Styled by Kimberley: CrossEyes

We've had Scandi-homeware, Scandi-clothing, and Scandi-skincare.  If you think you've got Scandinavian-everything, you might be missing one element. Your specs. No fear, because Danish fashion-led frames have come to town in the form of CrossEyes! I hadn't heard of the brand before, although there are already a number across the UK. CrossEyes opticians offer a fixed price point, like a few other places (and I'm certainly not complaining about the growth in this!). The 'any frame' deal includes single vision lenses for just £98. Often single price points are offered by online only stores, and I'm a pretty cynical shopper, so having a physical store is my preference. Perfect.

We were invited along to check out the brand new store, in Edinburgh's Rose Street, and play with some frames ourselves. The compact, chic showroom really fits in with the other independent boutiques in the area, with its clean, simple branding. I'm not sure CrossEyes knew what they were in for, letting Helen and I hang out and try on virtually every frame in stock to pick out our faves.

I quickly fell hard for the chrome effect glasses above and hoped that they would soon be mine; a fresh frame among all my heavy plastic rims. Alas, it wasn't to be as I was reminded that it wouldn't work with my high prescription. It's not the first time I've been warned off this shape. The large size of frame that I wear to fit my potato head is always at odds with the depth of lens I need (read: milk bottles). While CrossEyes can thin the lens down, this particular semi-invisible wire frame would make my lenses look like goggles. The milky bars are most certainly not on me!

I'll forgive anyone else who picks up these beauts for themselves, if a little begrudgingly. Don't feel bad, as there was plenty of other choice on offer, with a vibrant array of colours in stock. In the end I couldn't quite pull myself away from my signature tortoiseshell, but I did get a flash of cobalt blue to set these lovely over-sized frames apart.

When our glasses arrived, only a few days after putting in the orders, we took them out for a spin on the Windiest. Day. Ever. Seriously, I took the wind swept look to a whole new level:


Beggars can't be choosers when it comes to the weather in Scotland, and trying to take photos outside means chasing daylight and battling the elements. It's sort of fitting for this look, as I'm attempting to make my cross-seasonal outfit work for autumnal temperatures while retaining the colour of summer. Having the flashes of blue and yellow throughout, from glasses to handbag, works really well to give that sunny nod. I even added my fab DIY Miranda Carmen bag charm that I made at the Emily Millichip leather applique workshop at last month's Craft Scotland Summer Show, and I paired it with the Jo Pudelko earrings I picked up at the 2015 one. The relaxed fit of this outfit makes it perfect for layering up. If only it was windproof.

Shirt | Zara
Bag | Zara
Bag Charm | made by me
Earrings | c/o Jo Pudelko
Glasses | c/o CrossEyes


Thanks again to CrossEyes for letting us in for an early peek at the fabulous eye wear on offer.