C.J.: Prince's "3rd Eye” sunglasses were designed by Minnesotans Coco and Breezy

Article by: C.J. , Star Tribune

Updated: November 3, 2014 - 7:35 PM

The “3rd Eye” shades Prince debuted on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” were created by designers Coco and Breezy, Minnesota natives now based in New York.

“Just wanted to share the good news that we designed the sunglasses for Prince that he wore on SNL last night. These are the sunglasses that were digitally created on his album cover but he asked us to create the material version,” read a Sunday e-mail from Breezy. “We would like U to have it exclusively in Minnesota.”

When Coco and Breezy were here in July overseeing a photo shoot, visiting with mom Diana Aponte and interviewing with me, they mentioned meeting with Prince.

“This was the project we were speaking about with him during our trip,” Breezy now tells me. “We received the glasses from our factory just a few days before SNL and dropped them off to someone on his team. No one told us if he liked them or not, so our anticipation was extremely high because we had no idea if he was going to wear them. We then get a call saying that he invited us to come sit in the live audience to see the show. When he came on stage it was dark and we couldn’t tell if he was wearing them or not. Then of course we saw him rocking out with our ‘3rd Eye’ sunglasses. We were sooo excited!!!”

They apparently expect these shades — designed for people with a third eye on their forehead? — to catch on because Breezy told me, “We are announcing a pre-order date soon.” The price hasn’t been determined.

Prince and his current protégés, 3rdEyeGirl, performed an eight-minute medley of songs from two new albums, “Art Official Age” and “Plectrum Electrum.” Prince was the musical guest of the guest host, comedian Chris Rock. The suspicion I conveyed on Twitter, that Rock was entering dangerous territory in mining terrorism at the World Trade Center and Boston Marathon for laughs, was confirmed Monday when “CBS This Morning” anchor Gayle King said the audience didn’t seem to know if laughter was appropriate. Rock’s monologue also included a joke about Target that gave me pause — which is, of course, what good comedians do.

[Edited 11/4/14 4:24am]

[Edited 11/4/14 4:25am]

Everyone that buys these should be required to post a picture of themselves wearing them out in public places.

its funny how prince takes the whole 3rd eye concept, which has a deeply spiritual history as well as being a modern concept that is much more real than people care to believe, and puts a stupid 3 lensed sunglasses over it, completely negating all the spiritual value of the 3rd eye concept .. prince is like the Kmart of spirituality .. prince is like a wwjd bumpersticker on a tank .. prince took the christian cross and turned it into an ode to himself with his symbol chains where the cross once lived .. this guy takes plastic vanity and plastic religion to a whole otha level

The glasses cover the 3rdeye, which is located in the center of the forehead. It is a new age, metaphysical and eastern religous concept that has been around for thousands of years.

3rdEye DEFINITION

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referred to a speculative invisible eye, located in the center of the forehead, which provides perception beyond ordinary sight. In certain spiritual traditions such as hinduism, the third eye refers to ajna, brow, or chakra.

Prince has many references to the 3rd eye in his lyrics over the years, the glasses, and the band name 3rdeyegirl, are simply the newest incarnation and representation of those beliefs. The sunglasses themselves cover that 3rd eye, which is pretty creative and hilarious imo.

I am starting to believe most people think he just threw up a 3rd sunglass for no reason at all.

[Edited 11/4/14 6:36am]

leadline said:

The glasses cover the 3rdeye, which is located in the center of the forehead. It is a new age, metaphysical and eastern religous concept that has been around for thousands of years.

3rdEye DEFINITION

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referred to a speculative invisible eye, located in the center of the forehead, which provides perception beyond ordinary sight. In certain spiritual traditions such as hinduism, the third eye refers to ajna, brow, or chakra.

Prince has many references to the 3rd eye in his lyrics over the years, the glasses, and the band name 3rdeyegirl, are simply the newest incarnation and representation of those beliefs. The sunglasses themselves cover that 3rd eye, which is pretty creative and hilarious imo.

I am starting to believe most people think he just threw up a 3rd sunglass for no reason at all.

[Edited 11/4/14 6:36am]

Great insight & concept!

EYE can't wait till the twin designer's put them on order! Eye wonder if will receive profit, since he helped create them.

To open the third eye one has to put attention to the area. These glasses are serving two functions, entertainment and work on the third eye. I think its genius.

Prince should make Bart a special pair that covers his mouth??

leadline said:

The glasses cover the 3rdeye, which is located in the center of the forehead. It is a new age, metaphysical and eastern religous concept that has been around for thousands of years.

3rdEye DEFINITION

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referred to a speculative invisible eye, located in the center of the forehead, which provides perception beyond ordinary sight. In certain spiritual traditions such as hinduism, the third eye refers to ajna, brow, or chakra.

Prince has many references to the 3rd eye in his lyrics over the years, the glasses, and the band name 3rdeyegirl, are simply the newest incarnation and representation of those beliefs. The sunglasses themselves cover that 3rd eye, which is pretty creative and hilarious imo.

I am starting to believe most people think he just threw up a 3rd sunglass for no reason at all.

[Edited 11/4/14 6:36am]

Prince has been into the occult an esoteric things for a long time, but normally if you dare to mention this on this site - I tell you, they (fams) will kill you!

So do you think Prince travels on the astral plane from time to time?

SuperFurryAnimal said:

Prince should make Bart a special pair that covers his mouth??

!!!

TrevorAyer said:

its funny how prince takes the whole 3rd eye concept, which has a deeply spiritual history as well as being a modern concept that is much more real than people care to believe, and puts a stupid 3 lensed sunglasses over it, completely negating all the spiritual value of the 3rd eye concept .. prince is like the Kmart of spirituality .. prince is like a wwjd bumpersticker on a tank .. prince took the christian cross and turned it into an ode to himself with his symbol chains where the cross once lived .. this guy takes plastic vanity and plastic religion to a whole otha level

ummmmm... someone made a physical copy of something designed as album art and now suddenly its an attack of spirituality? You people and your silly ideas.. lol

TrevorAyer said:

Soulstar77A said:

leadline said:

The glasses cover the 3rdeye, which is located in the center of the forehead. It is a new age, metaphysical and eastern religous concept that has been around for thousands of years.

3rdEye DEFINITION

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referred to a speculative invisible eye, located in the center of the forehead, which provides perception beyond ordinary sight. In certain spiritual traditions such as hinduism, the third eye refers to ajna, brow, or chakra.

Prince has many references to the 3rd eye in his lyrics over the years, the glasses, and the band name 3rdeyegirl, are simply the newest incarnation and representation of those beliefs. The sunglasses themselves cover that 3rd eye, which is pretty creative and hilarious imo.

I am starting to believe most people think he just threw up a 3rd sunglass for no reason at all.

[Edited 11/4/14 6:36am]

Prince has been into the occult an esoteric things for a long time, but normally if you dare to mention this on this site - I tell you, they (fams) will kill you!

So do you think Prince travels on the astral plane from time to time?

Absolutely, his lyrics over time have been filled with esoteric, metaphysical, new age and occult themes. Akashic Records anyone? Not a record company fyi.....

Prince mentioned something in the late 80's, either during an interview, or something relayed by someone in his crew, that he was able to astral travel, whether that is the truth or not, who knows. What I do believe is that he believes he can.

www.cocoandbreezy.com

[Edited 11/4/14 8:31am]

jesus fucking christ, they're just glasses. GLASSES. Who gives a fuck that they're going to be sold? How many stupidly designed novelty glasses have been on the market, hell, from Funkadelic alone wearing crazy-ass glasses? too many to count. All of this bullshit about him disrespecting the 3rd eye, spititualism, etc...how does anyone here know how deep or not deep he is into the concept? What does it matter> It's like my 4 yr old, he was watching the performance, and literally said, hey, he has a 3 eyes! But when he took his glasses off, he acriculated that Prince did, indeed, only have 2.

Goddamn y'all are some fickle mofo's!!

KingSausage said:

I hope they come with a free bottle of 3121 perfume!

BlackandRising said:

jesus fucking christ, they're just glasses. GLASSES. Who gives a fuck that they're going to be sold? How many stupidly designed novelty glasses have been on the market, hell, from Funkadelic alone wearing crazy-ass glasses? too many to count. All of this bullshit about him disrespecting the 3rd eye, spititualism, etc...how does anyone here know how deep or not deep he is into the concept? What does it matter> It's like my 4 yr old, he was watching the performance, and literally said, hey, he has a 3 eyes! But when he took his glasses off, he acriculated that Prince did, indeed, only have 2.

Goddamn y'all are some fickle mofo's!!

so true & well said. BVH you are better than this nonsense. If you were to be fair you will now look at all the merch that the likes of One Direction do..whihc like many others is tacky & cynically money making beyond belief!

lezama said:

TrevorAyer said:

its funny how prince takes the whole 3rd eye concept, which has a deeply spiritual history as well as being a modern concept that is much more real than people care to believe, and puts a stupid 3 lensed sunglasses over it, completely negating all the spiritual value of the 3rd eye concept .. prince is like the Kmart of spirituality .. prince is like a wwjd bumpersticker on a tank .. prince took the christian cross and turned it into an ode to himself with his symbol chains where the cross once lived .. this guy takes plastic vanity and plastic religion to a whole otha level

ummmmm... someone made a physical copy of something designed as album art and now suddenly its an attack of spirituality? You people and your silly ideas.. lol

toouche

If these cost anymore than $9.99 then what the actual fuck. My prediction $49.99 and there will likely be copies on ebay before the official ones are even for sale.

As gimmicks go they're quite cool but unless you're Prince and wearing them on stage they're dumb.

Damn and halloween just went by. Could've worn these, my Mr. Happy boxer-briefs and a purple rain condom on each finger.

AFine1 said:

The Twinz are back? Urghhh.....

[Edited 11/4/14 8:47am]

TrevorAyer said:

its funny how prince takes the whole 3rd eye concept, which has a deeply spiritual history as well as being a modern concept that is much more real than people care to believe, and puts a stupid 3 lensed sunglasses over it, completely negating all the spiritual value of the 3rd eye concept .. prince is like the Kmart of spirituality .. prince is like a wwjd bumpersticker on a tank .. prince took the christian cross and turned it into an ode to himself with his symbol chains where the cross once lived .. this guy takes plastic vanity and plastic religion to a whole otha level

....or perhaps he is opening people's minds to the Pineal Gland and it's importance.

[Edited 11/4/14 9:52am]

2020 said:

What's that? You don't like my sunglasses I don't give a F*** [img:$uid]http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2006/startracks/061016/prince.jpg[/img:$uid]

exactly,dumbshit

Those sisters look badass!

And for the record, for someone who has a great disdain for Prince, Bart sure knows where to get all the current news links..Does he check daily..very strange..

Those glasses make people look like spiders, not spiritual seekers, (which - let's face it - would be better served pursuing a different hobby).

Bet they outsell the album.