If like me, you’re an 80s kid you’ll remember Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen from US sitcoms Full House and Two of a Kind. That was just the beginning for the Olsen duo, since 2002 they have been on the Forbes ‘Celebrity 100’ list and in 2007 at just 21 years of age the pair were named as the eleventh richest women in entertainment. This week the Olsen twins have been named in the Forbes Top 30 Under 30 brightest fashion and art stars of 2012 ♥
Mary-Kate was first to be labelled as a style icon, her signature style of boyfriend sweaters over tight leather look leggings tucked into boots and finished with oversized sunglasses became well recognised. 2006 saw the launch of their first fashion label The Row, named after London’s Saville Row. The range consists of a ready-to-wear collection, handbags and eyewear, focusing on the perfect fit and timeless elegance using the finest fabrics. Surprisingly the range was built on slouchy t shirts and leather look leggings which was Ashley’s idea. Now the range is shown at New York Fashion week. Earlier this year, The Council of Fashion Designers of America named the sisters Womenswear Designers of the Year.
Using a simple colour palette and rare silks, the forthcoming Spring/Summer 2013 collection for The Row, takes inspiration from The Far East looking at a new take on the kimono, which is a key trend next season.
The more contemporary label Elizabeth & James, named after their older brother and younger sister, was launched in 2007. The name of the brand is aimed to suggest that the collection is menswear inspired tailoring mixed with girly pieces and hippy like dresses. The collection brings together the individual styles of both sisters, Ashley gives the highly polished look to the range with tailored pieces and Mary-Kate brings in the more casual and bohemia look.
With draped silks and a Morrocan sunrise colour pallette, the E&J collection takes on another two key trends for Spring/Summer 2013…The Power Suit, masculine tailoring and tuxedo blazers with a feminine edge and monochrome dressing. The designers of the range also mentioned the debut of the Elizabeth & James fragrance in March 2013. With further labels such as Style Mint, (t-shirt collection available on ASOS) Olsenboye and their book Influence, launched in 2008 which interviews top names in Fashion, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are only just at the start of their success ♥
Other names on the Forbes list included Sophia Amouruso, founder of Nasty Gal which started as an eBay store. Designers, Sally LaPointe, Joseph Altuzarre, Katie Ermilio and photographer Michael Avedon also made the list as well as more well known names such as 28 year old Alexander Wang, another designer duo Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs and Pedro Lorenco.
I would say Alexander Wang deserves a blog post of his own, watch this style space…
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