DESIGNER DAILY: Raquel Allegra

Edited by Jessica Lapidos

You know that distressed clinky t-shirt-cum-soft-cloud of sheer that’s been spotted everywhere? It all started with Raquel Allegra, when she found the purpose for her idle hands: seam ripping her cotton jersey tees into plush distress. When we caught up with Allegra nearly a year ago, she told us about her epic trunk show, where Nicole Richie duked it out with Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen for their faves. And how she outfitted Lady Gaga’s Judas video - the dance troop and Mother Monster herself. Her aesthetic has permeated, and now we peek in again at the laidback ease of Spring 2012. Though the ripped shirt may always be her staple, we’re feeling the dyed blazers for a cheerful summer. 

Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 Years of Style, Sarah Burton’s Cover Story and TIME’s 100 Style Icons

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

- The really, really ridiculously good-looking couple of Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Victoria’s Secret catwalker Anne V. – or as I like to call them, Aanne Vvine — have called it quits. Guess we can’t look forward to a sequel to this gem then. [Modelinia]

- Kate Middleton may be the apple of fashion’s eye right now, but let’s not forget that her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II has been royally turning it for 60 years. [Telegraph]

The Olsens Top 2012 CFDA Nominees

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

Is it really that time again for the biggest prize in American fashion? Yup! The nominees and honorees have been announced for the 2012 CFDA Awards and it’s a full house. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have graduated from the Swarovski Emerging Talent pool to be nominated for womenswear designer of the year for The Row along with last year’s winners Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCullough of Proenza Schouler and perennial favorite Marc Jacobs. Full list of nominees after the jump!

INTERVIEW: Creative Director Stefan Campbell Makes Magic at Michael Bastian

Edited by Jessica Lapidos

At 11 A.M. today, Exit Art was bustling with t-shirt-flannel-n-jeans guys with ladders, gold paint, real leaved branches and tree trunks sitting apart, and two Swarovski crystal chandeliers hanging from a rolling rack. This team of set builders were being kindly and meticulously directed by Stefan Campbell, the man responsible for translating Michael Bastian‘s collection into a three dimensional space that garners an emotional reaction from the audience before the clothes hit the runway.  Earlier this week, he removed the front row so Chadwick Bell could have a 14 foot-wide glowing fuchsia runway instead of seven. Today, he’ll be scenting Michael Bastian’s show with Aedes. After speaking with Stefan today, we can confirm that he knows the tricks to making a runway show magical. See Stefan Campbell’s secret tips and advice at the end of the interview. And we’ll go see the show now. 

Olsens Elect Prada Head for President of The Row

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

It’s an election year and in that spirit, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have already turned in their votes for president. The twin titans have hired François Kress, the current president and chief executive officer of Prada USA, as the new president and chief operating officer of The Row. 

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Style TEXTILE Elizabeth & James Spring 2012 Lookbook

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

The dynamic duo of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen rolled up their dolman sleeves and got down to the serious business of styling the lookbook for TEXTILE Elizabeth & James‘ spring 2012 collection — the contempo casual leg of the ladies’ Elizabeth and James line. Featuring newcomer Abby Brothers — last seen in Equinox‘s controversial ads by Terry Richardson — the lookbook is stamped with the Olsens’ effortless chic and relaxed cool. 

Forbes’ 30 Under 30: Or, Why You Should Probably Step Your Game Up

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

Aaliyah once said “Age Ain’t Nothin’ but a Number.” Of course she was 15 at the time and boinking R. Kelly, but that’s neither here nor there. Forbes Magazine, always list-happy, doesn’t believe in that mantra and therefore decided to rank the top 30 “disrupters” under 30 years of age, each in twelve categories, including art, media, music, energy, finance and technology. And just after I had finished going through my quarter-life crisis — looks like I (once again!) picked the wrong day to stop huffing glue.

Celebrity Fronted Fashion Clubs Go Head To Head: Olsens vs. Kardashian vs. KLS vs. Bosworth

Edited by Jessica Lapidos

Kim, Kate, Kimora, Mary Kate and Ashley want to get to know you, then sell you clothes, shoes and jewelry. They all start the same way , with an evaluation of your style with select-your-favorite rounds of clothes, shoes, celebs and brands. Once you’re done summing up your look as best you can, they tailor a personal shop to your responses and give special prices for being in the club. So how are you going to choose which club to join? Will you bas it on your favorite feature film? Biggest tabloid whore? Prettiest? Maybe, but now you don’t have to. NextAdvisor.com did the dirty work and scoped out the subtle differences between all four. These celeb stores have been ranked: can you guess who does it best?

Dynamic Duos: Vogue Magazine’s Best Dressed List of 2011

Edited by Nicole Vardo

The time has come around again for Vogue’s annual Best dressed issue. It’s time for more wardrobes to judge, and better style muses to keep track of on the blogs. This year Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen get their first ever Vogue Magazine cover stardom, and of course best dressed.

Owling is the New Planking according to Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

Edited by Jessica Lapidos

The Olsen twins, clearly no longer content to lay facedown on a surface for attention, they’ve concocted a few alternatives to the traditional Planking. There’s Owling, Storking, and Plowling. Moral of the story? None of them compete with hugging. Or the Ts Mary Kate and Ashley designed for Stylemint.