#Humble: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Still Don’t Sit at Their Own Fashion Show

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen watch their latest presentation for The Row from the sidelines. Photo: Instagram.com/virginiemouzat.

The Row’s Spring 2017 presentation took place at the label’s recently opened store on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a three-story townhouse turned altar of secret luxury. Outside the townhouse, editors were greeted with pastries and coffee in The Row-branded cups — an interesting touch for the duo who made Starbucks cups a must-have accessory years ago. The Row cups won’t be for sale anywhere, but for a day at least, consider them NYFW’s most exclusive accessory.

Inside, Ashley and Mary-Kate, both wearing long black overcoats (that further added to the religious undertones of my whole excursion) greeted guests, who just walked around until they found a nice place to sit — there were no assigned seats. And, just like last season, Mary-Kate and Ashley didn’t watch their show from backstage, like most designers, or from the comfort of a chair, like you’d expect designers for a luxury house to do. Instead, one stood, and one watched from the floor. You can never say they’re not humble!

With the space completely devoid of any merchandise, it was almost like stepping into a small gallery: here are some pages from a Basquiat notebook greeting you, and up on the ceiling, is that a lamp or is it art? (I’m sure the answer was probably both). It was a most relaxed way of looking at clothes that are made to look like one is a most relaxed person.

The music emanating from the speakers suddenly started getting louder and thus we knew the show was about to begin. As a bit of soft, classic rock played, the first model walked out in an all-black, heavy silk ensemble of a long sleeve blouse with matching trousers, paired with simple white sneakers with a gold “The Row” signature embroidered on their side. Although the label’s clothes are never fussy, the fact that all the looks were paired with the sneakers (also available in black), gave the clothes a special kind of ease, from an oversized Khaki trench, to a white textured sleeveless knit maxi dress.

But not all looks were as simple as they seemed. As models turned, their backs revealed artfully messy layers of ties; a strict, somber blouse in the front revealed a sliver of skin, and an implied sensuality when one thinks about how easy it is to just…undo a lace. Layering was also a big theme for the sisters, with bandeaus worn over blouses, all tied on the back over each other. As the show progressed, so did the textures: nubby tweeds, sheer knits, knits that looked like they were peeling away from themselves, silks pleated and ruched until they looked like abstract shapes upon the body, and one spectacular white mini dress in an allover textural floral motif.

Although The Row’s clothes can sometimes be thought of as severe, they are not without their charm, they’re more like a vehicle that one can project their personality, their own joie de vivre upon. And sure, they can make you rethink your entire wardrobe and closet: would you be better off living in just black, cream, and khaki? For me, the answer is probably not – I love color too much! – but I can always see myself in at least one of their looks, and the ease with which they invite us to live our lives is surely the one thing we should definitely aspire to.

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