Kennedy scion is star of Paris debutantes ball

2013 November 30. | Szerző: shannon

JFK’s great niece one of 20 hand-picked debs at prestigious social event.

AT Christian Dior in Paris, Kyra Kennedy, great niece of the late US president John F. Kennedy, carefully descends a grand staircase in a powder blue couture dress and towering heels.

The 18-year-old has just finished her final dress fitting before the Nov 30 Debutantes Ball, one of the social events of the year at which high society meets haute couture.

The glittering event will see 20 hand-picked “debutantes” dance, dine and network the night away in dresses loaned by some of Paris’ most famous couture houses.

Lord George Porchester whose family owns Highclere Castle, the setting for the hit television series Downton Abbey, has also been invited along with Kyra’s father Robert Kennedy Jr – the son of the slain president’s brother Robert, who was also assassinated.

”It’s my first time wearing haute couture so that’s really exciting, and I’m obsessed by the colour,” Kyra, an aspiring fashion designer, told AFP.

Others taking part include British royal Lady Amelia Windsor, the granddaughter of one of Queen Elizabeth II’s cousins, Francesca Packer Barham, granddaughter of Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer and Romy David, daughter of Seinfeld creator Larry David.

From Asia, there will be Akshita Bhanjdeo of India’s Bhanja dynasty, Filipino “It girl” Monica Urquijo Zobel, and Rebecca Eu, the Canberra-based daughter of a Chinese healthcare company chief.

Now in her 21st year organising the ball, Frenchwoman Ophelie Renouard makes no secret of her quest to track down as many big names as possible.

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In another publicity coup this year, she has secured the presence of London taxi driver’s daughter Lauren Marbe.

The 17-year-old made headlines recently when she notched up an IQ test score of 161, one point higher than Einstein.

“I read about her in the newspapers and so I phoned her up and she said ‘it is not my world but if you invite me I will come’,” Renouard said.

Modern debs want dresses not husbands

The event at the Automobile Club of France in Paris is based on the debutantes balls that were once an established part of the British upper class’s social calendar.

These launched well-born young women into society and – with luck – also introduced them to a potential husband.

But the balls started to fall out of favour in the late 1950s after Queen Elizabeth abolished the practice of the debutantes also being presented at court.

In recent decades, they have been reinvented as glittering fundraisers with the emphasis on philanthropy and contact building rather than finding a husband.

Among the new generation of balls, Renouard’s alone offers participants the chance to borrow a haute couture dress for the night.

“They are not interested in finding a husband, they are too young,” she said.

“What they prefer is the dress, because even if they are privileged they have never been to a haute couture house.”

In previous years “Le Bal” has attracted the daughters of European aristocracy as well as Hollywood A-listers such as Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Andie MacDowell, Clint Eastwood and Sylvester Stallone.

Donations are made direct by the debutantes’ families to the Children of Asia charity which funds underprivileged girls through school in the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam.

In the past decade Renouard has also been able to tap into the newfound wealth of countries such as China and India.

The ball now has a strong showing from Asia but Renouard says she still has to crack Russia.

“I’m not good on Russia. It’s all about networks …,” she said.

As for next year and beyond, she has plenty more names in her sights.

“Every year in January we sit down and go through the files to see who we want. David Bowie’s daughter, I’m waiting for her to grow up,” she said.

”I also want Bill Gates’s daughter and I want more daughters of artists like Anish Kapoor,” she added.

Thanksgiving Outfits: Stay Comfy & Look Chic While You Celebrate

2013 November 28. | Szerző: shannon

Since Thanksgiving is about food and family, we are giving our stilettos a break and rocking some boots and silky sweaters for the holiday. We’re all about bringing it down to earth this week with some comfortable, stylish outfits — and here’s our tips! While you want to stay comfortable that doesn’t mean you can’t look great. From sweater dresses to tunics and everything in between, there’s so many ways to show off your personal sense of style without having to worry about reaching for that second helping.

Thanksgiving Outfits:

We love the idea of donning a flowy tunic for the holidays. Paired with skinny jeans or a fitted pant, this top will go with practically anything. Dress it up with heavy jewelry and platform wedges, or dress it down with a simple pair of stud earrings and flat ankle boots. This is also a great opportunity to experiment with this season’s spectacular colors. Rich burgundies, emerald greens, and deep purples are great colors that can easily be worn together, mixed with some neutral grays or browns, of course. If color isn’t your thing, find a black and white printed tunic and rock a pair of dark wash jeans.

For A Dressed Up Look, A Short Skirt Will Give You Just The Right Amount Of Glam:

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If you’re looking to dress up for Thanksgiving, we suggest a short, gathered skirt. Paired with an adorable pair of ankle boots and a soft sweater, the skirt will visually lengthen your legs and let you show off a cute pair of shoes. A skirt is also a great way to play with this season’s fabulous tights. Fishnet, ribbed, or thigh-high socks, you can’t go wrong with complimenting your skirt with a pair of these — especially if you aren’t into showing a lot of skin this holiday. While the skirt will look perfectly polished the silhouette is forgiving enough that you don’t have to worry about digging in.

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Club Monaco Holiday 2013 Lookbook

2013 November 22. | Szerző: shannon

The Club Monaco holiday 2013 line revolves around one of the fall/winter 2013 season’s most popular trends: metallics. Though metallic accents abounded on the runways, up until now, high street retailers have been reluctant to include high sparkle alternatives into their fall/winter 2013 lines. That all began changing as soon as holiday alternatives started hitting the shelves. Suddenly, sparkly thought provoking alternatives are everywhere and choosing the coolest items worth adding to our wardrobe is not proving an easy task.

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The new Club Monaco holiday 2013 lookbook brings both options for those who feel ready to embrace the trend without holding back and for those who prefer versatile options with just a trendy hint. In other words, there’s something for everyone in the new line. Since the time to find perfect holiday alternatives is getting shorter and shorter, a few style ideas on how to dress to impress definitely come in handy. The label’s suggestions seem to be based on the idea of keeping things simple and classy. Though metallic pieces can be extremely conspicuous, the label’s newest options are very balanced and don’t seem too over the top.

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At times, the ladylike allure of the new Club Monaco holiday 2013 outfit suggestions reminds us of the ultra classy Tory Burch holiday 2013 lookbook, which revolves around many of the same principles. The chromatic palette might seem a bit limited, however, the gorgeous embellishments definitely compensate for the restricted options color-wise. Gorgeous skirts, chic blouses with a romantic flair, sexy yet ladylike dresses and a variety of cool accessories worth splurging on are included in the latest Club Monaco collection.

A metallic accessory can be a great choice for adding a trendy vibe to a look without too much effort. A chain handbag featuring cool metallic details, a pair of cool metallic cap toe pumps or a chic belt can easily bring a festive vibe to any new season look. The best thing about the new outfits from the Club Monaco holiday 2013 lookbook? They make becoming the center of attention seem completely effortless.

5 Best Hats for Girls with Short Hair

2013 November 20. | Szerző: shannon

It’s cold outside, so you may want to think of protecting yourself against flu or cold. And what better ways than accessorizing your outfit with a stylish hat that will compliment your short hair? Here are 5 best hats for girls with short hair.

How to Wear a Hat with Short Hair: The Beret

If you want to find out how to wear a hat with short hair, you should try a beret. This fashionable hat will frame your face beautifully and will give a fresh French twist to your entire apparel. Pair this stylish hat for women with straight blunt bangs and short tresses and get ready for a stroll on Champs Élysées.

Winter Hats for Girls with Short Hair: The Knit Beanie

The knit beanie is one of the most comfortable winter hats for girls with short hair. This fashionable item will keep you warm during long winter days and will prevent hair damage. So, why is the knit beanie one of the best hats for short hair girls? Because it’s very easy to wear and you can mix it with a knitted sweater, a pair of leather boots and a chic knitted scarf.

Stylish Hats for Women with Short Hair: The Floppy

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One of the most stylish hats for women is the floppy one. This gorgeous and elegant hat will help you protect your short locks against cold temperatures. Moreover, you should also pick a floppy hat if you have an oblong face as it will help you make it appear shorter. And what would you say about matching one of the most stylish hats for women with a pencil skirt and a wool coat? Are you ready to stand out from the crowd?

Great Stylish Hat for Women: The Bowler

You won’t regret wearing one of the most stylish hats for women with short hair: the bowler with a short brim. Also called the derby hat, this fashion item was firstly introduced back in the 1850s. Since then, it has become very popular among those searching for the best hats styles for short hair. Wear it with textured hair and you’ll look amazing. Choose a bold lipstick to match your ensemble and your good to go.

Best Hat for Short Hair Girls: The Newsboy

Are you more of a tomboy and are you attracted by androgynous outfits? Then you should start wearing the newsboy hat. This is one of the greatest hats styles for short hair because it gives you the chance to play a little with your tomboyish side and explore fashion. If you’re asking yourself how to wear a hat with short hair, check it out! Cover your short tresses with this newsboy hat and you’ll draw the entire attention towards your eyes.

5 Black Friday Shopping Tips for Women

2013 November 16. | Szerző: shannon

If you’re planning on buying something on Black Friday, you should take a look at these 5 Black Friday shopping tips before doing so. This way, you’ll have all the necessary premises for purchasing the best product.

How to Get the Best Deals on Black Friday: Do Your Research

If you want to know how to get the best deals on Black Friday, you should start by doing your own research. So, if you’re planning on buying a special product, such as a TV, a notebook or an ebook reader, you should take a peak at consumer reviews.

If those reviews are bad, you shouldn’t rush and purchase it just because its price dropped. Instead, follow this Black Friday shopping tip: be patient, continue to do your research, and you’ll definitely find a better product.

Black Friday Shopping Tip: Compare Prices

Comparing prices is also one of the best Black Friday shopping tips for women. If you’ve finally decided what you want to buy, start comparing the prices provided by the stores involved in the Black Friday promotion. Moreover, here’s another how to get the best deals on Black Friday tip: you should check the producer’s web page to see the detailed information on the item you’re planning to buy, and then compare it to the one provided by the stores.

Great Black Friday Shopping Tips for Women: Early Bird Special Offers

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Here’s another great Black Friday shopping tip for women. Why? Because there are lots of stores that advertise special offers for early birds. These offers have one important purpose: they’re meant to draw in the crowd. This being said, you should take advantage of this great Black Friday shopping tip because you’ll get to be one of the first people to buy the desired items on sale.

Black Friday Shopping Tips: Bring Sales Ads with You

This is probably one of the best Black Friday shopping tips. There are stores that have the so called ‘lowest price guarantee’ policy. And if you find a better offer than the one provided by a particular store, you should bring this sales ad with you. According to the store’s policy, this acts as proof in applying the price difference.

Important Black Friday Shopping Tip for Women: Know the Store’s Policy

Knowing stores’ policy is a very important Black Friday shopping tip for women because you’ll know exactly what places to avoid. There are stores that became very strict with their exchanging policy, so here’s another Black Friday shopping tip for you: carry the receipt if you want to exchange a product.

A Fake Redhead’s Guide To Fake Red Hair Maintenance

2013 November 13. | Szerző: shannon

I’ve been a fake redhead since I was 17. The drastic color change brought loads of new feelings into my life and I haven’t been able to switch palettes since.

Red hair has become synonymous with me — you know how in reality TV, everybody has one characteristic? Mine would be Red Hair and Glasses.

And while I’ll never go back to mousy brown color again, I have been debating switching over to the blonde. But right now, I’m sticking with fake ging. And I’ve learned quite a bit about maintaining and working with all sorts of different shades and colors during my three-year tenure. Allow me to explain.

Living With & Loving The Inevitable Fade

Maintaining truly ginger-esque hair is a hassle because the color fades faster than any other. I used to let my red/auburn hair fade out over a period of around five weeks. It was lighter and more orange ginger than red ginger — people told me it looked super natural!

I actually liked the faded orange-y color more than the red. If you, too, want a quick fade after you’ve dyed your hair too bright or just like it that way, try Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. It’s a great color stripper and smells like babies would. I just want to smell like your babies, OK?!

The Perfect Cherry Red

I’ve never managed to get perfectly cherry, cherry hair, but I did my best. Like I said, red fades the most and the fastest of all dyed colors, so keeping vibrant hair going can be a struggle. I’ve managed to stretch my brightness out for several months at a time (not counting my roots, which are super slow-growing).

Keep in mind, though, that after three years as a redhead and constant dyes and touch-ups, my hair is completely soaked in red. Anyway. Ice Cream by Ineybra is the best drugstore brand for hair coloring stuff. I never buy fancy hair stuff at Sephora or salons, but I should start, because I want to amp up the softness in my hair.

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Inebrya’s Ice Cream Kromask in Cherry Red is amazing for maintaining vibrant red — slather it onto freshly washed & towel-dried hair, leave it for about 5-10 minutes, and then wash out. Please wear gloves! This is basically cream dye and it will seep into your skin and you will have horrible red rash hands for a week if you don’t. TRUST ME. I would do it about once or twice a week.

Another way I keep my color is by throwing a dab of the mask into my shampoo (currently using Vidal Sassoon’s color protection shampoo) and conditioner (currently using dollar store Herbal Essences. Shut up). That way, I don’t have to go through the hassle of doing the mask, and I still get the color-amplifying benefits.

So You Want Plum?

Whenever I use John Frida’s Precision Foam (3VR, “Deep Cherry Brown”) dye, I end up getting a very dark, purple-y color that ends up fading to red/reddish purple over time.

I’ve found that I actually kind of enjoy the plum shades, so here’s how to play it up: First, get an actual plum dye if you want a more concrete color instead of a messy fade. To keep my hair bright and colorful and different, I throw a couple dabs of Hot Hot Pink Manic Panic into my shampoo. It gives it some depth.

The Resting State: Auburn

Most of the time my hair is somewhere between cherry red and auburn — brighter than most natural redheads, but not blood-red enough to be Cat Valentine [ed note from Abby: For non-youngs like me, Cat Valentine is the red-headed character Ariana Grande plays on “Victorious.” I had to Google it. Though I proudly (?) knew who Ariana was.]

During these phases my upkeep is much the same as I mentioned earlier, except I don’t actually use the Ice Cream hair mask. I just add a few globs of pink/red dye in my shampoo to lightly brighten the color without overpowering it with SUPER RED.

The dye I use most often is Nice n’ Easy 6R. It provides good coverage, a nice color and an easy fade into ginger. However, I’ve tried others in my quest for the “Perfect Red” and most have disappointed me. The John Frieda dye I’ve mentioned is really good for dark color, but it fades relatively easily without constant care and upkeep. I’m really excited about the new L’Oreal mousse dye — it comes in a reusable container so you can touch up your roots, and the colors available are pretty fabulous.

The photos you see are of my current red color, which hasn’t been touched up in two months. The first month I used my pink-infused shampoo and lately I’ve been using the Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo in an attempt to strip out the color to make bleaching easier.

Don’t judge me — I’m lazy and broke! Although, I’m rethinking it a little now — kinda want the plum back.

I love my red hair. Like my glasses, I’ve had red hair for long enough that I don’t know who I am without it. But a part of me is always longing for change. Maybe it’s because I get jittery sitting still for too long, or because I can sometimes be a huge commitment-phobe. Or maybe it’s because when the going gets tough, I run away and download music from 2006 and do stupid things to my hair.

Is flouride good for your teeth?

2013 November 11. | Szerző: shannon

Frederick McKay, a young dentist, noted that those who lived there had very low rates of tooth decay, although they did have higher rates of a condition called fluorosis, characterised by a brown staining of their teeth.

Analysis of the local water supply showed that fluoride levels there exceeded 2mg per litre, a relatively high concentration compared to other areas. However, the observed resistance to tooth decay got dentists wondering whether it would be possible to harness the positive effects of fluoride (reduced decay) without incurring the brown discolouration effect, by simply adding fluoride to the water supply in concentrations less than 2mg/l.

Subsequent analyses clearly showed that addition of fluoride to drinking water at 1 mg/l achieved just that, and, based on this evidence, several countries including Ireland moved to fluoridate water on a statutory basis.

Fluoridation was not initially welcomed in Ireland. One woman, Gladys Ryan, took her case to the High Court and then to the Supreme Court. In a lengthy case, the legislation for fluoridation which had originally been signed into law in Dec 1960 finally came into effect on Jul 15, 1964 when the case was dismissed.

The nationwide implementation of fluoridation in the years that followed heralded a dramatic improvement in the dental health of the population, a benefit which persists today. Studies showed reduced rates of tooth decay among people in the Republic of Ireland compared to those in the North where fluoridation was not introduced. However, despite clear evidence of its benefits, controversy continues.

It has been claimed that people exposed to fluoride in their drinking water are at greater risk of osteoporosis and cancer. Neither of these claims stand up to scrutiny. In fact, the literature shows that there’s absolutely no increased risk of either osteoporotic bone change or cancer at water fluoridation levels less than 2 mg/l.

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To put this in context, Ireland fluoridates its water at a level of 0.7mg/l. The only adverse effect of fluoridation at this level is mild dental fluorosis, which occurs with greater frequency in children living in fluoridated water areas, including Ireland. While this may be a cosmetic concern, most research shows that it is not “aesthetically objectionable” and is harmless to the structural integrity of the teeth.

The most recent controversy concerned a suggested increased risk of fluorosis among infants fed formula — milk made with fluoridated tap water. Again, even if this did occur, there is no robust evidence that it would have any long-term adverse effect on the child’s dental or general health.

It’s important that these unsubstantiated adverse effects are discussed in the correct context. While most of us think about dental health as a purely aesthetic issue, this is far from the truth.

Dental decay and tooth loss are associated with significantly increased risk of death after surgery, as the exposed gums create a potential entry route for serious infection. I, like many clinicians, am in the unfortunate position of experiencing this first hand, having had post-surgical patients in my care die of such infections.

While those who assert the supposed “hazards” of water fluoridation are entitled to their opinion, the facts speak for themselves. The data shows us that water fluoridation has yielded considerable public health benefits, and that it does not present any danger to human health.

Isabel Marant’s designer collection is coming to H&M

2013 November 7. | Szerző: shannon

And in just over a week’s time it is landing on our doorstep.

The Isabel Marant for H&M collection arrives in Glasgow’s flagship Buchanan Street store next Thursday.

So expect overnight queuing as one of the catwalk’s most celebrated names takes her signature style to the wider public – and for a fraction of the price.

The collection oozes French laidback style, mixing some of the Parisian’s best-loved details, including fringing and chunky knits. Designer Isabel, who launched her fashion house nearly a decade ago, has combined wearable pieces with bohemian accessories to channel a chic but quirky vibe.

From navy peacoats to keep out the cold to silk scarves that are bound to be on a few Christmas lists, it is no wonder the designer has such a wide following.

As well as the line for women and young people, Isabel has created pieces for men for the first time.

The designer follows in the footsteps of Versace, Marni, Lanvin and Stella McCartney in collaborating with the high-street store.

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She added: “I aim at creating something real, that women want to wear in their everyday lives, with a certain carelessness, which I think is very Parisian.You dress up, but do not pay too much attention and still look sexy. The collection is infused with this kind of easiness and attitude.

“Everything can be mixed following one’s own instincts: my take on fashion is all about personality.”

The line launches in H&M Buchanan Street at 9am next Thursday, November 14.

A POP-UP shop is launching in a Glasgow shopping centre.

Parma Vintage (PV) will set up in Princes Square, on the lower ground floor, on Friday, and will be in the mall until Sunday.

Set up in 2009 by Gillian McGilp and named after her favourite retro sweets, Parma Violets, Gillian created a business from the vintage finds she picked up during her time as an air hostess.

PV became a one-stop shop in Gourock, Inverclyde, for vintage, modern brands, accessories, gifts and homewares.

The store mixes vintage with new on-trend fashion, and they stock an eclectic mix of both to suit all styles.

Gillian said: “Our customers range from people who live across the street to fashion lovers on the other side of the world.

“We want to bring the fun shopping experience of PV to you – and what better place to start than the style hub of Glasgow?”

Mad Men Makeup: Lead Makeup Artist Lana Horochowski Shares Her Secrets

2013 November 5. | Szerző: shannon

Loving the makeup from Mad Men? The show is a fabulous beauty throwback to hair and makeup of days gone by. But with the retro makeup trend in full swing, we were delighted to get some additional insight on these old school styles directly from a pro. Lead Makeup Artist for Mad Men, Lana Horochowski, shared a few of her favorite looks and what it takes to create the time capsule magic for the hit TV show with BeautyPress. Read on to learn about her most beloved character, where she finds inspiration, and what beauty brands she uses. Click through the slideshow for a few of the images from this oh-so-chic era.

So Lana, what kind of brands do you use on the set of Mad Men?

We use KohGenDo a great Japanese line, NARS velvet matte lipsticks, Tom Ford, and MAC.

What kind of research did you do to get inspired to create 1960’s looks?

We ordered so many fashion and vintage magazines. Like when we had to prepare looks from 1968, I ordered the entire year of 1968 Vogue. I would observe the cosmetic advertisements. Those are the most telling of how women were wearing makeup at that time.

Just out of curiosity, who’s your favorite character from Mad Men and where does their cosmetic transformation come from?

Peggy is my favorite. Peggy comes from a religious family, she moved up in a man’s world really quickly. Peggy never learned how to put makeup on, so she’s learning. That’s why her makeup always looks a bit off. Like when I saw an advertisement from the time era for this makeup palette with various different colors, I thought Peggy would totally use all of these colors at once trying to look the best she can.

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So what’s it like getting everyone ready to film? How long does it take to apply the makeup on set before shooting?

For the girls, they’re usually done in an hour and a half to two hours. The guys are fast, 45 minutes and they are ready.

What’s your favorite look from the 1950’s?

There’s nothing more perfect than a matte red lip with a full brow. So clean, simple, and timeless.

Can you explain what goes behind Pete’s receding hairline?

Pete gets shaved every day, sometimes a couple times a day. Then we paint out the shadow that is still left on the head. His head gets shaved with an actual blade to get a really close shave. Whenever it’s time to shave Pete’s head we yell “SHAVING!” and everyone just clenches tight until we’re done. It takes around 40 minutes to get Pete’s shaved head perfect.

The Olsens on Scents, Fashion and Branding

2013 November 1. | Szerző: shannon

Perfectionists? They freely admit it. That explains the deep dives for knowledge they make on any product category they consider entering.

But that’s part of the reason that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are at the helm of a megamultimillion-dollar licensing and manufacturing company, Dualstar Entertainment Group — which they’re now adding to with fragrances and next year with a first Los Angeles flagship for their The Row brand. They’re also juggling their Elizabeth and James contemporary brand, their Olsenboye line for J.C. Penney and a T-shirt line called StyleMint, among other projects.

During an exclusive interview at TriBeCa’s Locanda Verde, the Olsens discussed their new brand of two women’s fragrances, Nirvana, which is built off of Elizabeth and James and will be exclusive to Sephora. Black is a sensual woody scent, while White is a musky floral fragrance. The duo will be launched in late January, after a quick in-store holiday preview from Dec. 13 to 25.

Given that they’ve been working since they were nine months old — their age when they began the shared role of Michelle Tanner on the ABC sitcom “Full House” — spending much time relaxing isn’t usually comfortable for Ashley or Mary-Kate.

“We were always hard workers as kids,” said Mary-Kate. “It’s just the way we are, the way we were raised. Our work ethic was everything, and that never left us. We like to work hard, and we like to try to do everything 100 percent. In fact, it’s actually almost impossible for us not to. Sometimes you succeed and sometimes not so much, but it’s learning.”

“I always looked at myself, even as a kid, as a businesswoman,” said Ashley.

Added Mary-Kate: “With what we were doing in business when we were younger, I don’t think it ever felt like we were actresses — because we spent so much more of our time not in front of the cameras, building a brand.”

In fact, the Olsens founded Dualstar in 1993 at the tender age of six — “We couldn’t see over the top of the table,” Ashley joked — and their marketing savvy and the support of a strong team of adults reportedly made them millionaires by their 10th birthday. In 2004, on their 18th birthday, the sisters took over as copresidents (they are now co-chief executive officers) of the privately held firm, which has produced movies, TV shows, magazines and video games. While in their tweens, their business efforts included not only movies and videos, but clothes, shoes, purses, hats, books, CDs and cassette tapes, fragrances and makeup, magazines, video and board games, dolls, posters, calendars, telephones and CD players — with a market share made up mostly of the tween demographic. Mattel produced various sets of Mary-Kate and Ashley fashion dolls from 2000 to 2005.

“We’ve been exposed to so much,” said Ashley. “We were very fortunate to have parents and people around us who wanted us to be part of the creative meetings and the business meetings, and we would just sit and listen and be sponges. At that time in your life, you really are a sponge. And we’ve learned so much from people we’ve been exposed to in our lives — interesting people from different walks of life, different ceo’s. The list goes on and on. Mary-Kate and I have always taken advantage of our time with those people and walked away learning a thing or two.”

Best business lesson they’ve learned? Both Mary-Kate and Ashley prize one above all others: trusting their guts. “We have really good instincts, and it’s better when we listen to them,” said Ashley. “That’s both personal and in work.”

“And [growing up] we also were learning about branding and staying true to ourselves as well,” said Mary-Kate. “What always worked was that we were speaking directly to our customers, who were our age. Even down to writing a script, they would want us and our input on what the script should look like or how it would sound — because a 50-year-old man is not going to know the way a 10-year-old is speaking. It was very collaborative, and we were able to learn a lot about branding and marketing and product.”

After moving to Manhattan as 18-year-olds, the sisters took a break from entertainment — and developed a true passion for fashion. “Mary-Kate and I moved to New York to go to NYU, and we put everything else kind of on hold because we wanted to just go to school and experience education without working at the same time,” said Ashley. “While doing that, we started conceptualizing The Row. We started one item at a time, and took it to L.A. because the machines we wanted to use [to create the pieces] weren’t available in New York.”

“We sold it at first with no label,” said Mary-Kate. “Only certain people knew it was us behind it. We didn’t do any press. Our idea — because we had been in the branding industry for a very long time — was ‘If the product’s good, it will sell.’” While Ashley and Mary-Kate were building The Row, the opportunity came for them to do the Elizabeth and James line with a partner. “It was when the contemporary category was very small, and now we have several partners who help us with Elizabeth and James,” said Ashley. “We still do everything with The Row ourselves.”

In fact, the Olsens are about to become vertically integrated. Next year, they will launch their first store for The Row, in Los Angeles. Eventually, they’d like to do a fragrance for that brand, noted Ashley.

“Retail is really our next step,” Ashley added. “We’re building the store right now for The Row in Los Angeles.”

Following the sisters’ affinity for perfectionism, they’ll build the empire “one store at a time,” said Ashley. “And eventually, Elizabeth and James would love a home as well.” Other categories are likely for The Row down the road. “We pretty much have all categories with Elizabeth and James right now, but for The Row it’s just apparel and handbags,” said Ashley. Shoes are on the wish list, “but that’s a very different type of business,” said Ashley. “We’ve done a ton of research, and it can be a really big expense, depending on how you want to do it. We like having success with one thing before we move on to the next. We don’t like to spread ourselves too thin.”

But they do appreciate what each of them comes to the table with. “We feel so fortunate to have each other, to have a dialogue,” said Ashley. “Communication is key; it’s the most important thing in life. And Mary-Kate and I get to communicate all day long, on all sorts of subjects. It gets us to a more educated, thoughtful place, because we often come to things from different directions — although we want to get to the same space and have the same goal and vision. But that conversation is what gets us there.”

Ashley and Mary-Kate were inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2009, and confess they get overly excited when they spot someone wearing one of their pieces. And while you’d think taking surreptitious shots would be the work of their fans, Ashley and Mary-Kate both confess to snapping shots when they see someone on the street in one of their creations. “Anytime we’ve started a brand and we see people wearing it — and we haven’t given it to them — we try and take pictures of them,” said Mary-Kate. “The first time we saw a Row T-shirt, an Elizabeth and James piece, a handbag — we got giddy.” Added Ashley: “It’s such a nice feeling that somebody appreciates your work.”

Roughly two years ago, Sephora’s Kendo division — the development arm that handles strategic partnerships — approached Mary-Kate and Ashley after a fashion market research survey commissioned by the beauty retailer continually referenced the Olsens’ Elizabeth and James brand. “We always knew we wanted to have a fragrance for this brand, because it’s very lifestyle,” said Ashley. “There are many components to the brand. We felt that between the brand Elizabeth and James and Sephora that we were really speaking together directly to our customer. We felt that was a really good place to start exploring the world of fragrance and beauty.”

After deciding the venture felt right, Ashley and Mary-Kate began working with fragrance veteran Robin Burns, cofounder of brand developer Batallure, and Michael McGeever, senior vice president of Sephora and general manager of Kendo.

Mary-Kate and Ashley spent close to two years developing the scents. “We’re not perfectionists at all,” deadpanned Mary-Kate. In fact, the Olsens’ attention to detail included flying in out-of-season peonies from New Zealand and lily of the valley from Holland for the interview because they are key ingredients in the scents.

Nirvana Black, developed first, took a year and a half, with around 50 different concoctions before hitting on the winner — “and that’s 50 versions not including the various tweaks we made to individual notes,” said Ashley. Nirvana White took just a few months.

Originally, the concept was to do just one fragrance to start, but during the development process the Olsens decided against trying to cram too many notes into one bottle. “We wanted to keep things as pure as we could,” said Mary-Kate. During one tweaking session, Ashley suggested doing two fragrances, an idea that immediately took root. “They also layer very nicely,” Ashley pointed out. “It’s not necessarily meant to be either/or, but both [fragrances].”

Before heading into the fragrance labs at Firmenich, where they spent a lot of time, Ashley and Mary-Kate studied the existing fragrance market and determined how they could differentiate their offering. “We looked at how people are speaking to this consumer and how we could speak differently,” said Ashley. “It was very interesting to focus on what’s working and what’s not working and why.”

Added Mary-Kate: “We didn’t want to do another very average commercial fragrance where it could be anybody’s name on the bottle and a visual, which would be a model with a bottle. We wanted to offer more than that and we wanted to offer a choice. I don’t want the fragrances to wear [the customer]. Ashley and I are really into oils, and those were the notes we were really attracted to. It was fascinating to see how many different variations of ingredients there were, how many different types of sandalwood, for instance. That was one of the things I found most interesting, the quality issues of these ingredients, and also balancing all of the notes so that they would sit well together in the juice.”

“And we have expensive tastes,” cracked Ashley, who confessed that she brought her shampoo, conditioner, face lotion, oils and deodorant to the first mixing session. “People would always say I smell good, but it was really a combination of those things rather than a specific fragrance.”

Mary-Kate said she’s always loved sandalwood, musk and amber notes — “darker and more masculine,” she opined. Nirvana White is built around peony, muguet and musk, while Nirvana Black features violet, sandalwood and vanilla notes. “Also, these fragrances are really about what everyone wants, which is intimacy.”

“Not speaking the language, trying to figure out what someone else wants to express, it’s so fascinating, Even if we didn’t use the right words, Pierre [Negrin, who helped develop Black] and Honorine [Blanc, who assisted in the White development process] knew what we were trying to express,” said Mary-Kate. “We all have skin in this game. It’s a team effort. That’s a fresh way to do things.”

Elizabeth and James Nirvana eaux de parfum will each be available in three sizes — 50 ml. for $75, 30 ml. for $55 and a $22 rollerball.

“We wanted the bottles to feel sensual,” said Mary-Kate of the opaque-textured bottles which bear the color of their respective names. “There was a texture on an antique that we really loved — a completely different shape, but the way it felt when you would hold it in your hand. We wanted to play with all senses. Whether it was scent, touch, size, the weight — we wanted it to be curved so when you held it in your hand it didn’t feel strict and harsh.”

“There’s a nice roundness to it,” said Ashley. “We wanted it to be modern, but not too modern. Also, the contrast of black and white in-store will hopefully be very dramatic.”

Branding on the bottle is minimal, with the scent’s name engraved on a gold-toned plate running down the side of the bottle.

The name Nirvana was chosen, said Ashley, “because to us, this was really about a moment — and what’s that one word that’s going to define that one moment where you feel comfortable, sexy and at ease with yourself? For us, we always came back to our beds. That’s where I love to spend my time off. No noise, no people trying to bug you. So it was about capturing that. And about there being no judgment, and how our generation is growing up with that intention. People are much more accepting of things and of people’s choices. That was also part of this process.”

“Getting to the name Nirvana took a lot of time,” said Mary-Kate. “Then we were in a meeting, talking about launch dates, and Robin goes, ‘That date would be nirvana!’ We were just like, ‘What did you just say?’ What’s better than nirvana? That’s the dialogue we want to have with the consumer, giving them a choice, but figuring out where they’re coming from, what is their nirvana, what is their moment.”

“We wanted the feeling to be intimate, and we wanted a regular girl, not a model,” said Ashley of the ad visual, which breaks in the December issue of Allure. Shot by Ryan McGinley, the image features a naked model snoozing face-down in a cocoon of sheets with a black dog sleeping nearby. Originally the plan was to use Mary-Kate’s dog Jack, but “her dog looked totally big next to the model,” said Ashley with a laugh, teasing her sister about her passion for dogs. “She’s never had a better day on set than when she got to play dog trainer,” said Ashley. “She was so excited.”

An interactive marketing platform is being developed for the brand, said McGeever. “In the first part of their careers, they built a brand that was centered around them,” said McGeever. “When they created the second act of their career, it was really more about the celebration of quality and craftsmanship, with them almost invisible in the beginning. That’s what we’re working on [with the promotional plans.] This isn’t about sticking Mary-Kate and Ashley on a billboard. This is about the brand they’ve spent the better part of a decade building.”

How will the sisters define success for the fragrance? “I’d like to walk down the street and smell a note of it,” said Mary-Kate.

Ashley confessed to a frisson of fear about the beauty business. “I have to be honest, I do [fear it] a little,” she said. “I kind of felt it today and I know it’s because I’m relatively new in this category. But I felt it in a good way — it was like, ‘I have so much to learn.’ I know entertainment and apparel and brands; I’ve had schooling and training with that. With these [fragrances], this has been my training so far, and I’m so grateful to Robin and Michael for educating at the same time as developing.”

While all involved with the fragrance declined to discuss sales projections, industry sources estimated that Nirvana by Elizabeth and James would do about $7 million at retail during calendar year 2014.

This fragrance duo will likely lead to future scents by the sisters. “We’ve learned a lot through Sephora — why things work, why certain things don’t work and what’s new and exciting — and we think there are a lot of logical brand extensions,” said Ashley.

Both sisters attended Sephora’s national employee meeting in August. “It was great to see how they communicate and how much they believe in what they’re doing,” said Mary-Kate. “To me, that was the greatest thing to see. It’s why they’re so successful at what they do. It’s all coming from a positive place. They believe in the product and they trust their management.”

Will they go back to Hollywood? Doubtful. “We have a video catalogue of everything we did when we were younger, so we’re looking at distribution for that now,” said Ashley. “That’s not being in show business, but it’s been fun talking to these people we used to be in business with many, many years ago. But the industries are completely different.”

“We still feel welcome in the [entertainment] industry,” said Mary-Kate. “But it’s not the one we’re in.” Instead, the sisters say they’re still telling stories and entertaining — but through their products.

The fragrance will be sold in the U.S. and Canada for now, and will soon be presented to the other markets. Likely overseas possibilities include the U.K. and Japan, said McGeever. “We need to spend more time in Japan [to further suss out the market], and that’s planned for the first part of next year,” said Ashley.

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