Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I’m frannie and I was born in the US. When I was 9, I moved to the UK from West Hollywood, with my parents. I went to uni in Leeds and then worked as a PA for 10 years before launching “Hollywood vintage glasses”
I’m married and we have 3 sons, and a red Labrador called Raffi. We live near York, where my husband is from.
How long have you been doing it?
I’ve always been super girly and love pretty things and bling. Ever since I was a little girl heart sunglasses have always been my favourite (I’ll include a picture of me when I was 6 or 7) I used to be very overweight when I was a teenager, so I’d customise “boring” clothes and accessories to make them more to my liking.
Now I have 3 young children I don’t get the opportunity to go out and get dressed up as often. So one day I started customising glasses with pieces of jewellery that I wanted the chance to wear more regularly. I also had a lot of crafty items and beads that I started using. I kept getting stopped and asking where they were from so I thought I would try out selling the glasses.
What made you decide to start Hollywood Vintage Glasses?
I was so sick of always wearing sweatpants and boring clothes during covid. I felt like everyone deserved a bit of extra bling. So many people developed self confidence issues from putting on weight, no hairdressers etc. Towards the end of the lockdowns, when I wasn’t working, I decided to give selling the glasses a go. I started the Instagram page in may 2021. It took off, and now the business is a little over 2 years old.
Where is the furthest place you have sent your glasses to?
I’ve sent them all over the world! Some have gone to Australia, loads have gone over to the states. I’m even currently working on a collaboration with a Russian jewellery designer so some will be heading there hopefully.
What type of Bride chooses Hollywood Vintage Glasses?
I think that in 2023 less brides are feeling pressurised to be “traditional.” Brides that are confident, and know themselves, are the types of brides that wear my glasses. My glasses featured in ‘Rocknroll bride magazine,’ last year, and I feel like that is a great way to define my brides.
Often a bride will tell me which designs she likes from my pages, and then tells me about the vibes of the wedding. We talk about the gown and accessories, the location of the wedding etc. I can incorporate any colour themes too which is fun. Wedding dresses don’t need to be white or cream, it’s fun playing with colour.
I make a pair of glasses I think will work and then I can change any details for the bride, to make them absolutely perfect. I like to include a little something blue on the sides of the frames, and the vintage jewels and pearls I use are something old. A cute little nod to the tradition.
As a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community I also love creating special pride wedding glasses for brides and grooms alike. Often with little rainbow pride charms and symbols. I can also embellish prescription glasses and sunglasses, so glasses wearing brides don’t need to miss out.
Anything else?
I feel so lucky that I am able to do what I love as a job. It’s so lovely that I can be my own boss, and I am learning so much from it. I have met some amazing people. I try and use the business as a platform encourage people to shop consciously, and hopefully we can help contribute to the downfall of fast fashion.
It’s very important to me that the materials used on my glasses are recycled or reworked, such as broken and vintage jewellery. Using as much of these as I can also ensures that each pair of my glasses are unique. No 2 pairs are alike.
I’m on Etsy under the name ‘Hollywood vintage GB’ and also on TikTok as ‘Hollywood vintage glasses.’ Since most of my designs are custom, if you want any information dm me or email hollywoodvintageglasses@
