Lara currently works out of Los Angeles but was raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She received her BFA in Costume Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University. It was at this theatre conservatory in Chicago where she was classically trained in period costume design and construction.

As a designer, Lara is passionate about story telling and using clothing to express a visual journey. Layering textures, being conscious of lighting, and purposefully utilizing silhouettes are important elements of her work.