The Olsen twins’ style is often (incorrectly) associated with quiet luxury. Sure, the minds behind The Row have a deep affinity for beaten-to-hell Birkins and astronomically priced white T-shirts, but their tastes reach far beyond minimalist if you know you know staples.
Though the two were thrust into the spotlight from a young age, Mary-Kate and Ashley always knew how to shut down a red carpet—be it the grungy floral satin sets with lug-sole boots they wore to the 1995 premiere of It Takes Two, or the more minimalist black cardigans and fringed maxi skirts in 1999. It’s a childhood trait that followed them into adulthood. Case in point: the operatic lace gowns they wore to the 2017 Met Gala, “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between.”
Even after the pair abandoned matchy-matchy sister dressing, the Olsens hewed close to the same influences. Their shared emphasis on patterns, texture, and statement jewelry gave their style a bohemian bent. (Really, was there anything more punk than Ashley Olsen in an orange vintage Dior caftan at the 2013 Met Gala, “Punk: Chaos to Couture”? No.) But they can also turn toward clean lines, neutral colors, and impeccable tailoring. While Mary-Kate has tended to lean more boho and Ashley more minimal, their styles live somewhere in the middle, taking the form of boho-tinged luxury. Think layers, drapery, and—obviously—mystique.
Below, in honor of their birthday, revisit the Olsen twins’ style over the years, from movie premieres to many, many Met Galas.
