The Row vs. The Olsens
Who would win?
It’s funny. For someone who’s life has revolved around fashion & style in many respects, if ever asked, I’m not sure I could ramble off my style icons. I might say Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, for her classic, pared-back insouciance, but I’m punchier than that. I might say Jennifer Lawrence for her chill yet elevated mom vibes, but I’m bolder than that. And dare I say Jackie O for her elegant simplicity, before I’m immediately labeled a Basic B.
Maybe my icons are an amalgamation of many women: Phoebe Philo for her clean yet cerebral approach to fashion meets LSD for her ability to mix genres while looking cohesive, peppered with a dash of Zoe Kravitz for her relaxed sophistication. In truth, I don’t have just one person I regard as the end-all, be-all of style. I like to borrow ideas from many women—celebrities or not—in creating my own style recipe bc well, there’s only one Sogole, just like there’s only one Carolyn, Phoebe, Lauren and Zoe.
I tell you all this to explain that in truth, the Olsen twins, who are often as equally revered for their personal style as they are for their design know-how, have never ranked high on my style icons list. Sure, I’ve pinned their photos and referred to their styling ideas from time to time, but I’ve never gone out of my way to dress like them, study their style or replicate their exact outfits….until now.
See, like many of us, I’m enthralled with The Row. Not just bc of the beautifully-made, well-considered and intelligent clothes, shoes, and bags. And not just bc they’re making clothing that women (who can afford it) want to wear, but bc of the fashion tidal wave they’ve created, which transcends personal style archetypes. Ask almost any fashion-adjacent woman on the street if they’d like to be gifted a piece from The Row, and my guess is 9 times out of 10, the answer would be an elated yes!—regardless of whether or not they consider themselves minimalists. There’s something magnetic about these clothes…and yes—status, fashion signaling, superb quality and general good taste have a lot to do with it. But The Olsens have created something that far surpasses all of that.
With this said, I’ve seen a fair bit of content in the past few months honing in on their personal style. (Read this inspiring breakdown from
and this brilliant letter from .) Which, if you really dig in, is quite different than what they put out for The Row. Yes, The Olsens wear a lot of their own label’s clothing. And yes, they’re minimalists in some ways. But, they’re quirkier than The Row. They’re flippant, eclectic, even haphazard at times. (Although I’m sure the haphazardness is very much intentional.) And while I may not idolize their style to the point of replicating it soup to nuts, I do respect what these two former child-stars have created, and how they’ve transformed the very face of American—no, global—fashion in a relatively short period of time.I’d been thinking about this gap between The Row and The Olsens for some time now, and yet again, my children led me to a bit of a revelation. I put our youngest to bed every night, and he’s absolutely obsessed with this series of books entitled “Who Would Win?” Have you heard of them? Each book identifies two wild animals—who would likely never meet in reality—and pits them against each other, comparing all their bits & bobs (talons, beaks, weight, speed, etc) to see, quite simply, who would win in a fictional fight.
One night after reading Who Would Win?: Falcon vs Hawk to my son, I exited his room and had a bit of a brainwave: in my own closet, who would win a styling fight? The Row or The Olsens?
This may seem silly, but it realllllly got me thinking! And surprisingly, even though I identify more closely with The Row from a personal style perspective, and don’t aspire to dress like an Olsen 24/7, I found myself rooting for The Olsens to win this fictional styling fight. Why?
See, every season—and most recently with the release of their Spring 2026 look book this week—The Row not only gives us great product, but unique & inspired styling. However, it can sometimes feel like a bit of a (gasp) soulless brand. I don’t mean this in a harsh way! In fact, you could argue many of these “quiet luxury” brands feel a little soulless: clean, modern lines, devoid of many embellishments or hallmarks, tons of neutrals over color, and slightly robotic look books—all of which can lean clinical. But the brilliance of The Row is that it’s this very detachment from any one strong emotion that results in its resounding success, bc the aloofness allows you to make the pieces your own. Perhaps it’s why the brand resonates so deeply with so many of us. And also, why it’s SO FUN to see influencers, celebrities and yes, The Olsens, wearing The Row. It’s rarely cut & paste from the look book—and even on the rare occasion it is, elements like accessories, makeup, hair & attitude give it new life.
The Olsens, on the other hand, are full of interest and soul. They often incorporate color or vintage elements into their outfits, mixing the old & the new with skilled mastery. They use hair, accessories, and minimal makeup to imbue a certain vibe—one that feels much more personality-driven than that of their brand’s, if I’m honest. So while their exact style is not one I seek to replicate—the vibe of their style is ABSOLUTELY one I’m always hungry to capture.
To that end, I decided to put this fictional battle to the test in my own wardrobe. In a styling match, who would win: The Row or The Olsens?
Now just like with every fight, there are some ground rules:
Styling. I’ll aim to replicate similar-ish looks from the brand and its designers using a mix of pieces I already own. Some are The Row, but most are not.
Replication vs Essence. I’ll be taking bigger picture concepts and ideas that are relatively similar between looks from The Row and The Olsens in building my outfits. In some cases, my outfits will be similar to theirs. In others, it may just be a translation of larger ideas.
Selection. I’m only picking looks that speak to me. I also chose largely warm-weather looks given the season.
Comparison. I’ll do my best to compare only apples to apples in order to keep it as fair a playing field as I can. So if an Olsen image shows accessories but The Row look does not, I won’t include. However jewelry, bags, hair, etc, all do a ton of heavy lifting in styling and should not be overlooked.
Results. Unlike the falcon vs. the hawk, there is no real “winner” in this competition. It’s less about which look wins or loses and more about the styling lessons we can learn, which I’ll share along the way.
PLEASE VOTE! With that said, please vote for your winning look! I want to make this fun and interactive, so after each of my recreated looks, there will be a poll asking which outfit I’m wearing that you like best.
Let’s get ready to rumble!
MATCH 1: THE HERO PIECE
Adding a hero piece to any outfit is a tried-and-true way to create instant contrast. It can be a statement jacket or coat, as shown here x2, or a bold pair of earrings, fabulous belt or funky shoe.
MK: An interesting jacket or topper is always an outfit-maker. MK opts for a tailored red coat, which counteracts the casual ripped jeans and white tee base, but matches the flair of her scarf and gold loafers. So in this outfit, while the hero is the red coat, we actually have three statement pieces (coat, scarf, shoes) against two basic ones (jeans, tee). As such, contrast is created through magnitude (more statement pieces than basic ones).
THE ROW: On the right is the plaid coat of my dreams over another very simple base: two layered white button-down shirts (double down!), with white pinstripe pants and casual sneakers. Yet again the coat is the hero but in this look, she’s the only one. There’s some clever visual interest created with the layered button-downs and the plaid juxtaposed against the pinstripe, but on the whole, the coat grabs your attention most. In this case, contrast is created through focus (one hero piece that stands out from the rest of the look).
MY TAKE:
THE LESSON: Heroes Need Friends! We’re so conditioned to think that one hero item—such as a statement necklace, printed jacket or a pop of colorful shoes—is all that we need to make an outfit feel more special…when in fact, maybe one hero is just not enough?! It seems that layering our heroes is ultimately what sets a great outfit apart from an OK one. Even in The Row’s focused take, there’s still layered interest via contrasting prints and double shirts. So while MK’s layered heroes are bold, The Row’s are subtle…proving that even the purest minimalists can add styling oomph by reconsidering how many heroes to play with.
MATCH 2: UNEXPECTED COLOR COMBINATIONS
Unexpected color pairings are an immediate styling win bc they work sooooo hard for their money. These sometimes-strange combos create tension, which makes any look more interesting.
AO: Unique color combos are my Roman Empire, and this AO look is maybe one of the best. You already know I love pairing pink & yellow, but it’s the addition of a third, totally disparate color that nails this. I would never think to add black or navy to this look. In fact, I would’ve been pretty chuffed with myself by creating tension via my pink & yellow pairing and called it a day. But a third color?! Mind blown! In this case, the harshness of the black against the softness of the other two colors is visually arresting. The result is an outfit that feels both fresh yet grounded.
THE ROW: Similarly, there are three disparate colors at play in this look, albeit two of them manifest in the form of a bold, graphic print—which adds even more tension! Expanding upon unexpected color pairings to also include prints pushes the tension even further…esp when you have the soft vs harsh yet again (yellow as soft vs red & navy as harsh).
MY TAKE:
THE LESSON: Add a Contrasting Third Color. I realize now that pairing two unexpected colors is a sentence without a period; the message is there but it doesn’t feel complete. By adding a third contrasting color (typically in a neutral), you finish the thought and bring the tension full circle. This can be especially helpful when playing with a color combo that feels new, aka scary. Adding a “safe” color like black, white or navy helps take the edge off.
MATCH 3: BAGGY & BAGGIER
There is truly an art to the way both The Olsens and The Row showcase oversized clothing. At a mere 5'1” each, these elfin women somehow manage to ensure their clothes look polished and cool, no matter how big & baggy.
AO: You guys know I’m allllll about an untucked button down right now, so it’s no surprise that this image of AO sings to me. With that said, baggy & baggier can be exceptionally tough to pull off - even as an Olsen. The trick here is to achieve relative proportion through silhouette. Her pants are baggy, but in relation to the super voluminous shirt, they appear slim, which is why the look doesn’t overwhelm her frame. The flashes of skin (décolletage, arms, feet) adds lightness to the overall look.
THE ROW: Here, we see The Row using relative proportion through fabrication. Even though the shirt is oversized, it’s cotton corduroy, so it carries some weight— which makes it drape more heavily on the body and therefore give the illusion of a slimmer silhouette. With that said, the lack of skin bogs the whole look down a bit — I’d say this is a very tough one to pull off exactly and likely why it’s part of a look book vs a street style look.
MY TAKE:
THE LESSON: It’s All Relative. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the individual parts of an outfit that we forget how each said part performs in relation to the rest of the look. Luckily, relativity is baked into the idea of proportion, so if we keep proportion front & center when playing with oversized styles, the styling sky’s the limit. By leaning into the theory of relativity (I wish I could @ Einstein…), we can easily pair two baggy items together and still have it look cohesive and sleek. (And when in doubt…flash some skin!!)
MATCH 4: LAYERING
Ah yes, layering. The true forte of both The Olsens and The Row. Layering is hands down the easiest way to make any outfit feel more considered…but it can be tougher to pull off than we might think. I sometimes struggle with getting layering just right, so let’s see what The Olsens or The Row can teach us!
MK: Layering seems to be an Olsen skill of the highest regard, bc they do it so well and with such ease that I wish they could bottle & sell it. And—in many ways, they do—through the styling in their look books each season. MK’s look feels casual and madcap: the cardigan layered under the bright hoodie, over a tee, accessorized with a friggin’ keychain on a lanyard?! Not to mention the Teva sandals which have been glorified all over the Internet (confession: I bought them!) The brilliance lies in the haphazard layering. Is the cardigan about to fall off her hips? Is that her office key fob she’s wearing bc it’s easier to be hands-free during her smoke break? We may never know. And the madness in the mystery is all part of the magic.
THE ROW: This look will forever be burned into my brain, not only for how great it is but for how many times I’ve seen it referenced. This look is all about considered layering…as it should be! It’s a look book, after all, not a smoke break. And even though this look features more luxe elements, like lace and cashmere, it still feels just as casual and laid-back as MK’s look…again, a testament to thoughtful layering. The flip flops add the final IDGAF touch, making this outfit worth replicating.
MY TAKE:
THE LESSON: Balance Layers. Layering can be tough when it’s more than just a sweater thrown atop your shoulders. Advanced layering a la The Olsens and The Row requires agility when mixing fabric weights, textures—and again—proportions. Whether you go haphazard or with laser intent, my layering rule of thumb after this exercise is for every “heavy” item, layer a light one. On MK, the hoodie is “heavy” but her cropped, slim pants are “light.” On the model, the sweater is “heavy” and the lace cami is “light.” Striking this balance is my new go-to layering unlock!
MATCH 5: RELAXED TAILORING
I love that finally, in the Year of our Lord 2025, we have embraced louche, relaxed tailoring. AMEN! Suiting needs to match our lifestyles, and bringing tailored pieces down to earth through casual styling feels very modern.
AO: Ashley captures relaxed tailoring to perfection here. She’s wearing a suit, albeit the topper looks more like a coat thanks to its length. The crisp boldness of the teal blue button-down alongside its untucked nonchalance conveys undone elegance in the best way possible. But the crowning glory are the flip flops. Blame the California girl in me, but I love a flip flop paired with almost everything.
THE ROW: Whereas Ashley goes for a color play to add interest, her brand goes for the texture play. The monochrome palette does its visually soothing thing, but the simple swap of the expected button down for a nubby rollneck sweater gives it lived-in elegance—a “this old thing?” vibe if there ever was one. And again…FLIP FLOPS FTW! Is there anything this humble footwear staple can’t do?!
MY TAKE:
THE LESSON: Cut Fat With Acid. Hear me out on my cooking analogy! “Fat” refers to anything in a given look that feels rich or heavy — tailoring, dark colors, or hefty textures. By using an acid, aka a light & bright element or two, we cut through the severity of the ‘outfit fat’ to deliver a more balanced flavor profile. Tailoring will always feel fatty - it’s inherent to its serious nature. So acid(s) are needed for balance. Ashley does this in several ways; the untucked “beachy” shirt and flip flops. The Row also adds its own acids, via a casual nubby sweater and again, the mighty flip flop!
THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
And the trophy goes to….YOU! THE READER! For indulging me today and making it this far! But for real—who won in your book? The Olsens or The Row?! Regardless of which outfits you preferred, or which ‘matches’ resonated, I hope the ultimate win lies in learning how this brand and its founders use styling tricks, principles and ideas to bring their looks to life. It proves that in order to get The Olsen or The Row look, you don’t necessarily have to buy into their brand so long as you buy into their larger governing ideas. Will I still shop The Row on deep, deep discount or resale? You bet! But I’m honestly more excited to apply these learnings to my every day wardrobe than I am to go shopping…and that, my friends, is a W in my book!
Thank you for reading! Until next week xx
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I shocked myself- SHOCKED- by finding that I was largely voting for The Row!! Honestly I don’t think of myself as someone who is all that inspired by The Row but I am VERY inspired by street style. Did I just learn that I care more about styling than the Olsens?! A revelation!!
This post was absolute perfection! And I can tell by the other comments that we all loved it. May I suggest a “who would win Old Philo vs New?”
PS- I love/hate Who Would Win books 🙃
This was super fun! I was kind of down the middle in what I voted for. As much as I love the Olsen twins (and I know this is going to make me sound old) but oh my gosh I wish those girls would stop slouching. They are going to have serious problems by the time they're in their fifties.