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                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      This Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of January 1, 1998, is made by
and between Marisa Christina, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation") and Michael H. Lerner (the "Executive").

                                    Recitals

      1. The Executive is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation
and of Marisa Christina Apparel, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Corporation (the "Subsidiary"), and is currently employed as
the Chief Executive Officer and the President of the Corporation and the
Subsidiary.

      2. The Corporation desires to continue the services of the Executive as
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of the
Corporation and the Subsidiary and the employment of the Executive with the
Corporation and the Subsidiary and to enter into an agreement embodying the
terms of those continued relationships.

      3. The Executive is willing to continue to serve as Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Corporation and the Subsidiary and is willing to accept
continued employment by each of the Corporation and the Subsidiary on the terms
set forth herein.

                                    Agreement

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the Corporation and
the Executive hereby agree as follows.

1. Definitions.

      1.1. "Adjusted Operating Earnings" means (a) the Corporation's net
earnings, plus (b) any extraordinary or non-recurring items of expense
(including, without limitation, any items of expense associated with the
Corporation's Offering (as hereinafter defined) and related Reorganization (as
hereinafter defined) and related transactions, charged against such earnings,
plus (c) interest expense (including deferred financing costs) in respect of
indebtedness and capitalized leases charged against such net earnings, other
than such interest expense in respect of indebtedness under revolving credit or
similar arrangements to finance inventories and receivables, plus (d) tax
expense in respect of all taxes measured or levied on the basis of the
Corporation's earnings or profits charged against such net earnings, all as
determined by
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reference to the Corporation's audited financial statements for such year, plus
(e) bonus expense in respect of this Agreement, employment agreements of even
date herewith between the Corporation and Marc Ham and Carole Bieber,
respectively, and other bonuses paid or payable to senior executives of the
Corporation and/or all subsidiaries, including Marisa Christina Apparel, Inc.,
Flapdoodles, Inc. and Adrienne Vittadini Enterprises, Inc. With regard to the
Corporation's Adjusted Operating Earnings for 1994, such Earnings will be
determined on a pro forma basis, as if the Corporation's reorganization and
Offering (as those terms are defined in, and pursuant to, the Corporation's
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated June 22, 1994), and the application
of the net proceeds from the Offering, were consummated on January 1, 1994.

      1.2. "Affiliate" means any person or entity controlling, controlled by or
under common control with the Corporation.

      1.3. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

      1.4. "Cause" means (a) the Executive is convicted of a felony, or (b) the
Executive, in carrying out his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement,
is guilty of gross neglect or gross misconduct resulting, in either case, in
material economic harm to the Corporation and/or the Subsidiary.

      1.5. "Commencement Date" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.

      1.6. "Date of Termination" means (a) in the case of a termination for
which a Notice of Termination is required, the date of actual receipt of such
Notice of Termination or, if later, the date specified therein, as the case may
be, and (b) in all other cases, the actual date on which the Executive's
employment terminates during the Term of Employment.

      1.7. "Disability" means the Executive's inability to render, for a period
of six consecutive months, services hereunder by reason of permanent disability,
as determined by the written medical opinion of an independent medical physician
mutually acceptable to the Executive and the Corporation. If the Executive and
the Corporation cannot agree as to such an independent medical physician each
shall appoint one medical physician and those two physicians shall appoint a
third physician who shall make such determination.

      1.8. "Good Reason" means and shall be deemed to exist if, without the
prior express written consent of the Executive, (a) the Executive is assigned
any duties or responsibilities inconsistent in any material respect with the
scope of the duties or responsibilities associated with the Executive's titles
or positions, as set forth and described in Section 4 of this Agreement; (b) the
Executive suffers a reduction in the duties, responsibilities or effective
authority associated with his titles and positions as set forth and described in
Section 4 of this Agreement; (c) the Executive is not appointed to, or is
removed from, the offices or positions


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provided for in Section 4 of this Agreement, other than under circumstances
involving Cause; (d) the Corporation fails to substantially perform any material
term or provision of this Agreement; (e) the Executive's compensation (including
base compensation and/or method of calculation of bonus) provided for hereunder
is decreased; (f) the Executive's office location is changed to a location more
than 50 miles from its location on the date hereof in New York, New York; (g)
the Corporation fails to obtain the full assumption of this Agreement by a
successor entity in accordance with Section 11.2 of this Agreement; (h) the
Corporation continually fails to reimburse the Executive for business expenses
in accordance with Section 5.3 of this Agreement; (i) the Corporation purports
to terminate the Executive's employment for Cause and such purported termination
of employment is not effected in accordance with the requirements of this
Agreement; (j) the Executive shall not be nominated or elected, or shall be
removed, as a director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of each of the
Corporation and the Subsidiary; (k) the Board or the shareholders of the
Corporation or the Subsidiary, either or both, as may be required to authorize
the same, shall approve (i) any liquidation of the Corporation, or the sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Corporation taken as a whole, or (ii) any
merger, consolidation and/or other business combination involving the
Corporation or any combination of any such transactions (a "Transaction"), other
than a Transaction (A) involving only the Corporation and the Subsidiary, or (B)
immediately after which the shareholders of the Corporation who were
shareholders immediately prior to the transaction continue to own beneficially,
directly or indirectly, in substantially similar proportions to those in effect
immediately prior to such transaction more than 50% of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Corporation and the Subsidiary; (l) any Person or group
(as such term is defined in Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of related Persons which is not an Affiliate of
the Corporation or the Subsidiary as of the Commencement Date shall beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding voting stock
of the Corporation or the Subsidiary. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Person(s)" means any individual, entity, or other person, as defined in Section
3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof; or
(n) the Corporation shall engage in any Business Combination with an Interested
Person, each as defined in Article Fifth of the Corporation's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.

      1.9. "Retirement" means the termination of the Executive's employment with
the Corporation for any reason at any time after (a) the Executive attains age
65 or (b) the Executive meets the requirements for early or regular retirement
under the Corporation's retirement policy, assuming for this purpose that she
were a participant in such plan.

      1.10. "Term of Employment" has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.

      2. Employment. Subject to the terms and provisions set forth in this
Agreement, the Corporation hereby employs the Executive during the Term of
Employment as the Chief


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Executive Officer and President of the Corporation, agrees to cause the
Executive to be a director of the Subsidiary during the Term of Employment and
agrees to cause the Subsidiary at all times during the Term of Employment to
employ the Executive as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Subsidiary,
and the Executive hereby accepts such employment.

      3. Effective Date and Term of Employment. (a) The term of employment under
this Agreement shall commence as of January 1, 1998, (the "Commencement Date")
and shall, unless extended as hereinafter provided, terminate on December 31,
2000 (the "Term of Employment").

      (b) On the initial termination date of the Term of Employment, and each
succeeding anniversary, the Term of Employment shall automatically be extended
for an additional one year period unless, not later than six months prior to any
such anniversary, either party to this Agreement shall have given written notice
to the other that the Term of Employment shall not be extended or further
extended beyond its then already automatically extended term, if any.

      4. Positions, Responsibilities and Duties.

      4.1. Positions. During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be
employed as, and the Corporation shall at all times cause the Executive to be,
the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation and the Subsidiary.
In addition to such positions, the Corporation shall use its best efforts to
ensure that the Executive is elected by the shareholders of the Corporation to
serve as a director of the Corporation during the Term of Employment, and shall
use its best efforts to ensure that Executive is the Chairman of the Board of
Directors. In such positions, the Executive shall have the duties,
responsibilities and authority normally associated with the office and position
of chairman, director, chief executive officer and president of a corporation,
but in no event shall the Executive's duties, responsibilities and/or effective
authority with respect to the Corporation and/or the Subsidiary be less than the
duties, responsibilities and effective authority the Executive possessed
immediately prior to the date of this Agreement. No other employee of the
Corporation or the Subsidiary shall have authority and responsibilities that are
equal to or greater than those of the Executive. The Executive shall report
solely and directly to the Board and all other officers and other employees of
the Subsidiary shall report directly to the Executive or the Executive's
designees. No provision of this Section 4.1, however, shall preclude the Board
from soliciting information from any officer or employee of the Corporation.

      4.2. Duties. During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall devote all
or substantially all of Executive's business time and effort to perform the
duties associated with his offices and positions as set forth in Section 4.1 and
shall use his best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently the duties and
responsibilities contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that the
Executive shall not be limited from serving as a director of other companies and
shall not be required to perform any duties and responsibilities which would be


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likely to result in a non-compliance with or violation or breach of any
applicable law or regulation.

      5. Compensation and Other Benefits.

      5.1. Base Salary. During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall
receive a base salary ("Base Salary"), payable in equal monthly installments, of
$500,000 per annum. After the initial termination date of the Term of
Employment, such Base Salary shall be reviewed annually for increase (but not
decrease) in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board;
provided, however, that such Base Salary shall in any event be increased as of
January 1 of each calendar year after such third anniversary at a rate equal to
the percentage increase in the consumer price index for the New York-Northern
New Jersey- Long Island, NY-NJ-CT metropolitan local area as reported by the
United States Department of Labor (the "CPI") for the immediately preceding
calendar year. In conducting any such annual review, the Compensation Committee
of the Board shall take into account any change in the Executive's
responsibilities, increases in the compensation of other executives of the
Corporation or the Subsidiary or of its competitors, the performance of the
Executive and other pertinent factors. Such increased Base Salary shall then
constitute the "Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement.

      5.2. Bonuses. During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall be
eligible to participate, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Board, in all incentive compensation plans and programs maintained by the
Corporation and/or the Subsidiary for the benefit of senior executives,
including without limitation bonus and stock option or other stock-based
compensation plans. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, during
the Term of Employment, the Executive will be paid bonuses ("Bonuses"), on April
30 next following a year that included a portion of the Term of Employment,
equal to four percent (4%) of (a) the difference of the Corporation's Adjusted
Operating Earnings for such year over $3.0 million, multiplied by (b) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during such year which
include the Term of Employment, and the denominator of which is the number of
days (365 or 366) in such year, provided, that in calculating the bonus, if any,
payable in respect of 1994, the fraction in clause (b) will be deemed to be 1,
as if the Term of Employment covered the entire year of 1994.

      5.3. Expense Reimbursement. During the Term of Employment, the Executive
shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses
incurred by the Executive in performing his duties and responsibilities
hereunder in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Corporation as
in effect and actually applied immediately prior to the Commencement Date,
including without limitation an automobile allowance and/or reimbursement, which
will cover, among other things, expenses for automobile garage parking,
automobile insurance and other automobile expenses, or, if more favorable to the


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Executive, as in effect at any time thereafter with respect to the Executive or
other executives of the Corporation or the Subsidiary.

      5.4. Vacation and Fringe Benefits. (a) The Corporation shall maintain
disability insurance for the benefit of the Executive, and shall maintain such
insurance so long as the Executive remains a senior executive officer of the
Corporation, provided that (i) the aggregate amount of such insurance coverage
shall be reduced if and to the extent necessary to reduce the aggregate annual
premium payable by the Corporation to $10,000. The Corporation may, at its
election and for its benefit, insure the Executive against death and/or
disability and the Executive agrees to cooperate with the Corporation in
obtaining such policies and in maintaining the same in full force and effect
throughout the Term of Employment.

(b) During the Term of Employment, the Executive shall also be entitled to such
paid vacation, fringe benefits and perquisites as provided to the Executive by
the Corporation and/or the Subsidiary immediately prior to the Commencement Date
or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided by the Corporation or the
Subsidiary at any time thereafter.

      5.5. Office and Support Staff. Unless the Executive otherwise agrees in
writing, during the Term of Employment the Executive shall be entitled to
executive secretarial and other administrative assistance of a type and extent,
and to an office or offices (with furnishings and other appointments) of a type
and size, at least equal to that provided to the Executive immediately prior to
the date of this Agreement.

      6. Termination.

      6.1. Termination Due to Death or Disability. The Corporation may terminate
the Executive's employment hereunder due to Disability. In the event of the
Executive's death or a termination of the Executive's employment by the
Corporation due to Disability, the Executive, his estate or his legal
representative, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive:

            (a) Base Salary continuation at the rate in effect (as provided for
      by Section 5.1 of this Agreement) on the Date of Termination through the
      later to occur of (i) the first anniversary of such termination, or (ii)
      the end of the Term of Employment;

            (b) the product of any annual bonus paid or payable (and annualized
      for any fiscal year consisting of less than 12 months) to Executive for
      the most recently completed fiscal year during the Term of Employment and
      a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current
      fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which
      is 365.


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            (c) any deferred compensation not yet paid to the Executive
      (including, without limitation, interest or other credits on such deferred
      amounts) and any accrued vacation pay; and

            (d) reimbursement for expenses incurred but not yet paid prior to
      such death or Disability; and

            (e) any other compensation or benefits which may be owed or provided
      to the Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any
      applicable agreements, plans and programs of or made by the Corporation
      and/or the Subsidiary.

      Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Executive's family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the
most favorable benefits provided by the Corporation to surviving families of
employees of the Corporation under such plans, programs, practices and policies
relating to family death benefits, if any, in accordance with the most favorable
plans, programs, practices and policies of the Corporation in effect on the date
of the Executive's death with respect to other key employees of the Corporation
and their families. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Date of Termination to
receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of
those provided by the Corporation to disabled employees and/or their families in
accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to
disability, if any, in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately
preceding the Disability Date of Termination with respect to other key employees
of the Corporation and their families.

      6.2. Termination by the Corporation for Cause. The Corporation may
terminate the Executive's employment hereunder for Cause as provided in this
Section 6.2. If the Corporation terminates the Executive's employment hereunder
for Cause, the Executive shall be entitled to receive:

            (a) Base Salary at the rate in effect (as provided for by Section
      5.1 of this Agreement) at the time of such termination through the Date of
      Termination;

            (b) any deferred compensation (including, without limitation,
      interest or other credits on such deferred amounts) and any accrued
      vacation pay; and

            (c) reimbursement for expenses incurred, but not yet paid prior to
      such termination of employment; and

            (d) any other compensation or benefits which may be owed or provided
      to the Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any
      applicable agreements, plans and programs of or made by the Corporation
      and/or the Subsidiary.


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      In any case described in this Section 6.2, the Executive shall be given
written notice authorized by a vote of at least a majority of the members of the
Board that the Corporation intends to terminate the Executive's employment for
Cause. Such written notice, given in accordance with Section 6.7 of this
Agreement, shall specify the particular act or acts, or failure to act, which is
or are the basis for the decision to so terminate the Executive's employment for
Cause. The Executive shall be given the opportunity within 30 calendar days of
the receipt of such notice to meet with the Board to defend such act or acts, or
failure to act, and, if such act or failure to act is correctable, the Executive
shall be given 30 business days after such meeting to correct such act or
failure to act. If such act or failure to act is not correctable or upon failure
of the Executive, within such latter 30 day period, to correct such act or
failure to act, the Executive's employment by the Corporation shall
automatically be terminated under this Section 6.2 for Cause as of the date
determined in Section 1.5 of this Agreement. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, if, following a termination of the Executive's employment by
the Corporation for Cause based upon the conviction of the Executive for a
felony involving actual dishonesty as against the Corporation or the Subsidiary,
such conviction is overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to the
payments and benefits that the Executive would have received as a result of a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Corporation without Cause.

      6.3. Termination Without Cause or Termination For Good Reason. The
Corporation shall be permitted to terminate the Executive's employment hereunder
without Cause and the Executive shall be permitted to terminate his employment
hereunder for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, such a termination of
employment by the Executive shall constitute a "Termination for Good Reason"
only if effected in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 6.7(b). If
the Corporation terminates the Executive's employment hereunder without Cause,
other than due to death or Disability, or if the Executive effects a Termination
for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to receive:

            (a) the product of any annual bonus paid or payable (and annualized
      for any fiscal year consisting of less than 12 months) to Executive for
      the most recently completed fiscal year during the Term of Employment
      (unless in the case of termination by the Corporation without Cause, in
      which case, such product will be determined by reference to the highest
      annual bonus paid or payable under this Agreement during the Term of
      Employment) and a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days
      in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the
      denominator of which is 365.

            (b) a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value of
      Base Salary owed through the later to occur of (i) the second anniversary
      of such termination, or (ii) the end of the Term of Employment;


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            (c) any deferred compensation (including, without limitation,
      interest or other credits on the deferred amounts) and any accrued
      vacation pay;

            (d) reimbursement for expenses incurred, but not paid prior to such
      termination of employment; and

            (e) any other compensation or benefits which may be owed or provided
      to the Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any
      applicable agreements, plans and programs of or made by the Corporation
      and/or the Subsidiary.

      6.4. Voluntary Termination. The Executive may effect a Voluntary
Termination of his employment hereunder. A "Voluntary Termination" shall mean a
termination of employment upon 180 days prior written notice to the Corporation
by the Executive on his own initiative other than (a) a termination due to death
or Disability, (b) a Termination for Good Reason, or (c) a termination due to
Retirement. A Voluntary Termination shall not be, nor shall it be deemed to be,
a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to all of the rights
and benefits which the Executive would be entitled in the event of a termination
of his employment by the Corporation for Cause.

      6.5. Termination Due to Retirement. The Executive may terminate his
employment hereunder as a result of Retirement. If the Executive employment
hereunder is terminated due to Retirement, the Executive shall be entitled to
receive:

            (a) Base Salary at the rate in effect (as provided for by Section
      5.1 of this Agreement) at the time of such termination through the date of
      Retirement;

            (b) any deferred compensation not yet paid to the Executive
      (including, without limitation, any interest on credits on such deferred
      amounts) and any accrued vacation pay;

            (c) reimbursement for expenses incurred but not yet paid prior to
      the date of Retirement; and

            (d) any other compensation or benefits which may be owed or provided
      to the Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any
      applicable agreements, plans and programs of or made by the Corporation
      and/or the Subsidiary.

      6.6. No Mitigation; No Offset. In the event of any termination of
employment under this Section 6, the Executive shall be under no obligation to
seek other employment and there shall be no offset against any amounts due the
Executive under this Agreement on account of any remuneration attributable to
any subsequent employment that the Executive may obtain.


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Any amounts due under this Section 6 are in the nature of severance payments, or
liquidated damages, or both, and are not in the nature of a penalty.

      6.7. Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive's employment
by the Corporation for Cause, any Termination for Good Reason, and any
termination of employment by the Executive in connection with a Voluntary
Termination shall be communicated by a notice of termination to the other party
hereto given in accordance with Section 13.3 of this Agreement (the "Notice of
Termination"). The Notice of Termination shall be given (a) in the case of a
termination for Cause, within 90 business days after a director of the
Corporation (excluding the Executive) has actual knowledge of the events giving
rise to such purported termination, (b) in the case of a Termination for Good
Reason, within 180 days of the Executive's having actual knowledge of the event
or events constituting Good Reason; and (c) in the case of Voluntary
Termination, not later than 150 days prior to the date of termination specified
in such notice. Such notice shall (x) indicate the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon, (y) set forth in reasonable detail the
facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive's employment under the provision so indicated, as applicable, and (z)
if the termination date is other than the date of receipt of such notice,
specify the date on which the Executive's employment is to be terminated (which
date shall not be earlier than the date on which such notice is actually given).

      6.8. Certain Further Payments by the Corporation.

      6.8.1. Tax Reimbursement Payment. Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, in the event that any amount or benefit paid, payable,
or to be paid, or distributed, distributable, or to be distributed to or with
respect to the Executive by the Corporation, the Subsidiary or any other
Affiliate (collectively, the "Covered Payments"), is or becomes, at any time, as
a result of (a) any Internal Revenue Service claims or assertions, or (b)
Section 6.8.2 below or otherwise, subject to the excise tax imposed by or under
Section 4999 of the Code (or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed),
and/or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise
tax, together with such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively,
referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Corporation shall pay to the Executive at
the time specified in Section 6.9 below an additional amount (the "Tax
Reimbursement Payment") such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes
(including, without limitation, any interest or penalties imposed with respect
to such taxes), including, without limitation, any Excise Tax, imposed on or
attributable to the Tax Reimbursement Payment provided by this Agreement, the
Executive retains an amount of the Tax Reimbursement Payment equal to the sum of
(a) the amount of the Excise Tax imposed upon the Covered Payments, and (b) an
amount equal to the product of (i) any deductions disallowed for federal, state
or local income tax purposes because of the inclusion of the Tax Reimbursement
Payment in the Executive's adjusted gross income, and (ii) the highest
applicable marginal rate of federal, state or local income taxation,
respectively, for the calendar year in which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is
made or is to be made.


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      6.8.2. Determining Excise Tax. Except as otherwise provided in Section
6.8.1(a), for purposes of determining whether any of the Covered Payments will
be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax,

            (a) such Covered Payments will be treated as "parachute payments"
      (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) and such payments
      in excess of the Code Section 280G(b)(3) "base amount" shall be treated as
      subject to the Excise Tax, unless, and except to the extent that, the
      Corporation's independent certified public accountants (the "Accountants")
      or legal counsel reasonably acceptable to the Executive, deliver timely,
      upon the Executive's request, a written opinion, reasonably satisfactory
      to the Executive's legal counsel, to the Executive that the Executive has
      a reasonable basis to claim that the Covered Payments (in whole or in
      part) (i) do not constitute "parachute payments", (ii) represent
      reasonable compensation for services actually rendered (within the meaning
      of Section 28OG(b)(4) of the Code) in excess of the "base amount"
      allocable to such reasonable compensation, or (iii) such "parachute
      payments" are otherwise not subject to such Excise Tax (with appropriate
      legal authority, detailed analysis and explanation provided therein by the
      Accountants); and

            (b) the value of any Covered Payments which are non-cash benefits or
      deferred payments or benefits shall be determined by the Accountants in
      accordance with the principles of Section 28OG of the Code.

      6.8.3. Applicable Tax Rates and Deductions. For purposes of determining
the amount of the Tax Reimbursement Payment, the Executive shall be deemed:

            (a) to pay federal, state and/or local income taxes at the highest
      applicable marginal rate of income taxation for the calendar year in which
      the Tax Reimbursement Payment is made or is to be made, and

            (b) to have otherwise allowable deductions for federal, state and
      local income tax purposes at least equal to those disallowed due to the
      inclusion of the Tax Reimbursement Payment in the Executive's adjusted
      gross income.

      6.8.4. Subsequent Events. If, pursuant to a written opinion, reasonably
satisfactory to the Executive, of the Accountants (or legal counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Executive) delivered to the Executive, the Excise Tax is
subsequently determined on a reasonable basis and in good faith (other than as a
result of a tax contest) to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder
in calculating any Tax Reimbursement Payment made, the Executive shall repay to
the Corporation the portion of any prior Tax Reimbursement Payment that would
not have been paid if such redetermined Excise Tax had been applied in
calculating such Tax Reimbursement Payment, plus interest on the amount of such
repayment at the mid-term discount rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the
Code. Notwithstanding the immediately


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foregoing sentence, if any portion of the Tax Reimbursement Payment to be
refunded to the Corporation has been paid to any federal, state or local tax
authority, repayment thereof shall not be required until an actual refund or
credit of such portion has been made to or obtained by the Executive from such
tax authority, and any interest payable to the Corporation shall not exceed the
interest received or credited to the Executive by any such tax authority. The
Executive shall be fully indemnified by the Corporation for any out-of-pocket
costs, expenses or fees attributable to the filing of any refund or other claim.
The Executive and the Corporation shall mutually agree upon the course of action
to be pursued (and the method of allocating the expenses thereof) if any good
faith claim for refund or credit from such tax authority made by the Executive
is denied.

      Notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, if, in the written
opinion of the Executive's tax advisors delivered to the Accountants and the
Corporation, the Excise Tax is later determined to exceed the amount taken into
account by the Accountants or legal counsel, as the case may be, hereunder at
the time any Tax Reimbursement Payment is made by reason of (i) manifest error,
(ii) any payment the existence or amount of which could not be or was not
determined or known about at the time of any Tax Reimbursement Payment, or (iii)
any determination, claim or assertion made by any tax authority that the Excise
Tax is or should be greater than the amount of such Excise Tax taken into
account previously by the Accountants or legal counsel, as the case may be, or
as otherwise previously determined, the Corporation shall make an additional Tax
Reimbursement Payment in respect of such excess Excise Tax (which Tax
Reimbursement Payment shall include, without limitation, any interest or
penalties payable with respect to such excess Excise Tax) at the time specified
in Section 6.9 below. With respect to this Section 6.8.4, if any such tax
authority makes such a determination, the Executive shall notify the Corporation
of such occurrence. If the Corporation obtains (at the Corporation's sole
expense) an opinion of legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Executive
that it is more likely than not that the Executive would succeed in disputing
such claim, assertion or determination of such tax authority, the Executive
shall, at the sole expense of the Corporation, make a good faith effort to
contest such claim, assertion or determination of such tax authority in all
relevant administrative proceedings with such tax authority and in any related
judicial proceeding (excluding any appeals thereof); provided, however, that if
the Executive determines in good faith that the continued contest of any such
claim, assertion or determination with such tax authority would have an adverse
impact on his overall tax position (which good faith determination shall take
into account the magnitude of the amounts involved), then, upon receipt of
notice by the Corporation from the Executive to that effect, the Executive
shall, without foregoing any right to receive any Tax Reimbursement Payment
described in this Section 6.8, have no further obligation to pursue any such
contest with any such tax authority. The Executive may, as a condition to
pursuing or commencing any contest described in this Section 6.8.4 in any
judicial proceedings (which proceedings shall be in a forum chosen at the sole
discretion of the Executive), require the Corporation to advance any amount of
tax required to be paid in order to pursue such contest. In conducting any
contest described in this Section 6.8.4, the Executive shall use his best
efforts to keep the Corporation


                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

advised and will permit the Corporation to prepare and suggest appropriate
responses and actions that may be reasonably made or taken by the Executive.
Notwithstanding the above, the decisions as to such response or actions shall be
solely that of the Executive and the Executive shall have the sole right to
control the proceeding. The Corporation shall bear all expenses of any
proceeding relating to any contest described in this Section 6.8.4, whether
incurred by the Corporation or the Executive, including, without limitation, all
fees and disbursements of attorneys, accountants and expert witnesses and any
additional interest or penalties applicable. Nothing contained in this Agreement
shall under any circumstances give the Corporation any right to examine the tax
returns or any other records of the Executive.

      6.9. Payment. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, and except
with respect to continued payment of Base Salary in accordance with any
provisions of this Agreement, any payments to which the Executive shall be
entitled under this Section 6 shall be made as promptly as possible following
(a) the Date of Termination, (b) the payment of any Covered Payments, or (c) the
delivery of the opinion of the Executive's tax advisors, in accordance with
Section 6.8.4. If the amount of any payment due to the Executive cannot be
finally determined with 90 days after the Date of Termination, such amount shall
be estimated on a good faith basis by the Corporation and the estimated amount
shall be paid no later than 90 days after such Date of Termination. As soon as
practicable thereafter, the final determination of the amount due shall be made
and any adjustment requiring a payment to or from the Executive shall be made as
promptly as practicable.

      7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or
limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any bonus or
incentive plan or program provided or maintained by the Corporation, the
Subsidiary or any other Affiliate and for which the Executive may qualify or be
selected, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise prejudice such rights as
the Executive may have under any other existing or future agreements with the
Corporation, the Subsidiary or any Affiliate, including, without limitation, any
change of control agreements or any stock option or restricted stock agreements.
Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, amounts which are
vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under
any plans or programs of the Corporation, the Subsidiary or any other Affiliate
at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with
such plans or programs.

      8. Full Settlement. The Corporation's obligation to make the payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without
limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which
the Corporation may have against the Executive or others.

      9. Legal Fees and Expenses. In the event that a claim for payment or
benefits under this Agreement is disputed, each of the parties hereto shall pay
its own attorney fees and expenses incurred in connection with such dispute. In
addition, each party shall pay its own


                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and
negotiation of this Agreement.

      10. Confidential Information and Noncompetition.

      10.1. Confidential Information. The Executive shall not, during the Term
of Employment and thereafter, without the prior express written consent of the
Corporation or the Subsidiary, disclose any confidential information, knowledge
or data relating to the Corporation, the Subsidiary or any other Affiliate and
their respective businesses, which (a) was obtained by the Executive in the
course of the Executive's employment with the Corporation, and (b) which is not
information, knowledge or data otherwise in the public domain (other than by
reason of a breach of this provision by the Executive), unless required to do so
by a court of law or equity or by any governmental agency or other authority. In
no event shall an asserted violation of this Section 10.1 constitute a basis for
delaying or withholding the payment of any amounts otherwise payable to the
Executive under this Agreement.

      10.2. Noncompetition. If the Executive terminates his employment hereunder
pursuant to Section 6.4 of this Agreement, or if the Corporation terminates
Executive's employment hereunder pursuant to Section 6.1 or 6.2, then the
Corporation, by written notice given to the Executive within 30 days after the
Executive delivers a Notice of Termination in connection with a Voluntary
Termination, may require that this Section 10.2 apply, subject to the
Corporation complying with its obligations under this Agreement. If the
Corporation gives notice to the Executive as provided in the preceding sentence,
then the Executive, without the express written consent of the Corporation,
shall not, for the twelve month period following the Date of Termination, engage
in any business, whether as an employee, consultant, partner, principal, agent,
representative or stockholder (other than as a stockholder of less than a 5%
equity interest) or in any other corporate or representative capacity, if it
involves engaging in, or rendering services or advice pertaining to, any lines
of business the Corporation or the Subsidiary was actively conducting on the
Date of Termination. If the Corporation shall institute any action or proceeding
to enforce the provisions of this Section 10.2, or shall file any claim in any
proceeding to enforce such provisions, the Executive hereby waives the claim or
defense that the Corporation has an adequate remedy at law and waives the
requirement that


                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

the Corporation post a bond in securing equitable relief, and the Executive
shall not contend in any such action or proceeding the claim or defense that an
adequate remedy at law exists.

      11. Successors.

      11.1. The Executive. This Agreement is personal to the Executive and,
without the prior express written consent of the Corporation, shall not be
assignable by the Executive, except that the Executive's rights to receive any
compensation or benefits under this Agreement may be transferred or disposed of
pursuant to testamentary disposition; intestate succession or pursuant to a
domestic relations order of a court of competent jurisdiction. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's heirs,
beneficiaries and/or legal representatives.

      11.2. The Corporation. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Corporation and its successors and assigns. The Corporation
shall require any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Corporation or the Subsidiary, whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock, or otherwise, by an
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent as the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had
taken place.

      12. Miscellaneous.

      12.1. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, applied without reference to
principles of conflict of laws.

      12.2. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise
than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective
successors and legal representatives.

      12.3. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given by hand-delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:

      If to the Executive:          828 Fifth Avenue
                                    New York, New York 10021

      If to the Corporation:        Marisa Christina, Incorporated
                                    8101 Tonnelle Avenue
                                    North Bergen, New Jersey


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16

      copy to:                      Brett Meyer, Esq.
                                    Kreindler & Relkin P.C.
                                    350 Park Avenue
                                    New York, NY  10118

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notices and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.

      12.4. Withholding. The Corporation may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement such federal, state or local income taxes as shall be
required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

      12.5. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.

      12.6. Captions. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the
provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

      12.7. Beneficiaries/References. The Executive shall be entitled to select
(and change) a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any compensation or
benefit payable hereunder following the Executive's death, and may change such
election, in either case by giving the Corporation written notice thereof. In
the event of the Executive's death or a judicial determination of his
incompetence, reference in this Agreement to the Executive shall be deemed,
where appropriate, to refer to other beneficiary(ies), estate or his legal
representative(s).

      12.8. Entire Agreement. Upon the commencement of the Term of Employment,
this Agreement will contain the entire agreement between the parties concerning
the subject matter hereof and will supersede all prior agreements,
understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including
the Old Employment Agreement, which is hereby terminated, discharged and
released, but excluding the Director Indemnification Agreement dated as of June
30, 1994, by and between the Corporation and the Executive.

      12.9. Representation. The Corporation represents and warrants that it is
fully authorized and empowered to enter into this Agreement and that the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement will not violate any
agreement between the Corporation and any other person, firm or organization or
any applicable laws or regulations.


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

      12.10. Survivorship. The respective rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the Executive's
employment hereunder to the extent necessary to the intended preservation of
such rights and obligations.

      13. Arbitration.

      (a) Any controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be
settled by arbitration in New York pursuant to the rules of the American
Arbitration Association, and judgment may be entered in any Court having
jurisdiction.

      (b) The parties consent to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the
State of New York, and of the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York, for all purposes in connection with arbitration, including
the entry of judgment on any award; and consent that any process, notice, motion
or other application to either of said courts, and any papers in connection with
arbitration, may be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, by personal service, or in such other manner as may be permissible
under the rules of the applicable court or arbitration tribunal, provided a
reasonable time for appearance is allowed.

      (c) The arbitrators shall have no power to alter or modify any express
provision of this Agreement, or to render an award which has the effect of
altering or modifying any express provision hereof, provided, however, that any
application for reformation of this Agreement shall be made to the arbitrators
and not to any Court, and the arbitrators shall be empowered to determine
whether valid grounds for reformation exist.

      (d) Any arbitration proceeding must be instituted within one year after
the claimed breach occurred, and a party's failure to institute arbitration
proceedings within such period shall constitute an absolute bar to the
institution of any proceedings by said party and a waiver of such claimed
breach. Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, the determination of
whether said one-year period has expired shall be made by the Court and shall
not be within the jurisdiction of the arbitrators.

      (e) The Executive or the Corporation, as the case may be, may be awarded
all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Executive or the
Corporation, as the case may be, in connection with any arbitration or court
proceeding arising out of this Agreement, in the arbitrators' discretion.

      (f) In the event that any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be
submitted to arbitration pursuant to this Section 13, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive all compensation, bonuses, benefits and perquisites
contemplated by this Agreement during the pendency of any such proceedings
unless the Corporation shall place the disputed amount into an interest-bearing
escrow account with the Corporation's attorneys, the terms of which


                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

escrow shall provide that all escrowed funds shall be immediately distributed to
the party or parties entitled thereto immediately upon a determination of the
arbitrators which is final, confirmed, and not subject to appeal.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its
behalf, and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its
Secretary, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                          EXECUTIVE


                                          -------------------------------
                                          Michael Lerner

                                          MARISA CHRISTINA, INCORPORATED
                                          MARISA CHRISTINA APPAREL, INC.


                                          By
                                             ----------------------------
                                          Its
                                             ----------------------------


                                      -19-