Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are our first twins for Wonder Women of the Week
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen successfully transitioned from child stars to fashion entrepreneurs, making the twins our Wonder Women of the Week.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen first soared to fame as child stars on Full House. The Olsen twins then charmed us in films such as When In Rome. But New York Minute marked Mary-Kate’s and Ashley’s last joint acting project, serving as the bridge to their new career as fashion entrepreneurs.
As these celebrity twins turn 32 this month, we’re celebrating by looking at their impressive success in transitioning from tiny stars to fashionista businesswomen.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen make red carpet memories
Talking with E! News, Mary-Kate revealed that by the time she turned 17, she and Ashley had stopped looking at any articles featuring the twins. The Olsens “don’t read the good, we don’t read the bad.”
And while ignoring their press mentions, Ashley and Mary-Kate have learned to choose carefully when and where they will appear. As their success as designers grew, the twins chose their red carpet moments carefully, making their appearances all the more memorable. In recent years, for example, Mary-Kate and Ashley have delighted their fans at the Met Gala and earned cheers at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards.
Olsen twins: Scents and business sense
Mary-Kate and Ashley talked with Women’s Wear Daily about their business ventures. From fragrances to The Row and Elizabeth and James brands, the Olsen twins view themselves first and foremost as business women rather than entertainers. Mary-Kate shared that the twins’ self-image as entrepreneurs began early.
"With what we were doing in business when we were younger, I don’t think it ever felt like we were actresses — because we spent so much more of our time not in front of the cameras, building a brand."
Consequently, when the time came to make the transition from acting in front of the camera to designing in a secluded office, the Olsen twins already had a solid sense of their inner entrepreneurs.
Passion for fashion results in awards
In contrast to the current trend in celebrity fashion, which consists of the star hyping her name as the key selling point, Mary-Kate and Ashley began selling their items for The Row without a label.
“Only certain people knew it was us behind it,” recalled Mary-Kate. “We didn’t do any press. Our idea — because we had been in the branding industry for a very long time — was ‘If the product’s good, it will sell.’”
The Olsen twins tend to steer clear of social media, but they did share their very first public selfie on Sephora’s official account.
That anonymous beginning of The Row turned into award-winning designs that, after the Olsen twins literally came out of the closet and linked their names to the brand, earned them honors this month from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
Mary-Kate spoke to the crowd in recognition of the twins’ award for accessories designer of the year for The Row. She touched on the politically charged environment, describing it as a “difficult time” during which the fashion industry deserves to be celebrated. Previous CFDA awards included the Womenswear Designer of the Year award for The Row. In 2014, they won their first Accessories Designer of the Year.
While cheering the Olsen twins for their acting and fashion success, we also want to applaud them for their “no regrets” approach to life and their belief in the importance of sisterhood. Mary-Kate once famously said that ”
“I would never wish my upbringing on anyone… but I wouldn’t take it back for the world.” She also named Ashley as the most important member of her support team.
“Sometimes Ash and I have to bring each other back, or push each other more,” revealed the Olsen twin. “It’s really helpful to have another half.”