Prepare to uncork the champagne and don your most extravagant designer gear, because the City of Light is about to host a new chapter for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s (well) established fashion empire, The Row. Not content to settle for a mere three or four fashion capitals, the twins are evidently intent on conquering the globe, one luxurious silk and refined piece of art—sorry, I mean “wearable art”—at a time. Their latest? Pioneering Paris, bastion of high fashion, for the next star on their fashion atlas.
In a turn of events that is sure to leave the fashion elite giddy from New York to Shanghai, the famous twins have revealed their fabulous scheme to open a new haven for lovers of Parisian luxury. “We’ve been looking for years,” Ashley Olsen admitted in a rare, candid interview with Vogue. And why not? The twin sisters’ brand has been on something of an unstoppable upward trajectory, culminating in their last big achievement, which was arguably the biggest thing to hit the fashion world since and including the runway shows of the late ’90s: their brand’s exclusive right to issue subpoenas. Now, has that got your attention?
Even for the talented Olsens, the high fashion world is a challenging one to penetrate. But with unfaltering assurance, they’ve journeyed from London to Long Island, extending the reach and essence of The Row with each new destination. And now, with the City of Light effusively embracing their vision, the Olsens are in seriously elevated territory, where both stakes and expectations soar sky-high.
The setting? Once a restaurant, this charming—and currently still—establishment seems plucked directly from the hand of fate. After a considerable amount of renovations, the twins have deftly converted it into a not-so-little luxury boutique that is in keeping not only with the opulence of the Parisian “underground” but also with the secretive nature of their brand. It is an invitation that the sophisticated shopper will not be able to resist.
Are setbacks on the way? Naturally! Even titans like the Olsens aren’t immune to the occasional stumble. But in classic zen style, Mary-Kate opines from the Parisian sidewalk: “You need to be very agile and to make adjustments—to opening the doors and learning—one day at a time. That’s very us.” And what better philosophy for the seemingly perfect pair to embrace on their way to an even more seemingly perfect destiny?
The twins are never intimidated by a challenge, and they embody pure excitement as they get ready to take on the next big thing in their career. Oui, dear reader, you are not mistaken if you assume they are aiming to make their new venture not just a store but an experience in and of itself. “It’s going to be a space that acts as a certain type of experience,” Ashley Olsen insists. “It has to be that way for it to be a unique and special type of store.”
Still, a charming anecdote emerges amid the whirlwind of renovations: having sister time with Elizabeth Olsen has become a favored, if not ever-so-glamorous, diversion since entering into the Parisian stage of life. The two, along with elder sister Mary-Kate, have been spotted enjoying wine and laughter at some of the city’s coziest bistros—delightful evidence that, at least in this instance, the true lives of these famous sisters parallel the fictional one portrayed on screen.
In their attempts to reshape Parisian style, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen remain the very embodiment of refined sophistication. The buzz around their latest project—the opening of a new store—has all of Paris electrified. Why? Because this isn’t just about the store; it’s also about the powerful, if quiet, transformation of two stars into something akin to fashion royalty.
Never has Paris, my friends, looked so stylish. Meet me at The Row, and let Mary-Kate and Ashley take you on a glamorous ride that’s sure to be as classic as the Eiffel Tower itself. Fashion, sophistication, and a hint of Olsen magic await the bold traveler who enters this exquisite little world.
