[New York Fashion Week] Kara Ross F/W 2012 Collection Preview 

During New York Fashion Week, I had the pleasure of attending Kara Ross's unveiling of her Fall/Winter 2012 Collection in a penthouse suite overlooking Central Park West. Founded in 2003, Kara Ross's fine jewelry has become known for its bold and unique use of exotic skins, gemstones, and precious metals. Her collection includes several jewelry lines, handbags, and other accessories. Kara Ross Fall/Winter 2012 Collection was inspired by Ross's recent trip to Morocco. The trip's influence on the collection was evident: rich and vibrant gemstones, reptile skins, precious metal plating, and the iconic Scarab beetle. 

The handbags and clutches were outfitted in a variety of reptile skins and leathers, some of which were custom dyed in order to maintain the desert aesthetic. And this coming season, you will be able to customize your bag at available retailers, selecting the stone(s), closure(s), and skin(s) as you see fit. You could say Ross's collection was fit for a queen (my birthday is August 14th if you'd like to start saving) especially with the addition of the jewelry. The Scarab beetle was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians as the embodiment of the god Khepri. Jewelry that bore the Scarab was only worn by Egyptian kings and queens as a symbol of considerable power and wealth. And with stones ranging from hematite to onyx, you would be hard-pressed to feel anything other than regal. 

For more on Kara Ross's fine jewelry and accessories, please visit her website. 

The Queen's Wishlist

[If I were a rich girl] The Queen's Dream Wish list 

MY TEN PICKS FOR A FANTASY CHRISTMAS

I'm a firm believer in the philosophy, "If you're going to dream, dream big," so I did with this little fantasy Christmas Wish list. I'll be following up shortly with more affordable holiday gift ideas, but for now, dream with me in the land of luxury. 

1. Dannijo Bea Necklace: It is no secret that I'm thoroughly obsessed with Dannijo.  The Bea would be an excellent addition to my humble but colorful jewelry collection as a transition piece from day to evening. 
2. Dannijo Sinatra Necklace: Yet another fantastic piece from Dannijo for the Peter Pan collar aficionado. 
3. YSL Beastie Ring: I love that semi-precious stone is being held in what appears to be talons. Rings with animalistic accents are always a winner in my book.
4. Christian Louboutin Bibi 140 Suede Platform Pumps: Those pumps are not only classic but quite versatile, thanks to the nude color. 
5. Prada Butterfly Sunglasses: Although those particular Prada sunglasses are from an older season, they are still classic, especially for someone with my particular head shape and size. Unfortunately, I don't believe that they're in production anymore. 
6. YSL Tribute Sandals in Python: PETA is going to hate me for that one. I just noticed that somehow, that sandal dropped from the thousands to the hundreds -- talk about a recession special!
7. Kara Ross Small Shirt Cuff: PETA is going to hate me for that one as well. I'm pretty sure that Ross uses lizard skin but I wouldn't lose sleep over that bracelet. 
8. Celine Luggage Tote: The tote speaks for itself.
9. Antik Batik Lisa Sequin Dress: I randomly came across the Lisa dress on sale somewhere months ago. Since then, I've been dying to get my hands on her -- she'd be perfect for New Years Eve (not that I have any plans). 
10. Chanel Jumbo Flap: As if I even need to tell you, person on a fashion blog, why I want/need that bag.