Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen may still be on a high after winning big at the CFDA Awards recently but this week they were back to work, presenting the resort 2013 collection of their other line, Elizabeth & James.
As I write this raindrops are gathering along my office windowsill and the tree outside is threatening to come thundering through the window, so yes, basically the weather isn't very good but if it was, this is exactly what I want to be wearing. As has become the norm, the collection played with masculine tailoring but in a feminine way, especially on the lightweight and blouses teamed with tailored trousers and Oxford and on the perfect deconstructed white tuxedo.
Last week Julianne Hough nailed it in that red Kaufmanfranco dress that she wore to attend the CFDA Awards and last night she was on top form again as she attended the world premiere of 'Rock of Ages' at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. For the occasion she chose a neon yellow dress from the designer and teamed it with a relaxed top-knot and drop earrings in what was definitely one the strongest looks of the night.
When they received the best womenswear brand award for The Row at the CFDA Awards earlier on this week, it felt hard to remember Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's Disney days. While the brand has long been a go-to for editors and celebrities, the award cemented their position as being at the helm of a legitimate brand that deserves to be taken seriously. As CFDA president Steven Kolbtold Fashionista, 'They were patient and did it right.' This has served them well both with their own lines and partnerships.
Last week Superga, the Italian sneaker brand that the pair have a collection with, hosted a party to celebrate the launch of their first American store in SoHo. Steve Madden, who is responsible for the big launch and has worked with the twins for the last five years on their Elizabeth & James shoe line, complimented their attention to detail. 'They're very demanding, they're very tough,' he told Fashionista when asked what it was like to work with them. 'They want what they want and so we worked hard to get that done.' But it's this exacting standard that he says is their strength. 'They are a pain in the ass. But they're very good though.'
Anyone that follows The Fash Pack on Pinterest will know that I am a big fan of all things Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and regular readers will know just how fond I am of the pair's luxury brand, The Row.
Last night, then, it was great to see their work officially recognised at the 2012 CFDA Awards, as The Row beat stiff competition from the likes of Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler to bag the best womenswear brand award. Like Nicole Richie and Victoria Beckham, the Olsens are amongst the few names that have successfully managed to carve a legitimate fashion career for themselves despite their 'celebrity'.
With that in mind, have a look in the gallery for my favourite pieces from the brand's S/S12 collection available on Net-A-Porter.
Michelle Harper did a Marc Jacobs this week at the CFDA Awards by turning up in this 'out-there' get up created by designer Christian Cota. If, like everyone else, you were wondering how and why that dress happened, Costa explained that he wanted to do something different and make a statement. 'I wanted to be edgier,' he explained at the Swarovski after-party when asked about the dress.
For Harper, though, it was more about being as revealing as possible. 'He wanted to be edgy and I kept screaming ‘More naked, more naked!’' she exclaimed. 'I would take off my underwear and be a little bit more naked, but that would be a no. Christian put down the law and I’m happy for it.'
Clockwise from top left: Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen in The Row; Solange Knowles in Marni; Kate Bosworth in Altuzarra; Dakota Fanning in Proenza Schouler; Pamela Love in Theyskens Theory; Tabitha Simmons and Karen Elson in Proenza Schouler
Last night the CFDA Awards, the Oscars of the fashion world, took place and in New York at Alice Tully Hall and the winners are in. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen took away the big womenswear designer of the year award for The Row, Joseph Altuzarra won the Swarovski Award for womenswear and Phillip Lim for menswear and Tommy Hilfiger was awarded the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.
Simon Spurr didn't end up winning the menswear designer of the year award, which was just as well considering all of the controversy surrounding his departure from his namesake line.
The DJ wore a yellow paillette patterned sleeveless dress with white panels and a deep V-neck from the Marni S/S12 collection and teamed it with a woven leather satin clutch and perspex heels from Missoni.
Dakota Fanning is always styled to perfection in her magazine shoots but her red carpet outfits tend to let her down. Take the Met Gala for example, over the last two years she's appeared in huge tulle gowns that felt way too frilly and young for her.
Last night at the CFDA Awards we had a break through. The young actress appeared in one of the brocade dresses that we all fell in love with from the Proenza Schouler A/W12 collection teamed with the tie-front black leather booties that accompanied it.
The outfit works for many reasons. Aside from the fact that the dress was one of the most interesting things we saw at New York Fashion Week last season, Fanning looks her age whilst also looking every inch the star style that we knew she would become.
