Specs & Drugs & Rock & Roll

When people discover that I write a blog they assume I get sent loads of free stuff. I don't. Yes, my inbox might be stuffed with all manner of offers for freebies and promotional opportunities but unless it's something I really need, which is pretty much never as I can find almost everything I want second hand, then the PR department usually get a polite"Thanks but no thanks" in response.

Vintage Osti maxi (courtesy of the fabulous Helga), 1970s velvet mules (Salvation Army, £1)

But, when Glasses Direct contacted me I was interested. They are an award winning British company I've used before as a paying customer and, from the wording of the email, they actually read my blog and understood me and my style. The fact that they'd started their email with Dear Vix as opposed to Dear Blogger was a rarity. They asked if I'd like a pair of prescription glasses from their rather cool London Retro range in exchange for a review and I had no hesitation in accepting.

Back in 2012: Wearing my 1950s specs with a vintage St Michael lounge suit (courtesy of darling Curtise) 

My usual glasses are 1950s originals I'd picked up at a flea market for 20p and had reglazed by an on-line optical company. They're still going strong after five years of daily wear.

2011: Same specs worn with a vintage nylon nightie (again from Helga) and marabou mules

Although my prescription hasn't changed, managing a website, editing photos and the close-work involved with sewing & the endless vintage clothing repairs means I'm relying on my glasses a lot more. I've been after a second pair for ages, but hadn't found anything I liked, so this offer couldn't have come at a better time.

March, 2015

When I used Glasses Direct previously I'd opted for their Home Trial, picking out a four frames that appealed and trying them out at home. This time I tried their fancy pants interactive gadget, using my webcam to capture an image of my face and then holding up a bank card to get the scale right. I could then try on all the specs from the collection and judge myself objectively. (Yep, I am wearing a scarf indoors - the joys of living in a 260 year-old home with draughty sash windows!)

To be honest it was a tough choice, I liked most of the London Retro collection but decided the cats-eye Loren frames looked best. As opposed to plain black I went for the leopard print version - given the choice I'll always take the patterned option.

I scanned in my prescription and a week later the new glasses arrived (along with a cool retro-looking case). The prescription & fit is perfect and I'm very happy. It'll be interesting to see if they last as long as my others , which still get admired and complimented by the optician each time I get my eyes tested.

Am I a shameless sell-out for accepting free glasses? When my Mum was alive she was amazed by how many offers I turned down, Principles won't pay the bills, was her favourite saying. While I'll never start flogging corn plasters, anti-ageing creams and dish washing tablets I'm more than happy to accept offers from airlines, music festivals and alcoholic drink manufacturers!

Thanks for all your well wishes. Jon's 100% better. It's my turn (again) now and it looks like there's only going to be one half of Kinky Melon working Moseley Vintage & Retro Fair on Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed that the Penicillin kicks in soon, the alternative involves a evil sounding hospital procedure.

See you soon!

PS In case you're curious, I'm reading Never Mind The Bullocks by Vanessa Able, a tale of a woman's solo trip around the sub-continent in India's smallest car, the Tata Nano.