone has broken out with his first collection of chic, graphic shoes and boots for men, women and kids — Ciccone Collection.

“I worked with designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana, who created costumes for my sister’s tours,” Christopher, 52, explains about his only experience previously with designers, before taking the reins himself.

But clearly, a ‘fabulous’ style gene runs in the family because his new leather and rubber footwear looks so good, we bet Madonna can hardly wait to get the box of shoes and boots her brother is sending her.

Christopher’s Relationship With Madonna

Christopher says that he and his sister are on good terms now after he published a book about his life with Madonna in 2008, My Life With My Sister Madonna.

“It’s been a bumpy road back,” he tells HollywoodLife.com. ”It’s a brother/sister thing now, which is great and where it needed to go.”

Christopher spent 25 years working and travelling with his celebrity sister, but then he took a break and wrote his book, which portrayed Madonna, now 54, warts and all.

Does he have any regrets after writing the book? No, he replies. “It was something I needed to do so I didn’t go crazy. I needed to crawl out from that shadow.” The shadow cast by his sister, he says, was very large.

Now he says that his whole family is closer than they’ve ever been — he and Madonna are part of a family of eight children –  and he hopes he’ll see her at Christmas.

In the meantime, he plans to introduce his Ciccone Collection to the U.S. in Feb. around New York Fashion Week, so American stores can buy it.

Currently, you can buy his shoes and boots on his website, TheCicconeCollection.com. Shipping is free, and his looks would make terrific holiday gifts, even for kids! To shop, go to TheCicconeCollection.com.

Good luck, Christopher! At Hollywoodlife.com we love your shoes and boots! Now, HollywoodLifers, watch his video below!

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– Bonnie Fuller

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Courtesy of NBC, Splashnews.com

Would you take marriage advice from Madonna?

We bet Madonna isn’t too happy with her brother Christopher Ciccone right now! Madonna was a panelist on NBC’s new show The Marriage Ref giving advice to married couples Feb. 28  and her little brother totally bashed her for it! Christopher thinks it’s a bad idea to take relationship advice from the music legend. “I can’t imagine what she’s doing on The Marriage Ref giving advice to married couples,” Christopher told Page Six. “I guess it’s kind of ironic. Everyone has their experiences regarding marriage — hers are maybe what not to do.” Ouch! Even though Madonna has been married twice — once to Sean Penn and then again to Guy Ritchie both ending in divorce we still think she knows a think or two about keeping a man!

Her brother went on to say he wants to be a judge on American Idol. “I think I can bring a particular kind of credibility to the show,” he told Page Six. “I’d be the only person sitting at the table who actually created a pop star from the beginning, and helped keep her there for 20 years.” Hmmm we wonder how Madonna feels about her brother taking credit for her success AND saying people shouldn’t take her advice.

Would you let Madonna be your marriage ref?