Olsen twins lead NY Fashion Week at The Row

[September 12, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Here's how far Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have come with their fashion collection The Row: Sitting at the spring preview, it becomes clear that other designers at New York Fashion Week have been mimicking the layered-yet-airy refined look that is at the heart of this label.

This was the real deal, though, with the Olsens piling on the models long and fluid duster coats, tunics and dresses on Monday, sometimes paired with pajama pants and other times with slouchy skinny-leg silk ones.

The Row did hit on the emerging lingerie trend, although they don't get credit for starting that one. That seems to be a collective statement coming from fashion insiders as they put next season into focus.

Almost every outfit here was a single color, head to toe, allowing for barely noticeable lines, although the designers know what they're doing when it comes to tailoring. The palette was dominated by various shades of cream but there were bits of black and tan, and muted red and blue. There was no embellishment so the clothes had to speak for themselves.

"This season The Row takes us to a world of pure, soft and delicate lightness," the Olsens said in their notes. "Inspired by the 18th century scrolls of Ito Jakuchu, depicting the Japanese traditions of bird-and-flower paintings, the new collection celebrates a spirit of subtle colors and exquisite layering."

It was another example of the easy elegance that earned them the Council of Fashion Designers of America's award earlier this year as the top womenswear designers. It's unlikely you'd find a doubter in the crowd of top-tier editors, buyers and stylists who got up early for this show, held in the intimate restaurant of The Carlyle hotel on Madison Avenue.

The Olsens took in the show from one of the banquettes.

[Associated Press; By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL]

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