The pieces of Anna-Karin Karlsson are not for the faint of heart, but rather for “dancing hearts”. Put on heart shaped sunglasses ‘cause we gonna take a ride, quoting Lana Del Rey. A two-stop trip or a short coffee break and a quick chat with the Swedish designer – the queen of sunglasses of all shapes and sizes –, on the launch of her first jewelry collection, promoted exclusively in Portugal by Olhar de Prata.

Filipa Penteado – Just to break the ice: “more is more and less is a bore”. Do you agree with Iris Apfel?

Anna-Karin Karlsson – I agree indeed! I will do lots of less is more when I’m dead so while on earth I tend to want things extraordinary to keep me from the hardship of life.

FP – Tell me a bit about your background and how did you end up designing eyewear and jewelry. I’ve read that you’ve been fascinated with accessories since you were a child.

AKK – I fell into eyewear design by chance, right out of acting and art school. I always loved fashion but always felt it was too shallow to have as a profession. Even so, by the time I made the progression I was warmly welcomed home as a long-lost child by the fashion world.

FP – Was it difficult to transition from eyewear to jewelry? What was your approach to this collection?

AKK – I have not done a transition but an extension. I want my accessories to tell a poetic story and here the story of the jewelry goes hand in hand with the story of the eyewear. A cohesive story of a life less ordinary.

FP – Who do you see wearing your pieces? It takes a certain type of woman not to feel overwhelmed by the statement your pieces make.

AKK – I call them folks with dancing hearts. People who may just want something extra in their life. A kind of glittering distraction from the reality of life that I so seldom feel at ease with.

FP – Do you plan to expand your line of accessories? Shoes, bags? What can we expect in the future?

AKK – At this stage I do not know, but I could imagine it would be awesome having cohesive sunnies and shoes.