Christian Cota is smart. He opted out of the runway this season and went for the one-on-one, a tack he s been trying with his customers by talking to them at more trunk shows, with appreciable results. "For day, a woman told me she has to be able to throw what she s wearing on a chair and not worry about it," Cota said during our appointment. "I ve really been keeping that in mind." Ease, versatility, value. These were Cota s bywords for Spring, and his succinct, 24-look collection offered plenty of all three.
For ease, there was a long, gauzy, silk chiffon dress in lemon with an undulating, hand-dyed hem. For versatility, one could take apart any of the matching skirt-and-top combinations, like a black draped top and floor-skimming slit skirt in curve-hugging washed cupro. Belted, the look passes for a smart-sexy dress; worn as separates, the pieces would pair with your favorite basics. As for value, Cota s latest collaboration with Aldo translates his saturated prints into killer—and retail-friendly—platforms and pumps. About those prints: Cota s digital graphics have long been collection highlights, and this season he wisely focused his efforts on them. Inspired by the deep sea, he colored hundreds of anemones separately on a flared stretch cotton dress and sent bursts of aqua luminescence scuttling through a satin pencil skirt.
In May, Cota will move into his new studio space as part of the CFDA s Fashion Incubator program. By then, if he continues listening to his clients and maintains a laser-sharp focus, he ll be hatching plenty of new ideas.
