Lara Parker's Knowledge of Good & Evil

Auckland designer Lara Parker's new collection -Knowledge of Good and Evil- features her model playing Eve with a juicy red apple in a story about the fallen and redeemed in all of us. Drawing on her personal faith, Parker uses the dichotomy both subtly -with the juxtaposition of her sweet angelic pieces and her rebel dresses - and in an explicit way, with Fallen and Redeemed prints on sleeveless tee-shirts.

"I like to evolve, rebel against what I’ve done and do the opposite!" Parker says. "Last year was black and white, now there’s lots of colour; and now the range for summer 07/08 is Knowledge of Good and Evil. All designers end up doing something completely similar, by rebelling in exactly the same way!"

The petite and pretty designer with long straight hair is the perfect pin-up for her designs, which she makes for herself to suit the two sides of her- and every woman's- personality. Parker showed us through some of her pieces in the range, which are sold exclusively in the Newmarket boutique she's had for two years since the end of her four year stint at Aotea Markets selling under her streetwear label Eden 210.

The striped cotton Boyfriend shirt ($149) has sleeves caught up in epaulettes "modeled on a $1 shirt I wore for years and I thought to myself, why don’t I make them? And everyone just lives in them."

"Roses are Red (silk, $239), Angel at my Table ($189) and Easy Being Green ($189) are gorgeous slips with gathered bow front necklines to throw over jeans or wear over a slip."

There are trousers, too; a standard high waisted trouser in white, denim, navy and black. "I spend a lot of time with my pattern maker getting the fit right. I want to do more couture pieces. I want to not hold back; not do simple things but put in more little details" Parker says holding a beautiful delicate cream cami with petal-like ruffles around its neckline($289).

"Now we move into the Rebel Girl" Lara says with a cheeky grin as she shows me the sexier black pieces in the range. A black velvet mini sheath dress is entitled “Fallen Eve” ($289). Stretch satin forms a round-neck black dress with puff sleeves in her “Sculptured Angel Dress” ($285). “All the puff sleeves remind me of angels!” she says. A tuxedo top in blue satin with a bow front is a “nice top to wear out that’s not too revealing.”

A stand-out piece is the Lara Parker Little Black Dress, with a softly draped cowl, which can be worn different ways with the backstraps in a central rope or crossed over or as a halter neck. The "Peek a bow” dress in red or black, is lined stretch satin ($285) lined in viscose lycra to hug your body and "it removes the feeling of having satin clinging to your bottom."

All the clothes are designed by Parker and manufactured in New Zealand in very limited runs, bringing customers from around the country clamouring to take home the only piece like it in their town, especially at these really good prices. "New styles come into the shop 2-3 times per month; we trade on repeat customers so we've got to keep them intrigued. Our future plans are to begin wholesaling in 2009 and to open another store" says Parker.

So whether you're dressing your angel - or your rebel- get aware of the knowledge of good and evil instore at Lara Parker. Even the fashion fallen can be redeemed.

Lara Parker
7 Remuera Road cnr Broadway Newmarket
Ph 09 522 1432
www.laraparker.co.nz