I Copied Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen's Outfits—See the Pics

If you asked me to name a single style icon who's had the most influence on what I wear, I'd be hard-pressed to come up with just one name. The fact is, I pull my style inspiration from many different people, places, and things, save for one exception (okay, two exceptions): Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. The sisters have set themselves apart from the rest of the celebrity crowd through their unwavering approach to clean, pared-back style that's redefined minimalism for so many.

I'm certain I'm not the only one the Olsens have held a strong influence over, seeing as their successful brands The Row and Elizabeth and James have both earned cult followings. Since their style is analyzed to no end, I tried my hand at putting all that influence to the test. I decided to give myself a Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen–inspired makeover, complete with clean lines, a monochrome color scheme, and classic wardrobe staples. Ahead, see the Olsen-inspired outfits I wore, and then shop pieces to get the look.

The Inspiration: Long Belted Coat + Structured Handbag + Sleek Ankle Boots

The sisters have honed in on their uniform of dramatic coats accented by sleek, structured accessories. I wanted my version of the look to have the same overall effect, but short of sourcing their actual pieces, I instead put together the same key silhouettes. I was particularly inspired by the combination of a belted coat with heeled ankle boots and artful jewelry.

My look:

While I admire Olsens' adherence to all-black ensembles, I mixed black accessories with dark green to make the look my own and because head-to-black tends to look too severe on me. I certainly felt much more polished and my look much more restrained than usual.

The Inspiration: Black Skinny Jeans + Ballet Flats + Croc-Effect Bag

After my fair share of Olsen outfit research, I realized how consistent Ashley is in her combination of skinny jeans with oversize pieces and simple, classic shoes. If we're being honest, the actual inspiration for my below look came from this exact image of Ashley Olsen I found late one night on Pinterest. In it, she's wearing black skinny jeans, loafers, and a white button-down shirt that seems to all but swallow her whole. Something about the dramatic silhouette of her shirt next to the fitted jeans just felt right. (For logistical reasons, I was not able to include it in this story.)

My look:

But alas, I was inspired to give her skinny jeans styling idea a go and paired mine with ballet flats and an oversize men's button-down. I took a cue from the above image where Ashley chose a croc-effect bag and finished off my outfit with a similar top-handle bag from Staud. It was much too warm in Los Angeles for a coat that day, but as soon as the weather permits, I'll be topping my look off with a long wool coat as she did here.

Shop my look:

More Olsen-inspired picks:

Next, get inspired by 22 winter outfits with jeans, straight from our chic readers.