Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen Had to Dress the Same Until They Were Teens
It’s hard to think about Mary-Kate Olsen without eventually thinking of her twin sister, Ashley Olsen as well and, of course, the reverse is true also. Though the pair are, obviously, individuals and have different temperaments, their similarities and mutual interests encourage many fans to think of them as a unit. This was especially true when they were younger and entrenched in the entertainment industry. In the early years of their acting career, the sisters didn’t do projects without each other. Furthermore, they were marketed as a unit and even dressed in identical outfits and accessories.
Whether they were on screen or at events, it wasn’t uncommon for Mary-Kate and Ashley to be dressed in similar, if not identical, outfits. Often the only thing that distinguished the twins from one another was the color of the outfit they were wearing. This trend continued until the sisters were in their early teens. But even though Mary-Kate and Ashley wore nearly identical looks, they still fought over who got to wear what. In a 2009 conversation with Interview Magazine, Mary-Kate hilariously recalled the arguments she and her sister had.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen had to dress alike until they were teenagers
“Well, until we were 13 or 14, if my sister and I did an appearance, we would be wearing the same outfit,” Mary-Kate shared. “It would be the same dress and we’d fight over who would wear it in red and who would wear it in black. That was obviously for work.” The twins may have dressed alike for marketing purposes, but they’ve always had completely unique senses of style. While Ashley favored an oversized look, Mary-Kate was drawn to a more form-fitting aesthetic.
“But ever since I can remember, we dressed completely differently,” Mary-Kate continued. “Ashley would wear really baggy clothes and shoes that were too big for her, and I think my first favorite clothing item was a pair of spandex shorts with fringe on them! Leopard and white spandex. Ashley was more into florals and baggier clothes. So, I guess things don’t change that much.” Because they were always dressed alike, Mary-Kate can even remember the very first time they were allowed to dress differently. It was way back in 2003 that the sisters debuted their individual looks for the premiere of Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
The fashionistas have always had different styles
“For the premiere, I chose to wear this Zandra Rhodes dress-now I’ve collected a lot of her pieces-and I put a diamond butterfly brooch in my hair. You know, that’s still one of my top favorite looks,” Mary-Kate recalled. “But I think that started at an age when it was OK for Ashley and me to look different. It was still about pleasing our audiences and making that connection between seeing us out in person, but doing it in a fashionable way…or trying to anyway.”
We’re sure fans of Mary-Kate and Ashley appreciate how they both have developed their own, unique, senses of style over the years. Furthermore, their different preferences in aesthetics likely contribute to the success of their clothing brands. The sisters have become trendsetters in the fashion world, and we’re sure fans are interested in seeing how they continue to express their style individually and collectively.
