Fashion accessory designer Tamera Beardsley (56) lives in Southern California and has transformed dressing into an art form. Her style is maximal, arty, eclectic and dramatic, with lots of attention to texture, layering and drape. She loves statement jewellery, distinctive eyewear, and adores headgear. Tamera wears mainly neutrals and makes abundant use of one-of-a-kind accessories as the bold finishing touches to her outfits.
“My personal style has definitely evolved during the past five years as I have transitioned from full-time motherhood into my next chapter. After the birth of my third child I shuttered my successful accessory design company to concentrate fully on raising my family. As my nest began to empty I wondered if I wasn’t too old to return to the fashion career I had loved. I stopped my wondering the day I stumbled upon both Iris Apfel and Tziporah Salamon, two older women that demonstrate every day that true style is ageless. Both of these women raise dressing to a literal art form, using clothing and accessories as their paints. My view on dressing and personal style has never been the same since. My personal style for the most part has evolved into a mixture of Southern California bohemian beachy with big doses of old Hollywood glamour mixed in a kind of sporty glam punctuated with bold accessories. I love pulling from eclectic sources and personally see crafting a perfect outfit for any occasion as a creative and artistic endeavor. I oftentimes will design accessories for a perfect finishing touch for an ensemble.”
Arty layering is one of Tamera’s trademarks. Here she combines two Stella Carakasi pieces to put together an impactful Summer White-Out look. The midi skirt has asymmetrical seams that create movement and billowy drape. A tucked long-sleeved tee in the same shade of white enhances the vertical integrity of the outfit. The long vest features more asymmetrical detailing for further outfit cohesion. Both vest and skirt are made of a hemp and tencel mix that mimics the casual crease of linen. Low-contrast ankle strap shoes are the footwear of choice. An oversized floppy hat, sunnies with swirly sides and a tiered pearl bracelet add Hollywood glam.
Our neutrals-loving blogger also loves a good stripe and likes to sport bright colours when the mood strikes. The dramatic full-length kimono is the star of the show in this maximal outfit. The dressy silk fabric juxtaposes cleverly with the distressed boyfriend jeans, which are rolled to reveal glittery silver kitten heel pumps. Ladylike glitz. By showing some skin, the rolled hems and bracelet-length sleeves of the topper add structure to the voluminous layers. The long striped tee, worn over a denim shirt, makes for fun pattern mixing. Tamera’s eye-catching vintage necklace, made from flower brooches, adds even more pattern and colour. Four turquoise bead bracelets and a cheeky panama hat finish off the look.
Tonal warm gold from head to toe for an eclectic chic date night look. Tamera sure has an eye for finding unique pieces that suit her style to a T. The batwing-sleeved sequined sweater has a scooped V-neck for subtle allure. The longer length and oversized fit create flattering proportions paired with the knee-length tiered fringe pencil skirt. A statement piece made of a texture-rich rattan-style material that looks flirty and fun. Perfect for a night on the town. Tamera’s clutch echoes the rattan look. Simple wedge sandals lengthen the leg line. Our blogger’s relaxed elegant updo and very dramatic chandelier earrings amp up the glam factor.
I hereby crown Tamera Queen Maximal. Layers, patterns, different textures, piles of jewellery… she has a knack for creating complex outfits without it feeling overwhelming. Keeping things in the same colour family is one way to accomplish this. Tamera is wearing a dressy button-down tunic over cropped brocade pants. The white shirt is high contrast against the greys, but the pants do have white in the background. The furry vest paired with the brocade gives the look a luxurious vibe. Tamera’s hard-edged sandals come up to the trouser hems, which lengthens the leg line. For warmth, she threw on an A-line cape coat with Sherlock-esque pizzazz. Extra large chain link necklaces, big bracelets and a sparkly cocktail ring create a very bold statement. Our blogger’s topknot streamlines and balances the look.
“My life and personal style are very much intertwined as I like to make my life my art, one day at a time. For me creating beauty, whether it is in an outfit, accessories, in the garden, rooms or even entertaining, are all creative pursuits and it is sharing this creativity that I most enjoy.”
An off-white tunic slip with asymmetric hemline and white capri pants are the building blocks for these two outfits. For daytime, Tamera tempers the volume of the flowy tunic by layering over a short-sleeved sassy sweatshirt. White Birkies for on trend comfort and a wicker bag casualize the look. A statement turquoise-and-white cross necklace and Tamera’s trusted panama hat add arty flair. For evening, our blogger dresses up the outfit with a long tailored blazer, lucite-heeled sandals, playful straw hat, and pearl pendant necklace, also one of her own creations.
White and tan is a chic colour combo for Summer. Crisp and soothing at the same time. Tamera has tucked a high-low sleeveless tee into wide-legged linen trousers. The lucite sandals came out to play again and create perfect pants length. A silk piano shawl with beautiful blue floral pattern, reminiscent of delft earthenware, gives this date night look a romantic and retro vibe. The stretchy velour turban and large floral corsage finished with feathers provide old Hollywood glam. Piles of chunky bracelets on both arms and round sunnies are the trademark Tamera touch.
Let us know what you think of Tamera’s dramatic arty eclectic style, and then hop on over to her blog to browse the rest of her outfits. You can also discover what inspires her on Pinterest, or visit our blogger’s shop to check out her designs.
