Me and my glasses

“Glasses have become a key accessory in my life”

Michelle Feeney, founder of eco-friendly fragrance brand, Floral Street, on expressing style through eyewear, and the fern green frames that always garner attention

3 min read

Kimberley Young

28 May 2023

How many pairs of spectacles and sunglasses do you own?

I own about 30 pairs of glasses in total. When I moved into my home, I had three drawers built into my bedroom just to house them all.

What frame shapes, colours or styles do you usually go for?

Glasses have become a key accessory in my life, so I have multiple. I like bold statement varifocals for the day to go with my outfits, and then for computer work and reading I have lighter weight frames with magnifying lenses. Also, I often put prescription lenses into my sunglasses so I can read when I’m on my sunny vacations.

Can you describe your favourite pair?

My glasses at the moment are quite bold, hexagonal and fern green. I get so many compliments when I wear them. Wherever I go in the world, they certainly get me noticed.

Who would you pick as your style icon of glasses wearers and why?

I think Prue Leith has put glasses on the map. She’s made it cool for mature women to have fun and accessorise with their choices.

How long have you worn spectacles for, and what prompted you to go for your first sight test?

I’ve worn glasses for about the last 18 years, since my early forties when my sight definitely started to change. Since then, I get a yearly check-up which is also a chance to choose new styles. I spend more on glasses than I do on jewellery.

Do you wear contact lenses?

Yes: when I’m doing TV appearances, like live from London for QVC USA, or when I’m going out for an evening and need to read a menu, it’s easier than taking glasses out with me.

You can really express your individual style and character through the frames you choose to wear

How important is eyewear to reflecting your personality?

So important. You can really express your individual style and character through the frames you choose to wear. They can enhance an outfit, boost your confidence, and make you stand out from the crowd.

What did it mean to you to be part of the Vision Express ‘Queenager’ campaign launch in 2022, discussing eye health, eyewear, and style?

It was amazingly empowering, and I loved meeting all the other women who express their individual style with their glasses. I definitely feel that more mature women are carving out a new coolness to wearing them. Gone are the days when it was one choice, and it was seen as a negative. It’s actually a huge positive now to have a whole wardrobe of frames to express your personality.

It’s actually a huge positive now to have a whole wardrobe of frames to express your personality

What are your top three tips for selecting the right pair of frames?

I would always recommend going and actually trying glasses on to see how they look and feel
The weight of a frame is important for me. If you are wearing glasses all day, a heavy frame can be cumbersome
I personally think you should have fun and be brave with your eyewear choices.

Inside Floral Street with Michelle Feeney

As a sustainable brand in the fragrance industry, you have previously described Floral Street as an ‘upstart’, could you tell us how the brand is doing things differently, and how consumers have responded?

As an ‘upstart’ brand I wanted to be a beacon for change to stir and stimulate the industry. I want to be a challenger in beauty, leading with affordable, luxury vegan fragrances and our ‘industry first’ sustainable packaging innovation. By educating and guiding consumers on better ethical choices we can bring sustainable scents into their lives and their homes. We are up against much bigger companies in the industry but by being independent, eco-conscious and brave we have grown into a brand that is now distributed in 22 countries.

In what ways can fragrances be used to reflect an identity, feeling or style?

Smell is our most powerful sense, and when you find a fragrance to match your mood, it can really enhance how you look and feel every day. The whole idea around my brand is to offer a wardrobe of affordable and diverse fine fragrances and home scents that can reflect who you want to be so you can feel good about life. Scent can give us confidence, empower, and motivate us, whether you are 18 or 80.

Personally, I call myself a 50-year-old punk, having lived through incredible decades of music, fashion, and rebellion. I never want to stop experimenting with ‘dressing up’ or ‘down’ and my choice of fragrance always reflects that.

What approach does Floral Street take to educating consumers in fragrances, ingredients, and materials?

My aim was always to help people that are curious about fragrance become connoisseurs of scent, much like wine and chocolate. Through our Scentschool journey of fragrance discovery you can learn about our award-winning perfumes and home scents, the provenance of their ingredients and our sustainable stories.

Being committed to core values of environmental consideration, we only partner with those that share our ethos and principals. Our fragrance manufacturer, Robertet, are world leaders in sustainable, organic raw materials and they have an unparalleled approach to ethical practices and responsible sourcing. By partnering with a British paper manufacturer, we pioneered a ‘first in fragrance’ reusable and biodegradable pulp box that uses cupcycling technology. Crafted with upcycled takeaway cups, we are giving new life to previously non-recyclable waste. You have to consider the whole lifecycle and every element that goes into the final product.

We’ve always been a transparent brand and have the certifications to back-up what we say. Our credible endorsements from PETA, The Vegan Society, the Forest Stewardship Council and the World Land Trust have globally recognised logos that we feature on our packaging and communication to help guide consumers on what they are buying. I always advise people to look into the background of companies and the products they are purchasing to ensure they have trustworthy accreditations in place.

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