• Home /
  • About Us /
  • Blog /
  • Shop /
  • FAQ /
  • Newsletter & Contact

Handcrafted Jewellery Anne Carson Design

~ blog from Vancouver

Handcrafted Jewellery Anne Carson Design

Category Archives: Fashion for Grown-ups

The right to bare arms (with bracelets)

15 Thursday Feb 2018

Posted by annecarsondesign in Fashion for Grown-ups, Screen Inspirations, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#righttobarearms, Kim Campbell, news anchors, TV reporters

The latest Twitter tempest — about the #righttobarearms —  sprang up as most of them do: when someone’s poorly worded tweet was misunderstood.

At first I was bemused by former Prime Minister Kim Campbell taking it upon herself to criticize women newscasters who wear sleeveless shift dresses.

Personally, I like the look: as sleek as Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. And certainly professional: 1950s fashion was nothing if not demure.

ACD-P-AudreyShift-3

And as I joked in Twitter, I’m all for the #righttobarearms, since it’s the best way to show off a bracelet.

ACD-B-Onyx3strand

But I looked up the blogger she was retweeting, and I think there’s been a little miscommunication. He’s a communications consultant who was noting some research that said that audiences are inclined to think that the more covered-up public speakers are, the more intelligent they are.

And it applied to both men and women.

He goes on to offer five good, common sense tips for dressing appropriately that could apply to any event. Or daily life. And his final point practically explains how I ended up in the jewellery design business.

“Dress to set yourself apart,” Nick Morgan advises. “What accessory can you wear…that will allow you to stand out from the crowd… Finding that one little bit of difference can really make for a memorable stage costume.”

It’s like he read my mind.

AnnePearls

I began designing statement necklaces for myself 20 years ago because I wanted to elevate what I referred to as my mommy uniform. I was wrangling two pre-schoolers and I would dress daily in a black T-shirt and dark jeans. Boring, but practical. That outfit had to carry me through my 18-hour days. And I figured it could even work for my part-time job as a photographer, if I added some grown-up jewellery. (I didn’t have time to change. But a necklace? That I could manage.)

I wanted something bold and eye-catching to distract from my pedestrian outfit. But when I went necklace hunting I couldn’t find what I had in mind. I saw some big necklaces, but they were often glass and base metals. I wanted real silver and real gemstones. After a few weeks of searching, I gave up and hit one of the gem shops to see if I could make that necklace that was in my head.

I could.

ACD-Neck-Smokey

And I made quite a few.

ACD-N-Coin&Pearl&Chain

 

ACD-N-PearlsGrey&Amethyst-2

And eventually it became a business.

ACD-Ads15-RealYou1

So I think this guy’s fashion advice is pretty good. Although I’m not so sure about that research study, which came from psychology researchers at a trio of universities: Yale, Maryland, and Northeastern.

It’s called “Sexiness and Sweaters: The Psychology of Objectification.” Naturally the subjects were university students. And I’m not so sure we should be making our life decisions based on the perceptions of undergrads.

Advertisement

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Get that turquoise while you can

16 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by annecarsondesign in Fashion for Grown-ups, turquoise

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

handcrafted jewellery

If you’re a turquoise fan, you may want to snap up as many of the pieces as possible before they out-price diamonds.

ACD-N-TurquoiseDouble

The Smithsonian magazine says turquoise is about to become more rare and costly than the stones known as a girl’s best friend. That’s partly because China, which sells about 75 per cent of the jewellery-quality gems, has called a moratorium on turquoise mining for a minimum of three years. Possibly five.

The gem is found in arid climates, and other sources of turquoise include Iran, Egypt, and the American Southwest – where the mines are almost tapped out. The beautiful turquoise in these earrings came from Arizona’s soon-to-be exhausted Sleeping Beauty mine and you’ll find them in the online shop.

ACD-E-Turquois&AmethystFrillMG_1449 2

Turquoise is also having a moment in fashion, courtesy of Cate Blanchett’s Oscar outfit. She wore a fabulous collar of turquoise mixed with aquamarines, diamonds, and platinum that popped against a basic black dress no one remembers. This necklace is so costly that the Tiffany’s, which created it, lists the price as “on request.”

ACD-Cate-Turqoise

Throw in the fact that turquoise is the star stone for spring 2015 — it picks up on the range of blue-green fashion colours anointed by Pantone – and I’m advising everyone who loves turquoise to invest in it now. The stone is timeless, so if you choose unique pieces that defy trends it will serve your wardrobe well for decades to come.

Here are some pieces from my portfolio. I often mix the turquoise with other blue-green stones to bring out the rich colours.

This single strand is mixed with a Peruvian opal accent stone

ACD-N-Turqoise&PeruvianOpal

And I often mix turquoise with aquamarines for a more sophisticated look.

AnneTurqCollar

ACD-B-Turquoise&Aquamarine

There’s only one turquoise necklace in the shop at the moment, a long rope mixed with aquamarine accent stones that can be wound into two strands. But I found some of those rare Sleeping Beauty turquoise stones at the Tucson Gem Show, so I will be creating a few more pieces.

If you want a first look at those new pieces, please sign up for my newsletter.

ACD-NK-Turq&AquaBob

ACD-NK-Turqoise&Aqua

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Make-up for Grown-ups

28 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by annecarsondesign in Fashion for Grown-ups

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Lisa Eldridge, make-up, parties

Just in time for party season, here’s a treasure trove of tutorials by British make-up artist Lisa Eldridge.

She first caught my attention last year with an astonishing make-up tutorial aimed at women in their mid-60s. In the space of 13 minutes, her model went from looking wrinkled and tired to fresh and vibrant, and the video went viral. She uses light products and a deft hand with eye make-up to achieve a youthful glow despite her model’s heavily lined skin.

What makes this video so useful is that it shows her application techniques, with both her brushes and her fingers. There are lots of tricks anyone can use to do a more professional make-up application. But you have to see the video to believe the transformation.

Eldridge’s site has a wealth of good advice and useful tips. Need to find a great nude lip pencil? She can recommend several. Need to know how to do a smoky eye? Her detailed videos show her brush technique as well as the products she uses.

She has archived dozens of detailed guides on how to update day-to-day make-up looks or prep for a party. And some of it is just plain interesting. In one video she talks about how the Downton Abbey cast gets that historically accurate no-cosmetics look, and gives Laura Carmichael — better known as long-suffering Lady Edith — a polished look with nary a hint of artifice. Then she does her up again for a red carpet event.

Her site is so good that I subscribed to her newsletter.

ACD-Neck-GreyPearlMarc

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Fashion for Grown-ups

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by annecarsondesign in Fashion for Grown-ups

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

That's not my age

When it comes to fashion magazines I think it’s safe to say that you will have to pry Vogue from my cold dead hands, but lately my research has led me to a number of smart fashion blogs that are much more than a narcissist’s selfies.

Bloggers are the place to go for practical ideas and tips on how to interpret the runway inspirations to real life. Lately I’ve been reading That’s Not My Age, a style blog by British fashion writer Alyson Walsh aimed at readers who are, like her, over 30. In some cases, well over 30.

She maintains something most of us believe, despite what the fashion mags peddle — style has no age. She has a witty sense of humour along with a fine sense of styling. And she offers tips on how grown-up women can stay on trend without looking like mutton-dressed-as-lamb. She just did a piece on Helen Mirren, 69, being hired as the new face of L’Oreal — and how great is that?

I love those shots of Mirren in a sleek, black pantsuit. But you know me, I’d want to add a necklace.

Freshwater pearls in rich purple hues mixed with sterling silver beads and punctuated with large lilac amethysts. 

ACD-NK-HelenMirren

ACD-HelenMirren

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • In praise of versatile pearls
  • Theodora inspired by 1930s mannequin
  • Shop closed until October 2, 2019
  • Daring to be creative, while aging
  • Meet my new friend LeslieJane

Categories

  • amethysts
  • Amusements
  • Arts Umbrella
  • Audrey Hepburn Day
  • bracelets
  • Custom Designs
  • Downton Inspirations
  • earrings
  • Fashion for Grown-ups
  • Gift Guide
  • gifts
  • Good Causes
  • In the news
  • Inspirations
  • Inspirations from the Screen
  • MOTHERS DAY
  • New creations
  • Pearls
  • Screen Inspirations
  • Seen Wearing ACD
  • Shop Anne Carson
  • Shows
  • statement necklaces
  • theodora
  • Trunk show
  • Trunk shows
  • turquoise
  • Uncategorized
  • Vancouver Designers
  • Weddings
  • where to buy

Archives

  • August 2021
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • April 2017
  • November 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013

Recent Comments

Earrings fit for a t… on Come for the earrings; go for…
Theodora is in charg… on Theodora in charge
annecarsondesign on Tomorrow’s heirlooms for…
PoshPedlar on Tomorrow’s heirlooms for…
Anne Carson Design 
Vancouver, BC, Canada
+1.604.619.9294


Learn about new items first! Sign up for our newsletter.

We respect privacy and will never sell your address.

Or you can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Handcrafted Jewellery Anne Carson Design
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Handcrafted Jewellery Anne Carson Design
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: