Coco & Breezy reveal how they got their shades on Gaga & Beyonce

A couple days before their in-store appearance and pop-up shop at Minneapolis' Studiiyo23 on Thursday, eyewear-designing twins Coco & Breezy got interviewed for C.J.'s Star Tribune column today, revealing how they got their shades on Lady Gaga and Beyonce:

Photo: Allen Cooley

Coco said they have no idea where Gaga got a pair of the dark glasses they make, which are being sold through their online store and in boutiques all over the world, as in Japan, Germany, France and Bermuda. But Breezy said they recognized a pair of their dark glasses on Gaga, in the quick scene where the egregiously dramatic singer is holding a piano keyboard in her "Marry the Night" video. (I'll take Breezy's word for this since I can't stand to watch Gaga.)

The designing twins know exactly how Beyonce got hip to their eyewear, and it's some memory.

"We've been good friends with Beyonce's stylist for two years, but we never asked about Beyonce. About six months ago," Coco said, "he wanted to put Beyonce in one of our bracelets for a video they were doing. He told her about our brand, and wanted us because the whole style of it [her video] was [Coco and Breezy] fashion inspired. Six hours before the [shoot for another video] we got a phone call: Beyonce wants you guys on set. Can you guys make it?

"I was like, 'Oh, my God! Yes! We can make it!' Beyonce sent a car to come and pick us up and we spent like the whole day with her," said Coco. "She's so humble, so sweet."

Via C.J. for Star Tribune

Coco & Breezy announce Minneapolis personal appearance & pop-up shop

Eyewear designers Coco & Breezy are showing their hometown some love when they make their way back to Minneapolis next week for an in-store appearance and pop-up shop. The identical twins - who started their accessory line in Minneapolis before making it big in New York - had a big year last year, getting their eyewear on the face of Lady Gaga, appearing in a Beyonce music video, and racking up tons of international press, thanks to their edgy designs and unique personal style. Swing by Studiiyo23 (2319 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls.) on Thursday, February 2 between 6 and 8 p.m. to get the chance to meet the designers and shop their shades, which they'll be discounting during the event: 50 percent off from 6 until 7 p.m., and 25 percent off from 7 to 8 p.m.

Coco & Breezy in New York Magazine

Prolific eyewear designers Coco & Breezy get interviewed in the latest issue of New York Magazine:

Click here to read the full interview.

Coco & Breezy in Vogue Italia

Getting tired of hearing about Coco & Breezy? Well sorry, readers, the news on the eyewear-designing twins just keeps coming. This week it's their personal style that gets the spotlight in this feature on Vogue Italia's website, showing Fall 2011 runway looks that complement their unique style.

[Via Vogue.it]

Vogue's Fiorella Ruth Kibongui says:

"It’s not easy to tell them apart, but they’re style is always recognizable. The twins, designers of the futuristic sunglasses Beyoncé loves, confirm once again their street nature with two eclectic outfits for a New York event. They represent, in fact, that style free from catwalk rules, rich with cultural, underground and pop influences that has always been the inspiration for many designers. Bomber jackets, graphic prints, original details and non-conventional mixes thus move from the streets to the prêt-a-porter." Couldn't have said it better myself. View the slideshow of looks here.

Lady Gaga wears Coco & Breezy sunglasses in "Marry the Night" video

Minnesota-born eyewear designers Coco and Breezy have already had their sunglasses worn by the likes of Kelly Osbourne, Ashanti, Nicki Minaj and Kelly Rowland. Now, they've gotten one of their most high-profile placements yet - on Lady Gaga in her new "Marry the Night" video. The "Onassis" sunglasses are part of a collaboration between the twins and eyewear line Selima Optique, which features all one-of-a-kind sunglasses customized by Coco & Breezy. The sunglasses are $425 and available at selimaoptique.com.

Lady Gaga in the "Onassis" Coco & Breezy for Selima Optique sunglasses

"Onassis" sunglasses by Coco & Breezy for Selima Optique

Watch the full video below:

Hot off the presses: Coco & Breezy in French Glamour

Check out Minnesota-born eyewear designers Coco & Breezy in the December issue of French Glamour:

Editorial: "Minnesota Style in a New York Fashion"

We all know that many of the Twin Cities' brightest head to the bright lights of New York City to make their mark. But we say once a Minnesotan, always a Minnesotan. Minneapolis-via-New York style blog MPLSTYLE.com went out and spotlighted the most stylish of this group of photographers, art directors, stylists, and magazine editors for this editorial, "Minnesota Style in a New York Fashion," and you're sure to recognize some names, like former local fashion designers Ashley Wokasch (Calpurnia Peach), Niki English, and Coco and Breezy, and photographers Benjamin Fredrickson and Brad Ogbonna (regulars in my muses and lenses feature).











Photography by Drew Krason
Interviews by John-Mark

Fashion link roundup

A smattering of local fashion news from the Twin Cities and beyond.

[Photo: Mary O'Regan/Art of Wore]

Mary O'Regan does a studio visit with local knitwear designer Kevin Kramp, and it includes a really cool video of the designer in action with his knitting machine.

Local line K.Jurek Couture's "The Galaxy Next Door" skirt is now available on ModCloth.com.

Elizabeth Dehn of Beauty Bets gets interviewed by (and lands the cover of) Twin Cities-based publication HerLife.

Minnesota-based knitwear designer Kevin Kramp has been featured in Spain's We Are Selecters.

BRAVE Magazine does a Q&A with eyewear designers Coco & Breezy.

Plymouth Magazine interviews local designer Adrienne Yancy of ArielSimone.

Amy Gee shoots Monday night's Joynoelle fashion show. Beth Hammarlund of l'étoile reviews the Joynoelle fashion show, as does Mary O'Regan of METRO and Allison Kaplan of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Check out my review for Vita.mn here.

Beth Hammarlund of l'étoile reviews the Christopher Straub show, and so does METRO's Mary O'Regan. I review the show for Vita.mn. Good Morning Northland interviews Straub on his new collection for maurices.

Nancy Ngo of Pioneer Press catches up with Project Runway designers Christopher Straub and Danielle Everine.

Arts and style writer Joan Erakit interviews METRO Magazine's Mary O'Regan.

E-retailer Of a Kind does a studio tour of former Minneapolis designer Annie Larson's new Brooklyn pad and talks to her about the creative process leading up to her recent Jerome grant project, and Birchbox blog asks Annie how she keeps her super-long hair in check.

Gregory J. Scott's Q&A with fashion designer and arts curator Emma Berg for last week's Vita.mn cover stories on the Twin Cities' most influential people from the past five years.

Check out a new interview with ROX Jewelry designer Robyne Robinson by Harlem's Fashion Row.

Editorial: Coco and Breezy in China's Intersection magazine

Coco and Breezy have made as much of a name for themselves as models as they have been as eyewear designers. Here are the duo in China's Intersection magazine:

Coco and Breezy make cameo in Beyonce's new video

Via LOL/OMG:

Eyewear-designing twins Coco and Breezy have been blowing up since they made the move from Minnesota to NYC. The duo have been featured in everything from Essence to Elle, and count Ashanti, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Osbourne and Kelly Rowland as fans. Apparently, their personal style got them noticed by the casting agent for Beyonce's new video for the early '90s R&B throwback jam "Party" (which also features a cameo by Rowland). Here are screenshots from the video featuring Coco and/or Breezy, wearing shades from their new "Rainy Days" collection (available now at www.cocoandbreezy.com). Watch the video in full below.

Weekend wrap-up: Local fashion links

• Knitwear designer Annie Larson (who just moved to NYC after starting her career in Minneapolis) was mentioned in a Forbes Magazine article about limited-edition e-commerce websites like Of a Kind, where she sells her knitwear. Her fall collection has also just become available on her ALL e-shop, including 12 new hat designs, a new selection of sweaters, and new basics in black and cream.

• Minnesota Monthly puts the spotlight on local line Hackwith Design House.

• Modern Salon Magazine recently selected local hairstylist Faatemah Ampey (who appeared as a contestant on Bravo reality show Shear Genius) as one of its "Women of Style" in its October 2011 issue, and profile her on her big break, her mentors, and her latest project.

• Mary O'Regan picks her favorite looks from Zara's Fall 2011 lookbook, noting that the collection is finally available to us Minnesotans now that the Spanish brand's e-store ships to the entire U.S.

• Allison Kaplan reports on local line Nelle Handbags' new showroom at L'atlier Bridal in downtown Minneapols for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.

• Eyewear designers Coco & Breezy get new spreads in XO Magazine, XEX Magazine and Fiasco Magazine.

• Beauty Bets editor Elizabeth Dehn writes about the new beauty swap trend, and how to put one together yourself, for Star Tribune.

• I preview a number of events for this weekend's issue of Vita.mn, including Walker's After Hours preview party (which encourages attendees to dress in their favorite PANTONE color) on Friday, the opening reception for "The Curative" at Burnet Art Gallery and A Holiday Bazaar fashion show and sale at Ritz Theater on Saturday, as well as the ongoing Haunted Theater at Loring Theater (which asks for guests to dress in their '60s best) and new men's store Askov Finalyson. Check out l'étoile's shopping blog, which I edit, for more locally-focused weekend shopping events, sales and news.

Coco & Breezy cover XO Magazine

Eyewear-designing twins Coco & Breezy, originally from Minnesota, cover the October issue of digital and print national publication XO Magazine. Breezy is donning the clear C&&B Sunglasses from their new "Rainy Day" collection, available at cocoandbreezy.com soon.

Photo recap: Coco and Breezy S/S 2012 at New York Fashion Week

Since their move to New York two short years ago, Minnesota-native twins Coco & Breezy have become darlings of the hip-hop and R&B set, showed up in the pages of Essence and PAPER magazines, and found their way onto the faces of Nicki Minaj and Beyonce. The twins - real names Corianna and Brianna Dotson - showed their Spring 2012 collection, "Rainy Days," at a private estate during New York Fashion Week earlier this month. I dig how they styled the collection with clear vinyl, black-edge umbrellas and lip colors coordinated to match the glasses. Paired with professional models and simple but chic black outfits, the show looks to be the twins' most sophisticated to date.

[Photos by 24 blogazine and luxelove]

And here's the just-released video showcasing their 2012 "Rainy Days" Collection, which the twins produced and directed:

RAINY DAYS x Coco && Breezy - S/S 2012 from Coco and breezy on Vimeo.

Follow the girls on their Tumblr, snap up their new sunglasses at CocoandBreezy.com, and read new interviews with the twins in Black Enterprise, Essence, CBS Minnesota, and Global Grind.

Coco & Breezy featured in Essence, WAD magazines

It's been awhile since I've posted about the prolific eyewear and accessory designing twins, Coco and Breezy. The Minnesota natives left the Twin Cities a couple of years ago at the fresh age of 18 and they've since gone on to get their bedazzled eyewear on the faces of Ashanti, Nicki Minaj, Ciara, Kelly Rowland and Kelly Osborne, which Essence Magazine says "set the tone for what seems to be a studded sunglasses craze."

[Photo courtesy Essence Magazine]

Though they've been featured in its pages before, Essence Magazine has a new Q&A with the Minnesota native designers on their creative process, and what's to come next for them.

Paris-based WAD Magazine also spotlights Coco & Breezy's new "C&&B 4 Kids" collection. There's a super cute corresponding video:

Coco&&Breezy- "C&&B 4 kids" FW 2011 from LightUp Film on Vimeo.

Local fashion link roundup: mid-week edition

Oh, hay. Minnesota-born sunglasses designers Coco & Breezy are featured in the June issue of Essence Magazine.

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine style editor Allison Kaplan chats with Project Runway winner Seth Aaron Henderson and former contestants Christopher Straub and Ra'mon Lawrence Coleman at the Sol Inspirations Eco Fashion Show in downtown Minneapolis in this video.



City Pages names local designer Joan Vonderbrugen of Lollycopter and Jenny Carle two of its 100 Creatives.

City Pages is giving away a copy of Susan Marks' In the Mood for Munsingwear book detailing the history of the Minnesota underwear company.

After a successful launch at women's designer resale store June last month, former Ivy store owner Ini Iyamba is launching a month-long menswear collection at Elsworth.

METRO Magazine fashion editor Mary O'Regan goes behind the scenes of METRO's upcoming men's fashion spread with Vision model (and F/W 2009 face of Calvin Klein) Will Defiel.

She also goes behind the scenes of METRO's summer shoot, featuring styling by Andrea Oseland and Vision model Mary Cann.

A swimsuit by local line ArielSimone was featured in the June issue of Essence Magazine.

Star Tribune recaps Art of Hair event & RetroRama.

Metromix has photos from Monday's "CAMP GAGA" CD release party and Gaga costume contest by Nic Abrego.

Macy's Glamorama has been announced. Mark your calendars for August 5.

Coco & Breezy collab with Vuarnet, get worn by Beyonce

The ever-busy designing duo of Coco & Breezy have been seeing success after success since moving to New York from their hometown of Minneapolis a couple of years ago.

During their recent stint in Paris, the duo had the opportunity to collaborate with legendary French designer Vuarnet on a blinged-out helmet:


Meanwhile, they're got even more celebs wearing their accessories. In her recent kids' campaign "Let's Move!", Beyonce wears Coco & Breezy's "Uni" bracelet:

[Photos courtesy Coco & Breezy]

Coco & Breezy shot for French magazine Born

Local natives and eyewear designers Coco & Breezy, now making waves out in New York, were recently shot for a photo shoot for French magazine Born while in Courchevel, France, earlier this year. Though it was styled by another stylist, the twins' trademark style was clearly influential over the spread.

Local inspiration: muses and lenses

The best in local street fashion, portrait and fashion photography from local muses and lenses, gathered via Twitter, Facebook and blog uploads from the past week.

Ellen Dahl Lawson captures Ignite model Tearra Rosario in all her glory at the MNfashion Week buyer event in a Sarah M. Holm swimsuit for The Minneapoline.

Musician/ad agency honcho Christian Erickson and gets a masked kiss from his wife, singer Janey Winterbauer.

Teri Anvid and Emma Berg get leggy at Friday's Walker After Hours, as captured by Kate Iverson.

Sarah Sauser shoots a model in a mask by stylist Hollie Mae, with hair and makeup by Kate Erickson.

Vision model Elle Williams is photographed by Jake Freeman with hair/makeup by Amber Brenke wearing a dress from June.

Amy Gee shoots some moody runway shots at Cliche's Avoid the Grey fashion show on Saturday.

Minnesota-born Ignite model Whitney Fransway (relocated to L.A.) was back in town to shoot with John Wallace and gets spirited away. (Click here for more images from the shoot.)



Sohail Akhavein does a darkly romantic self-portrait series of himself with John Sand.

Ignite model Kristina Lezepekova gets raw for Brooklyn photographer Carolyn Griffin. (Click here for more photos from the shoot.)

Can't get enough of Kristina. Here she is again, this time as photographed by Nuru Kimondo. (Click here for more images.)

Durio shot Minneapolis ex-pats, eyewear designers Coco & Breezy, on the streets of Brooklyn in this recently unearthed photo.

I couldn't pass up the chance to post this adorbz photo of Coco & Breezy behind masks by Brooklyn musician Jaimz Deen.

Photographer Emily Utne is looking pretty with her pooch.