Like, twinnish, even?

These days they just look like two random chicks who met when they got rejected from one of Hef’s girlfriend casting sessions for “dressing like poor people but not in a good way” and then decided they’d form their own club where their only master would be The Art of the Smirk.

These shots are from the 2009 Council of Fashion Designers of America’s new members reception in NYC. Because fashion is WHAT THEY DO NOW. Awkward and sung-off-key VHS movies for the aged 2-5 demographic is SO 1995.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen — can you tell which one is which? — spent some time this weekend in Japan attending the opening of Opening Ceremonies flagship store.  

As Beet mentioned the other day, the Olsen twins are looking totally different.  I am now more convinced than ever that this change in appearance stems from more than “Mary-Kate finally ate a sandwich.”  In case you didn’t know, the large-headed, large-eared one on the right is MK.

Okay, so I know that they’re not technically identical twins, and everyone says they’ve always been able to tell them apart, but I swear up until today they always looked basically the same to me. You usually knew which one MK was because she looked just a tad more smirky than Ashley (but, really, don’t they both always look smirky?), but in this new set of pictures Mary-Kate (on the left) suddenly looks like a totally different person. Almost to the point where I’m wondering if there was some work done … thoughts?

Pics are from a press event they did to promote a line they’re designing for Elizabeth & James.

MK and her lovah, artist Nate Lowman, took their bikes for a ride around the East Village this weekend.

Mary-Kate’s bike has a basket. I wonder what’s inside. Probably Ashley.

Apparently, this recession is impacting everyone except the very, very, very, disgustingly rich. You know, the people who buy the clothes in Mary-Kate and Ashley’s fashion line, Elizabeth and James. The line is priced slightly below their other line, The Row — which features lambskin pants for $1700 — but it’s still not cheap, with prices ranging from $95 for a one-shoulder cotton tank to $775 for a leather jacket. Flirty dresses and fashion-forward slacks fall within the $225 to $475 range, while a fur coat runs a wee bit more. (A wee bit more? You mean like the life of an animal? Yes.)

“We try to keep everything under $1,000,” said a rep for the brand.

Well. THANK YOU. That’s refreshing. I’ve been SO TIRED for paying $1100 for a pair of pants. I can barely afford the $57 I’ve been paying for a stick of gum or the $275 for a box of tampons. Clothes for under $1000 is a nice change of pace.

On the success of Elizabeth and James, the Olsens are branching out into footwear with the help of Steve Madden and will launch a menswear collection in the fall.

Very cute interview is here.

What do we think of the photo?

Check out what the PETA peeps have done to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personally, if I were going to vandalize this star, I would just write “WHY????” on it.

Also, I’ve mentioned it before on my Twitter, but it bears repeating: Mary-Kate and Ashley’s fashion line, The Row, sells a pair of lambskin motorcycle pants for $1700. YES WITH TWO ZEROS. Jesus Christ, for that kind of money, they should be made of Angelina Jolie’s skin.