Ashley Olsen Speaks! And She's a Savvy Fashion Designer

Ashley Olsen promoted the fall '08 collection of her and Mary-Kate's clothing line the Row by appearing at a boutique in Dallas yesterday. Journalists were asked not to interview her, but being infinitely generous, she chatted them up anyway. Apparently she's "on hiatus from her liberal-arts studies at New York University" to focus on the fashion stuff. Oh, Ash, let's be real — who needs school when you have fashion? And a fortune?

The Row's fall '08 collection includes 110 looks — an impressive boost from the spring '07 collection's 18 — including fur outerwear. The sisters collaborated on the designs, but Ashley works on the line full-time every day while Mary-Kate focuses on acting. "I don't want to expand too far too fast," Ashley told WWD of the Row. "I just take it one day at a time. There is endless opportunity, and I want to make the right choices. I don't see why it can't grow further and further." The Row's commercial director, Rae Miles, chimed in, "We really had a good time. Ashley was surprised. The women were really chic. A lot of them had such great style. And we didn't expect there to be so many women like that."

These women are Olsen's target customers, right? How flattering, then. And the door hit Miles and Ashley's asses on the way out.

Ashley Olsen Touts Virtues of The Row [WWD]

Source: NYmag

Art of Elysium's anniversary gala - Olsen, Belle, Zoe & Willis

The Art of Elysium's "Heaven: Celebrating 10 Years" anniversary gala was held last night in LA, and it was a glittering red carpet for stars turned out in glamorous frocks in lieu of what would have been the 65th Golden Globe Awards last night.

Black was the colour of choice for Ashley Olsen and Rumer Willis, with the Olsen twin wearing a fishtail black dress, topped off with a black jacket and a few strings off black pearls. Rumer showed off her family genes in a black halter neck dress with a beaded bodice and asymmetrical halter strap.

Camilla Belle and Rachel Zoe was out to show that monochrome colours and ruffles were the way to go, though Camilla chose a black and white patterned one shoulder dress. The full then gown contrasted nicely with her red satin clutch and pink pout. Rachel’s strapless dress sort of reminded me of the 1980s taffeta prom dresses, but the uber stylist knows what works for her.

Who’s looked best?

[Images: Getty]

Celebrities Undressed: Ashley Olsen "Sporadic-us"

Sporadic-us: Quiz time, people. The intermittently in vogue Ashley Olsen appears stunned because she's a) incurred the wrath of Conan the Barbarian after filching his favorite pair of combat boots and widest wench- weight-lifting belt; b) discovered that kicky sandals really can be created with just a little creativity and a whole lot of electrical tape; c) noticed that her tube top and face-framing tendrils are both looking more wilted than Britney after a long night of partying; or d) realized that Spider-Man isn't going to swoop in and save her before that ooky alien venom oozes past her knees and attacks her surprisingly smart bubble skirt. (Mark Von Holden/WireImage.com)

Soucrce: MSN.com

The Olsens and Mischa Barton at the Hampton Social, New York

We were only complaining this morning about the lack of celeb-spotting events (it seems that most of the Hollywood crowd are away on their summer holidays or in rehab) when we happened to spy a few attending the Hampton Social in New York on the weekend. Thank goodness for the Olsens! Ashley Olsen fronted up in that double belt by Alaia which she seems to love so much and questionable Gladiator-style heels also by Alaia. Are you a fan?

However, she did raise the bar on her sister in a mustard-colour slouch skirt and gorgeous black blazer (maybe from her own collection, The Row?) Mary Kate, on the other hand, needs to do something with that stringy blonde hair that she's taken to wearing under the same fedora so much recently. I also don't think much of her outfit which includes her favourite scarf... time for a revamp of the wardrobe maybe?

Meanwhile, Mischa Barton turned up in an orange and white camisole, black jeans and sandals. Perhaps you'll agree with me that her recent hair transformation has definitely brightened up her face?

[Images: Getty]

Mary Kate Olsen's simple day look

I know that lots of you have mixed feelings about the Olsen twins and their style choices, but I'm a huge fan. Admittedly if I was a millionairess I doubt I would try to do homeless chic myself, but I still love the look. Even Mary Kate's simple outfit last week of black shorts, black and peach oversized tops and some ballet flats, is centred around a whopping great designer handbag - in this case the Prada fringe.

Create the look yourself with a couple of £10 t-shirts from Topshop in peach and black, and River Island's black roll up denim hotpants, £19. Just grab your favourite black bag and ballet flats and you're good to go!

[Image: Source]

The Fug Girls: How to Hire a Celebrity Fashion Designer

Desperate to join the ranks of retailers who've used celebrities for brand cachet, cheapie clothier Steve + Barry's has decided to follow up its first attempt — Sarah Jessica Parker’s fashion line Bitten — by partnering with actress Amanda Bynes. Who? Exactly. Either Steve + Barry only watch Nickelodeon, or the founders just haven't had a proper lesson in picking the proper celebrity to pimp their wares. Thank God we're here with some sage advice (after the jump). You're welcome, boys.

Pick Someone Who's Actually Into Fashion
True, budding designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen — whose line The Row is being sold at Barneys — have a history of trotting around town looking like they’ve dragged themselves out of a dumpster. But their passion for fashion is well documented by their appearances at couture shows and Fashion Week events. Showing up is half the battle, Amanda; simply saying you want to move to New York because it's chic (and while your roots are showing) does not make you qualified to design good pants.

Don't Get Duped By Fictional Fashion SenseJust because Patricia Field can stuff Carrie Bradshaw in something avant-garde doesn't mean Sarah Jessica Parker knows what she's talking about in real life. There’s a big difference between being able to pick out a pretty dress (or having a pink-haired crone do it for you), and being able to design one. No wonder bloggers are savaging SJP’s line before it's even in stores. We can't imagine how Bynes will fare given that her biggest onscreen fashion moment consisted of two "hilarious" montages at the same flea market in What a Girl Wants. Besides, Colin Firth is in that movie, so was anyone actually watching Amanda?

Avoid People Who Have Nothing Better to DoThe Bynes deal smacks of someone designing on a whim, which didn't work out so well for Nicky Hilton. The sulky heiress was best known for spending most of her time looking bored at parties until deciding to create her Chick line a few seasons ago. Considering Nicky’s total lack of charisma, her addiction to wearing the same shapeless black shirt several weeks in a row, and the fact that she had never given us any prior reason to believe she could design her way out of a paper bag, it's no surprise Chick flopped.

Bynes is generally photographed lounging around Los Angeles in nondescript jeans and tees. And that’s fine … if you haven’t been hired to shill a line based on your awesome fashion sense.
Find a Brainy Business PartnerWhat does Bynes bring to the deal, aside from maybe Colin Firth's phone number? The Olsens have been mini-moguls practically since they were in utero. Fellow wholesome starlet Hilary Duff started slow with lip gloss and cheap accessories before graduating to a clothes line for kids. And at the other end of the age spectrum, Madonna brought a lifetime of savvy. Her H&M collection was more benign than she is, but that's why it worked: Madge knew H&M shoppers needed a trench coat more than, say, a cone bra.

When All Else Fails, At Least Pick Someone People Have Heard OfSienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve line, designed with her sister, is mostly a bunch of drab, ruffled stuff Sienna herself would likely wear with leggings on the red carpet. Would we buy it? Two words: No. But given the enormous attention her controversial personal style has received in the last few years, it's logical that she tried. Conversely, we dare you to name even one thing that Bynes wore out of the house last year. We'll just pop out for the weekend while you're thinking. —The Fug Girls