FEBRUARY 06, 2013
NEW YORK
By Brittany Adams
At 10 Crosby Derek Lam, the bold colors and punchy prints that have been mainstays the past several seasons were dialed down in favor of a new emphasis on texture and textiles. Design director Elizabeth Giardina said she and Lam hoped to cultivate the 10 C customer's natural yet smart approach to style with a tactile lineup full of hushed nude tones and rich neutrals. A classically tailored overcoat cut from glossy faux pony hair set a strong tone for outerwear, while a full selection of weekend knits ranged from clingy, delicate cardigans to chunky peplum sweaters. Giardina chose somewhat scratchy fabrics (they weren't half as bad as that sounds), like the nubby wool of a cummerbund-detail jacket or a long-sleeve party sheath made from allover holographic sequins with a scored, imperfect effect. Accessories are an expanding category, and the pointy, zippered patent flats and to-the-knee python boots energized a collection that was, all things considered, the contemporary line's most sophisticated to date.