Elizabeth and James by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

From kiddie stars to tween icons, young entrepreneurs to fashion legends, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are ready to take fashion world by storm with their new high fashion foray - Elizabeth and James.

Named after their siblings, Elizabeth and James is the Olsen twin's second attempt in high-fashion after debuting their first high-fashion tee shirt couture line The Row.

While skeptics may think Elizabeth and James is no less than other celebrity brands that uses their fame instead of designing ability as means of generating cash, to be honest, they are absolutely wrong.

What differs Elizabeth and James from other celebrity or non-celebrity brands is how they reinterpret couture into something that spells modernity and style. Taking themselves as muses, Mary-Kate and Ashley smartly blends in a variety of elements, which are simply contrary to one another - say uptown and downtown, masculine and feminine, etc. - to create pieces that are memorable, comfortable, and chic.

For spring/summer 2008 collection, which is the debut collection for Elizabeth and James, the styles are effortless and laidback.

Inspired by the styles from the late 60's and 70's, Elizabeth and James' spring/summer looks can be simply described as an eclectic melange of celebrated and iconic styles endorsed by fashion legends Marianne Faithful, Lou Doillon and perhaps, a bit of Bianca Jagger.

The color palette are refreshing with lots of bright and inviting hues while the silhouettes are simple and some are peppered with a touch of volumes plus graphic print elements in the form of sequined details.

The Belle du Jour cutout dress with bow detail and gathered bust displayed the influence of Madame Gres, while sequined Vacation dress worn with a brown velvet beret reminds of Chloe Sevigny walking the New York streets.

And I bet Carrie Bradshaw would be the first in line to secure this chic James jacket in burgundy with feathered hem, giving an impression that you are not wearing only a jacket but an ensemble of a belted jacket with a feather skirt. So trompe l'oeil!

Other must have pieces from the collection that I would strongly endorse are printed Tulip dress, off-shoulder parachute dress in burnish orange, and a stripe woven tee in colorful graphic stripes.

Elizabeth and James by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's spring/summer 2008 collection is available now at selected retailers.

*Photos by Elizabeth and James.

Elizabeth and James collection is carried by Ron Herman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Holt Renfrew (Canada) outlets.