Ashley Olsen & Mary-Kate Explain 'Homeless Chic' Look

Pint-sized fashion moguls and Michelle Obama dressers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen sat down for Style.com's "The Future of Fashion" series, to discuss how The Row came to fruition, their design process, and offer insight into their personal style choices, which started becoming a big deal back in 2005, when they enrolled at NYU:

People called it homeless chic or granny chic. There were a lot of terms. But it was a very striking moment. Were you conscious it was happening?

Ashley: That moment for us was us waking up, going to school, and not wanting anyone to take our picture. Kind of a piece of protection.

Mary-Kate: For me, it was so cold, like the wind chill. How could you not put on 20 things when you're going from Los Angeles to walking through the snow? ... I think it was probably that. And laziness.

Along those lines, neither sister has a Facebook or Twitter account, citing their highly-publicized lives as deterrents. M-K told Style.com, "We've spent our whole lives trying to not let people have that accessibility, so it would go against everything we've done in our lives to not be in the public." And when asked if they hang out with other designers, Ashley remarked, "I mean, honestly, I don't leave my house....I'm friendly with a lot of people, but when it comes down to it, you won't see me actually in that [scene]."

Head over to Style.com to read the rest.

WATCH Olsens at fashion week:

Comments

[soonertb]

08:10 AM on 06/01/2011

More waist of air.These two have made a career of bad acting and looking like aliens in a trance.

[logic-a-go-go]

10:27 PM on 05/31/2011

Their look was inspired by the movie, The Fly.

[Daisytoo]

03:27 PM on 05/31/2011

Good. Now can they explain the raccoon eye thing?

[tyrant510]

02:04 AM on 05/30/2011

odd...they are both talking about their "homeless chic" and "granny chic" looks in the past tense.

[FlowerGypsy]

02:56 PM on 05/29/2011

I actually really love their style. It's an acquired taste, yes, but they are so tiny that other things look awkward on them. I love their use of layers, platform shoes, and bohemian jewelry. Very cool.

[texxtin]

02:02 PM on 05/29/2011

Their clothes are uuuuuuooogly. The Olsen twins stuff looks like it was made from table cloths and drapery. The two of them seem to have the need to completely hide their figures at all times. Not that they appear to have any. Emperor's clothes stuff, all the way.

This was already done as a joke on bad taste. Zoolander's Derelict show. It was considered to over the top tacky in the show and for the Olsen twins it's not even original but still in bad taste

[ena]

12:17 PM on 05/30/2011

They look like their clothes. Uuuuuuooogly!!!

[SteveDenver]

11:30 PM on 05/28/2011

"How much did you pay to look that poor?"

[leftLibertarian]

09:36 PM on 05/28/2011

Perhaps they have not heard of Zoolander?

Mugatu: Let me show you Derelicte. It is a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack w***** that make this wonderful city so unique.

[inthedesert]

06:10 PM on 05/28/2011

I bet they masturbate together...don't you?

[Andres64]

06:12 PM on 05/28/2011

In my fantasies they do. :D

[smp65]

08:14 AM on 06/01/2011

So you like pre pubescent, alien looking females?

[Aranxa]

07:52 PM on 05/30/2011

That was totally inappropriate and unnecessary.

[dennyd]

05:07 PM on 05/28/2011

Tell me again why these 2 gals are important....?

[eepah]

03:07 PM on 05/31/2011

Well... whether or not you like the FLOTUS' style (and I do, yet remain on the fence about M-K's fashion line), they are dressing Mrs. Obama these days. That's kind of a big deal.

[darkelflass]

05:15 PM on 05/31/2011

They are? Can you point the way to some pictures where she's wearing M-K?

[gettymuse]

01:28 PM on 05/28/2011

They look like two little old ladies who just finished their craft hour at the nursing home and are now ready to go for a walk.

[Its ya girl]

11:40 PM on 05/27/2011

Hey at least they provided a reasonable explanation. Lets keep in mind; these young ladies are FILTHY rich and could give 3 pennies on what anyone thinks about their pile of oversized designer garmet chic style. Most of us would kill just to have one of those pieces! I mean come on, those garmets may look like an XL on the Olsen twins but I'm sure that in reality the tag says: "size 4". I like to keep it real!

[dennyd]

05:08 PM on 05/28/2011

and because they are "FILTHY" rich it makes them important?? better people?? they don't have to sit down when they take a dump???..gimme a break.

[Its ya girl]

11:41 PM on 05/29/2011

Funny, I don't recall or see that I wrote any of those stated opinions. But hey, thanks oh enlightened one! Just stating the facts you don't have to agree. You clicked on the article and decided to read the comments.

[leskataus]

12:16 AM on 05/31/2011

The reason they are filthy rich is that they were lucky to have managers who knew how to market them and extend their careers way beyond "Full House". Otherwise, they would be just another in a long line of has-been child actors who fade away quickly after their show ends and aren't heard of again until they get into trouble. Look at their co-star on the show, Jodie Sweetin, as an example of that.

[lilliefaerie]

11:28 PM on 05/27/2011

I love their style.

[logic-a-go-go]

09:08 PM on 05/27/2011

I see two smiling insects in that photo. Where are the Olsens?

[sandwalker]

03:17 PM on 05/27/2011

Given the world they were forced into an the life they were given they seem rather bland..But myself having to be Prim an Proper most of the time im most happy unshaven rolling in the surf picking sand out of my trunks ....Your the one that has to look at me an i dont care ....as im sure they care even less .....good for them......

[logic-a-go-go]

09:09 PM on 05/27/2011

Huh?