Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Cover Elle UK April 2012

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen grace two separate covers for Elle UK April 2012. Lensed by fashion photographer Alexei Hay, the 25-year-old gorgeous twins look stunning in the magazine's ten-page spread. In the cover story, the blonde style icons open up and talk about being perfectionists, expanding their business into retail, but also the end of their acting career and the special bond they share.

Once cute star children, now enviable fashionistas running an amazing fashion business. Extremely ambitious and with a high dose of perfectionism, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are now eager to expand their vision. The two lovely beauties land on two separate covers for Elle's UK April 2012 issue and dish on a wide range of topics including stepping away from the spotlight and being on the other side of the lens, but also being closely involved with everything regarding their work and other celebrity fashion lines.
The sisters admit in the cover story that they do share a special bond. "We're attracted to different things, but we arrive at the same place. I think we're probably unaware of how intuitive it might seem from the outside. It's basically one thought process shared between two people," Ashley confesses.

At the age of six months, Mary-Kate and Ashley were cast in the role of Michelle Tanner on the ABC sitcom 'Full House'. After their debut, the twin sisters appeared together in numerous films being constantly in the public eye. Still, they told Elle UK that they ended their acting career.

"I don't have to be a pretty face. I've done that, but now it's important and liberating to be on the other side of the lens. I don't like to be the center of attention anymore," Ashley says adding that, "It doesn't mean I'm not interested in Hollywood. I like the way it operates, I like the people who are involved and the sense of possibility. But if I ever get back in, it's not going to be as an actress."

Mary-Kate and Ashley managed to create a real fashion empire prospering with two different labels simultaneously. And their success is the result of a process implying attention to every detail and being involved with everything.
"We are perfectionists. We've always wanted to be closely involved with everything, totally hands on — that's why it works. If we step away, it stops working. I know it sounds controlling, but that's how it has to be," Ashley told Elle UK.

Speaking about other celebrity fashion lines, Mary-Kate says that, "Of course we knew about the trend of celebrities as designers, but we'd done that already when we were much younger. I don't understand the new idea of designers as celebrities either. To me, the Phoebe Philo [Celine designer] kind of modesty is the way to go. We love beautiful things. That's the only driving impulse."

The two confess that they have certain pieces they refuse to share. "There are some items we get a little possessive about," they say. Also, Mary-Kate and Ashley admit that they are not so obsessed when it comes to their style. "I sometimes wear sweatpants on a plane," Ashley says. "I'm not very aware of trends or hot new items. We're not cool," Mary-Kate added.

On their plans to expand their business into retail, Mary-Kate told Elle UK that, "It’s about being creative, but having a bigger vision for that creativity. For a designer to be successful nowadays, they need to know much more than just design. [Tom Ford], his career is astonishing - the way he’s been able to do everything he has wanted to do and really not compromise at all. From fashion to film, it’s such a singular vision."

Read Mary-Kate and Ashley's full interview in the April 2012 issue of ELLE UK.