The Olsen twins, child stars turned fashion designers, visit Kohl's for Elizabeth and James brand launch

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, former child actors who have become respected fashion designers — and unusually private celebrities — made a semi-public visit last week to Menomonee Falls.

The twin sisters appeared before some 1,800 Kohl’s Corp. employees in advance of the retailer’s launch Thursday of their Elizabeth and James line of clothing.

Speaking with CEO Michelle Gass in a large conference room at Kohl’s headquarters, the Olsens talked about their perspective on design and their relationship with each other, a Kohl’s spokeswoman said.

The Olsens reportedly have no public social media accounts, but a photo of their appearance at Kohl's was posted to the Elizabeth and James Instagram stream.

Kohl’s announced last spring that it would begin carrying the Elizabeth and James line of women’s clothing, handbags and accessories. The move is one of several Kohl’s has been undertaking to attract younger, more style-conscious customers amid a retailing world upended by discounters, online competition and a general shifting of consumer spending away from clothing.

The Olsens aren’t just Hollywood stars lending their names to a clothing brand. They bring with them genuine fashion credibility.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America named them womenswear designer of the year in 2012 and accessory designer of the year in 2018 for their high-end line, The Row.

Elizabeth and James is a moderately priced line Kohl’s describes as “a relaxed lifestyle brand.”

The Olsens became television stars as children on ABC’s family sitcom "Full House" from 1987 to 1995, and later for a series of direct-to-video movies.  

They branched into fashion in the mid-2000s and since have made it their primary focus.

Their appearance at Kohl’s was part of what the company calls its Offline series, which brings in noted speakers and people associated with brands the retailer carries. Others who have visited the company as part of the series include women’s leadership coach and author Tiffany Dufu; physician Amit Sood, creator of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Resilient Mind program; and “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott, whose home furnishings are sold at Kohl’s.

Contact Rick Romell at (414) 224-2130 or rick.romell@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RickRomell.