At the age of 13, Kara Ross discovered her true calling in a tourmaline stone she found on a family trip to Kenya. Her parents allowed her to design a ring around the stone and her future was cast. Kara is now a Gemological Institute of America Certified Gemologist and has spent the last five years designing her own jewelry line. It’s no surprise that she approaches handbags with the same eye for craftsmanship and love of special materials.
I had the pleasure of touring the Kara Ross NY showroom recently and was blown away. Like a kid in a candy store, I ogled beautiful jewels, stunning showpieces, amazing handbags and a sneak peak at Fall 2011. While I can’t share the Fall highlights with you…yet, I can share some of the special items for Spring/Summer!
With Kara Ross, the materials are an important feature of the bag. Python, alligator, ostrich, snake, lizard, stingray and even cork and sequins are embellished with crystals, stones and jewelry grade metal accents. One beautiful gem-like bag is this seafoam green alligator Dea featuring geometric black onyx with metallic accent. A smaller sized clutch, it fits beautifully in the hand and is one of my favorites from the collection.
Events like these make me wish I was in the NY area. Kara Ross is hosting a decorate-it-yourself type purse event at Bergdorf Goodman on Thursday, November 4th.
Kara will be there, hanging out on the first floor between the hours of 1-5 pm, helping customer’s customize the new Celina clutch in the skin and stone of their choice. Prices start at $1320.
Last night the stars were out in honor of Tinsel Town’s leading ladies, at Elle’s 17th Annual ‘Women in Hollywood’ Tribute at The Four Seasons Hotel.
Pictured above is beauty Kate Hudson (wearing Prabal Gurung) with beau, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy. And do you see that pretty little silver purse sitting on the table? For the event, she carried her Kara Ross NY Gemma B in Silver Foil Python with Hematite.
If you’re in the New York area, you must make it by Henri Bendel’s 5th Avenue window sometime from tomorrow November 3rd until November 9th. As well as check out the new limited time only Kara Ross pop-up shop in the store and meet the designer!
For the spectacular window display at Bendel’s, Kara created a one-of-a-kind vintage inspired studded “Purse dress,” which all handbag addicts must find amusing. The dress (modeled below by Kara’s daughter Avery) is adorned with the hit bag of the season, the Swarovski crystallized Nox bag sewn into the side.
We have also received word, that there’s going to be a larger than life 5ft by 8ft Nox bag made completely out of broken glass pieces in the display. You can’t miss it!
Also featured in the window will be two original bejeweled python purses made with Crystallized Swarovski Elements. Produced in a pink metallic glazed python in Kara’s classic Nox & Dea styles.
Enjoy the display!
