Fashion Timeline: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

In honor of their new book, INFLUENCE, see how the sisters' style evolved through the years and transformed them from prime-time twins to international trendsetters.

They may have started out in 1987, sharing the spotlight as the cutest baby on the Full House block, but Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have proved themselves to be stylishly distinctive both in and out of the public eye.

From Christian Louboutin and Karl Lagerfeld to Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mary-Kate and Ashley have found inspiration in some of the greatest tastemakers in art and fashion. Their new book, Influence, celebrates not only their fashion choices throughout the years, but also the countless designers and artists who have inspired them—and their amazing style—along the way.

From sailor hats and boho-chic street style to seriously high-wattage formalwear on the red carpet, Mary-Kate and Ashley have been trendsetters from the start.



Ahoy Matey
MK and Ash show their passion for the sea in these matching ensembles from the early days of Full House. Outfits like these showed that the girls were headed toward style-icon status early on.





Back in Black
Even after growing out of their Full House roots and into their teens, MK and Ashley stay cute and coordinated in black pants and butterfly blouses at a 2002 premiere.




Game Time
Mary-Kate is cute and comfy while sitting courtside with her then-beau, David Katzenberg, at an L.A. Lakers game. Her ripped jeans and casual approach to dressing give MK's look all-star status.




Sunny Side Up
The Olsens brighten things up at the premiere of New York Minute in Los Angeles in 2004. Mary-Kate gets flirty with flounces of lace and pearls, while Ashley sticks to the classics with a chic gray sheath. It's easy to tell that MK's bohemian side and Ashley's more classic take on fashion are already beginning to show.




Sporty Style
At the 2004 U.S. Open, Mary-Kate and Ashley show their support for a winning combination: jeans and T-shirts. MK spices it up with a red belt and a plum cardigan, while Ashley chooses a fitted blazer and oversize sunnies. Both girls may know the importance of fashion classics, but MK and Ash never sacrifice their individual style.



Red Carpet Rebels
Ashley looks posh in a white fur and Mary Janes, and Mary-Kate turns an ordinary ball gown into a fashion statement with a red beret and whimsical jewelry in these glam frocks. The girls (and their styles) may have matured, but it's clear that MK still pushes the fashion envelope while Ashley prefers a more timeless approach to dressing.




Cover Girls
To celebrate their cover-girl status, Mary-Kate and Ashley joined Amy Astley in New York City to party in true Teen Vogue fashion. The stylish sisters, who graced the December/January 2007 cover, moved in different directions with their trendsetting choices for the night—Ashley took things darker with her new do, and MK went for a red-hot look.




Hot Child In The City
After leaving behind the boho trend that she helped herald in, MK spends some time in the early nineties with this Seattle-ready look. She plays it cool in L.A. in grunge-inspired flannel and platforms that only a true style-setter could handle.




Street Chic
She may be known to have a more polished style than her sister, but Ashley can layer it up when she wants to. Ash takes this look to the streets in a knotted headband, leggings, and a crisp blazer. The oversize cardigan and ubiquitous Starbucks cup make this a signature Olsen look.




Runway Ready
Mary-Kate and Ashley take their look front row and center at Jenni Kayne's Fall 2007 show in New York City. With their matching hair and similar bundled-up styles, the girls appear to be growing closer as they grow up.




Fur Your Information
As Ashley moves into her twenties, she's decidedly more playful with her fashion choices. Here, Ash pulls together a cute cool-weather look on the go with an oversize bag and fur coat. The slouchy moccasin boots and yellow sunglasses make this an outfit that only an Olsen could perfect.




Winner's Circle
Talk about a black-tie event. MK and Ash kick things up a notch at the 2007 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City. The girls are all grown up and feeling minimalist in tailored and almost matching black-and-white dresses.




Paris Match
Only these girls could make looking seriously chic seriously easy. MK and Ash wow the crowd—and Karl—at the Chanel Fall/Winter 2008 show in Paris. Ashley's head scarf and trendy leather leggings prove that she still has a funky side, while MK chose a classic Chanel tweed.




Easy Rider
MK shows her tough side in NYC, in a seriously studded jacket. The orange shades and tight mini prove that this girl has confidence and style to boot. Her rocker phase is the last before she moves into her current, more classic look. At least for now ...




If The Shoe Fits
Ashley's basic black gets a kick with strappy, show-stopping sandals. A master at mixing accessories, Ashley illustrates that adding a statement piece to an otherwise plain outfit is always a chic choice.




Under the Influence
Mary-Kate and Ashley looked perfectly polished in black and white at the signing of Influence at Barnes & Noble in NYC. The girls prove that a standard choice is always right—they've come full circle from their start as almost-matching sailors.

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