Some CU students are skeptical of new fashion book
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are adding to their list of accomplishments with “Influence,” their new coffee table book about fashion.
The book will be about photographers, designers and artists who have influenced the girls’ lives.
“Influence” is being published by a division of Penguin Young Readers Group and will be out this fall.
According to their official Web site, the girls have been working on this book for almost two years.
Jane Geller, a sophomore economics major, said she thinks the Olsen twins gave little more than their names to the book.
“I think they don’t produce anything with their names on it,” Geller said. “I think their handlers do. It’s just another way to make money, and they like to think they’re artists, but they’re not.”
The sisters each talked about their upcoming book on their official Web site.
“Mary-Kate and I have filled ‘Influence’ with the most interesting, challenging, creative people we know – the ones who helped pave the way for us and our generation,” Ashley Olsen said in a statement.
Like her twin, Mary-Kate Olsen said she has high hopes for the book.
“Our collaboration with Penguin on ‘Influence’ is exciting because we are bringing something unique to the market. Ashley and I interviewed the people who have inspired us, with the hope that they will inspire and teach others,” Mary-Kate Olsen said.
George Wolf, a sophomore studio art major, said he thinks it would be an interesting read.
“I think that it would be pretty interesting to see what influenced them and see what their lives are like now,” Wolf said. “If I had some time, I would look at it and read it because I like designer clothing.”
However, like other students, Wolf said he is not sure if the intentions of the Olsen twins are authentic, since they know they can make a lot of money from their huge fan base.
“On the other hand, I think they could be just putting the book out there because they know teenage girls want to be like them and look like them, and they would buy it.”
The book will feature influential photographers, artists and designers including Christian Louboutin, Lauren Hutton, Bob Colacello, Terry Richardson, Jack Pierson and Robert Lee Morris.
“Influence” also includes exclusive photographs of Ashley and Mary-Kate from renowned photographer Rankin and a selection of other new materials and interviews from Mary-Kate and Ashley’s personal collections.
The editor of the book is fashion and arts writer Derek Blasberg, and the designer is Rodrigo Corral.
Rachel Henderer, a freshman integrative physiology major, said she thinks the book is only about making profit, not about making something original.
“It’s probably just for the money,” Henderer said. “It sounds cliché to write a book about influences.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Melanie Cohn at Melanie.Cohn@colorado.edu.
