1. Squats and juicing are a girl’s best friend

2. You can never wear too many prints

3. Donning heels poolside is acceptable, but you may look like a diva

4. The bolder the better

5. It’s perfectly fine to have the “you mad” face on at all times, especially if you know you’re giving life and slaying the game

Pics via Fashion Gone Rogue

Available for purchase at La Garçonne

Mr. Ocean donning Band of Outsiders – Cheeky faces. LA backdrop. Clean silhouettes.

Why I love them both, to the moon and back.

Pics via Band of Outsiders

How did your upbringing influence your personal style and love of fashion?

From a really young age we were exposed to fashion. Our parents were always stylish – my dad was really into platforms and bell-bottoms. Where we went to school, people were pretty basic with their style. We always wanted to dress different from everyone else and be more creative.

Why did you decide to move to New York?

We have always had a love for New York. We would go back and forth to visit all the time and just loved the city. It’s one of the fashion capitals and in order to move forward with our business, we had to make that move.

When you moved to the city, how did you formulate your unique style?

We’ve always had a unique look and done something more wild. As we’ve gotten older, we’ve gotten more sophisticated. When we were 18, we experimented a lot with our hair and now as young women we cut our hair off and are more comfortable walking around and being in the streets without it. It’s not so much about our age as it’s about us being secure and confident in who we are as women and designers.

What was it about eyewear that spoke to you?

We would wear our sunglasses all the time; it was our favorite thing to do. We would hide behind our sunglasses and they would make us feel like we were in another world. It started off as just embellishing glasses and then we decided to create our own collection and take our passion to the next level. With our new collection, we showcased our love for design. It’s beautiful and clean – but also unique.

What is your design process?

It starts with music first; we have to have a good vibe. From Betthoven to Old School R&B, we like to mix and match the genres and create the mood. We are always together, so sometimes I will start a design and give it to Coco and she will finish it. We work together to create the final product.

Is it ever a challenge to work together or a creative advantage?

It’s never a challenge; we are sisters, best friends and business partners. We are both very hands on and know how to separate business and personal, so it works well for us.

What inspired the new collection and how would you describe it?

The new collection, Omorose, is beautiful and was inspired by Egyptian culture and architectural lines. Since this is our first full collection, we wanted to play with the different shapes of frames. The color combinations, we were really excited about, because it’s a mix of bold and classic. When we get our inspiration, it can be from just walking outside and taking in everyday life. Sometimes it’s about taking that classic piece and making it Coco && Breezy.

Your recently shaved your heads, which is a huge statement. Talk a bit about what fashion and image mean to you.

I think fashion is the key to acceptance. It can help you express and define who you are. We work so much – nonstop – and as an entrepreneur you’re constantly re-inventing.

One day, we were thinking [about our image] – What can we do that’s new?

We were so obsessed with our hair and the idea of shaving our heads was something fresh for us … so, we decided to do it. After, we felt so strong and so free. It’s cliché to say, but so true.

What are some of the pieces in your wardrobe that you can’t do without?

Our leather jackets and black leather pants. We have so many pairs of black leather pants; we are obsessed and wear them everyday. One of the pairs, every time it rips, I will hand sew it and keep wearing it and refuse to throw it away. We love leather and all black – that’s our go-to outfit. Sometimes I try to experiment with color, but if I have too much on, I don’t feel cute. I like myself in all black, I feel chic. Maybe I’ll try some color this spring [laughs].

Where do you find all this leather and where are some of your fave places to shop in New York?

Thrift stores and vintage stores are where we go to find good leather. We don’t really go shopping though. One, we don’t really have time. And two, when you are financially backing your own business, you have to save everything. If you want your company to grow, you must have money for that. You have to save the money you make and reinvest it in better product for each collection. So yeah. Coco and I really don’t go shopping; all of our money goes to our business. I’d rather pay for better quality each collection than shop.

If you could be anywhere besides New York to live, work and be wholly inspired, where would it be?

We would go to Paris. We absolutely love love love Paris and are so inspired there. New York would is our home base, but if we were to go anywhere else, it would be there.

How would you describe Coco && Breezy sunnies to someone who has never seen them?

Our eyewear is an art piece and it definitely takes a personality to wear our sunglasses. Our designs make your feel like you are on top of the world – they’re definitely a bold item. You don’t have to be fashionable to wear our sunglasses; but, once you put them on, you’ll pop in it.

What do you have your sights on for the future?

We are really excited for the future. Our goal is to expand in our eyewear and continue to brand our sunglasses and broaden our collections – playing with shapes, colors and just having fun. Not only creating the fashionable piece but also very functional with attention to detail and quality.

Pics provided by Coco && Breezy

Pics via Zara

Bruno Magli Spring 2013
Model: Doutzen Kroes
Photog: Alessio Bolzoni

Pics via Fashion Gone Rogue

P.S. I was a fan of Fila back in the day. Don’t judge me.

Pic via The Cut

Available for purchase at ASOS

Creative Direction: Asha Abdella & Monique Adina

Photography: Monique Adina

All Clothing from Costume 204

S Moda March 2013
Photographer: Andrew Yee
Stylist: Chabela Garcia
Model: Sky Ferreira

Pics via Fashion Gone Rogue

My hunt landed me at Reformation: the brand you can’t help but love for the easy, breezy silhouettes and eco-friendly fabrics. Their Thug Life jacket had me at hello; modern military with the iconic phrase boldly tatted on the back. A jolt of sustainable sass, this piece is a keeper; rain or shine, festival or no festival, I will wear. Proudly.

Top ‘Cookie Monster’ tee pic via Jak&Jil

How/where can I procure them?

Solutions to this shoe lust quandary greatly appreciated.

Pic via Jak&Jil

I bring you, below, my selects. Practical but never prudish:

[left] Thigh Split Cami Maxi Dress; [middle] Knot Back Turtle Neck Crop Top; [right] Painted Stripe Shorts

[left] Tie Front Trucker Boots; [right] Black Leather Tattoo Pendant Backpack

Pics via River Island

Tokimonsta‘s voice puts me in the ultimate trance – a trance that makes me begrudge leaving my apartment for the real world. This is my jam for those restless nights when I’m trying to work, get focused or just center. #Play&Repeat

The mullet – redefined. A carefully placed choppy-banged ‘toupee’ [for lack of a better word] over the tousled tresses of top models, juxtaposing the nouveau elegance of the collection with a more raw, unbridled quality. When I envision JPG, practicality is not always the quality that comes to mind, but perhaps that is a good thing. An element of surprise is what keeps us all of our toes and wanting more; that challenge of the status quo and pushing of the quotidian envelope does not always garner mass adoration, but it does refresh the eye and demonstrate that fashion and style don’t always have to be so serious. A little whimsy and playfulness can go a long way.

Pics via WWD

Pics via Vogue.com

This ASOS embellished boyfriend beanie had me at hello. With a subtle hint of jewels, it’s just jazzy enough to make a casual look sassy and will most definitely turn a bad hair day into an unforgettable fashion statement: a necessity all around and über affordable. Go ahead, treat yourself to a little glam.

Pics via Vogue.com

Still one of the baddest in the game…

Neither Here nor Hair
i-D Magazine Pre-Spring Issue
Photog: Daniele & Iango
Stylist: Charlotte Stockdale

Pics via Fashion Gone Rogue

Pics via Vogue.com

Ingredients

3 tablespoons grenadine
3 tablespoons Cointreau
2 tablespoons brandy
1 3/4 cups champagne
Raspberries, apples, or other seasonal fruit

Directions

Fill a small ice bucket halfway with ice. Pour grenadine, Cointreau, brandy, and champagne over ice. Stir gently, and ladle punch into 2 wide-mouthed stemmed glasses. Garnish punch with raspberries, apples, or any other fruit in season.

Via Martha Stewart

Yesterday I did not feel up to leaving my apartment, at all. Thank goodness for my friend Rebecca who, quite literally, told me to “perk up, put on some sunglasses and a bright lip.” I [semi] ignored the latter suggestion, but the sunnies were a must for sauntering around our local Farmer’s Market. Opting for paint splatter, vintage Hammer pants and an oversized parka, I turned the afternoon into a productive and pleasant affair – meeting about new projects, having gal talk, running copious errands, making a little time for divine inspiration and -of course- drooling over Rih at the Grammys.

Photog: Rebecca Raleigh

Vogue India February 2013
Photographer: Kevin Sinclair
Model: Lakshmi Menon
Stylist: Andrew Holden
Hair: Dennis Fei
Makeup: Fumi Akinakagawa

Pics via Fashion Gone Rogue

Mesh Top by Cheap Monday. Available for purchase at Need Supply Co.

For yesterday’s Super Bowl Sunday festivities, of course, I had to be the most colorful one in the room. I’m really not into football or beer for that matter, so I had to find some way to perk up the afternoon. Luckily the Ravens won and Beyonce shut it down, so now all is right with the world and we can resume business as usual.

Photog: Rebecca Raleigh

[As written last night. Listening to a combination of Purity Ring & A Tribe Called Quest]

9:39pm and I’m sitting in my studio sipping Green tea wearing flower print thermal pants and an oversized sweatshirt from I have no idea when. Part of me feels like throwing on something elegant and having a solo cocktail at the Chateau or somewhere comparably chic; however, I sit, semi-lazy, online shopping. I say all of this to communicate that even the best of us fall short when it comes to jazzing it up and stepping out – thus, easy-to-wear, style savvy essentials are a necessity. I don’t like my clothes with so many buttons, straps, bells and whistles that my head hurts just looking at it … and I’m really not trying to spend 2+ hours dressing myself.

Enter: this lace detailed Zara tuxedo jacket. If you are new to this blog – Hello, my name is Monique, and I’m addicted to Zara. If you’re a long-time reader, you already know I have a problem. Jackets of this caliber and cut aren’t just for the fellas. As I’ve stated numerous times, the beauty of personal style is the ability to be a chameleon and transform depending on mood and occasion. My mood, currently, dictates that I need this diddy for the betterment of my existence. And, the many many days and nights of haggle-free ensemble procurement ahead.

Purchase the laced greatness above at Zara

Available on iTunes

The selection of frames is superb and the customer service is a delight. When walking in, I was greeted by the slender and jovial Anthony, head-to-toe in Vivienne Westwood. Needless to say, he is my new best friend, not only for insisting that I look amazing in any frame [compliments, yes please!] but because he knows every nuance of the business and can properly assess your eyewear needs and outfit your face. To summate my experience and affinity for ‘the gallery,’ it is a pure delight. Run, don’t walk and tell a friend to tell a friend … to tell a friend.

The Vitals
location: 8624 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, California 90069
phone: (310) 652-2121
facebook: The Eye Gallery LA
twitter: @theEyeGalleryLA

Photog: Sunshine Harding

Topshop sweater; Vintage skirt; Kimchi Blue booties; Zara purse; Amrita Singh bangles; American Apparel Factory Grey nail lacquer

Yesterday’s complete and total obsession with ‘Sweater Weather’ by the Neighbourhood inspired me to get cozy but still keep it glam. One of my secret [well, I suppose it's not a secret now] joys in life is pilfering vintage from my mother, the grande dame of the 80′s and 90′s. I paired her sequin laden skirt with an oversized Topshop knit and chunky heeled boot for a look that is both luxe and lounge-worthy. Top it all off with a subtle hint of gold from Amrita Singh and the gloomy weather seemed to be not so dismal after all.

Photog: Rebecca Raleigh

Listen.and.Repeat.

Pics via Vogue.com

Available for purchase at Cole Haan

How did growing up in New York influence your personal style and love for fashion?

We grew up in a household where there was the constant hum of a sewing machine. Our mom worked as a seamstress in the 70’s and was always bringing work home with her. We would go buck wild climbing over piles of fabric; played pretend with fabric scraps and watched as our mom would whip up these cool outfits for us. We were tomboys so our mom made us matching vests and bell-bottoms! Our teens were influenced by Soho in the 80’s – our subway jaunts into the city dropped us into a gritty and vibrant downtown New York. Our eyes took in the graffiti streets, while boom boxes everywhere would provide the ultimate soundtrack for us. We experimented with lace, bold graphics, oversized tops, stirrup pants, and shoulder pads. BIG shoulder pads! The 90’s introduced us to Helmut Lang’s androgyny. New York is a great place to experiment with fashion.

When and why did you decide to start designing and launch femme d’armes?

Creatively, we always felt like we had something to say and have always toyed with the idea of starting our own collection. Honestly, we wanted to make clothing that we wanted to wear. So, one day in 2010, we sat down, put pen to paper, and haven’t looked back since.

How would you describe the aesthetic of your line and why did you decide to name it femme d’armes?

femme d’armes (pronounced fem-dom) translates to “women in arms”. The name invokes strength, confidence and camaraderie. Our clothes are defined by the femme d’armes spirit – the confident woman who works and plays with as much vigor as men – a former tomboy who makes bold fashion choices, seeks wearable statement pieces and appreciates our exclusive prints. It took us a long time to find the name to capture the essence of this girl.

Explain the process behind creating each collection. How do you get inspired to design such amazing pieces?

It’s different every season – Inspiration can come from a song, our travels, a vintage photograph or even a piece of furniture. We have an organic process to creating each collection and our choice in fabrics are a large component. We never want to force the fabric to do something it’s not supposed to do. During our draping and fitting sessions is where the pieces really start to come alive and defines each collection for us.

femme d’armes silhouettes are very wearable, distinctive and chic. What role do you see each collection playing in the wardrobe of the modern woman?

We strive to create our personal take on “timeless” designs, pieces that will be worn for years to come. With that, we hope to see our strong tailored pieces, exclusive prints and “stand out” pieces incorporated into her already forward wardrobe.

I love your use of prints and patterns. Describe your process for finding and deciding which ones would be best each season?

We start with concepts and mood boards for the season, gathering images and silhouettes and colors which we are feeling strongly for, and collect prints that would bring all of that together cohesively. Again, it can come from an image, an artwork or vintage inspirations, and then we edit down to the strongest vision possible.

What style icon or public figure best embodies the femme d’armes woman?

We’re drawn to confident style icons– 70’s Lauren Hutton, 70’s Bianca Jagger, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Alexa Chung come to mind.

Which femme d’armes piece does every woman have to have for fall/winter?

To pick only one of our “children” is tough! But, if we had to choose one, it would be the Justine pant. It’s our option for a new pant silhouette for those who want to break away from jeans. We wear the Justine all.the.time.

If you could shoot your next campaign in any location and with any photographer, where and whom would you choose?

We love Nick Knight, Mario Testino, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Craig Mcdean, Tim Walker. On the impossible list would be Richard Avedon or Helmut Newton. We would shoot in New York; there is so much richness in architecture—from the old commercial warehouses in Williamsburg, the areas beneath the Manhattan Bridge or the cobblestone streets of the West Village.

How would you like to expand the line in the future?

It would probably be menswear. Since our line takes inspirations from menswear elements, it would be natural extension for us.

What 1 song would have to be on the soundtrack to a femme d’armes runway show? 

You know, there is always a new song that is on repeat and currently it’s “So Good To Me” by Chris Malinchak. You know how a song can make you FEEL beautiful, well this is one of them. The song is so dreamy, sexy and a great beat to walk to… Of course, draped in femme d’armes.

Many moons ago, when LA decided to be entrenched in rain, two single gals spent a night indoors, escaped the foul weather and had a little wine. Of course, this wine was accompanied by the ubiquitous boy/life talk session and a photoshoot. In LA, we – and by we, I mean natives – are not used to such harsh conditions and usually go into panic when the temperature drops below 70 and water falls from the sky; in lieu of running for my emergency kit, art was made [if this counts as art...it could be more like fun with friends]. Perhaps the rain gods should smile on LA more often; then, I’d have a legitimate reason to stay in and be a hermit draped in vintage.

[Photog: Sunshine Harding]

I woke up this morning thinking, ‘Internet, show me something I have to have for the holidays’ – and so it is. The Alexander Wang Embossed Lydia Bag. A gift for that woman that you don’t just sort of like, but love.

Available for purchase at La Garconne

Last night while listening to Solange’s EP True [which is amazingly spectacular] I stumbled upon this picture of Basquiat. Lately, finding inspiration has been a bit of a struggle – and the combination of these 2 artists gave me a new perspective on what it means to innovate. Both from two different eras, but with the same spirit of individuality – channeling energy to express their unique creativity and give us a light in the proverbial darkness.

Pics via FILTER Mag [left] and ArtComesFirst [right]