Know Wear: Introducing: Clarissa Labin

Today, as I flicked through the September issue of Vogue UK, I spotted a little square column on the right-hand side of one of the pages devoted to a new talent, Clarissa Labin, whose team had emailed me her lookbook a few days before. I was happy to see it wasn't just me that had seen in her debut FW10 line a lot of potential and great pieces. As you know, when I first come across a collection I always look for certain essential pieces. Labin hits all the right notes: a leather LBD, a leather jacket, a chunky cardigan and plenty of revisited basics which make a very modern statement via colour. The lamé skirt and dress and the leather skirt add the winter trend elements that round up the collection.
It's hard to believe this is a first collection. Directional lines are hard to come by in amateur designers. But Clarissa is no amateur. After graduating from London College of Fashion in 2000 she first worked in the accessories design department of Christian Dior. She then moved on to H&M where she specialised in knitwear and jersey (hence the fantastic pieces in her collection) and where she'd work as Head of Design of Divided Black until 2009, when she moved to Berlin to start the amazing line we see below.