Olsen Twins: How We Earned Fashion's Respect

Their clothes have been worn by the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama and Carey Mulligan, but according to Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, it took a long time for the fashion community to take them seriously.

"Initially, I wanted someone else to front the brand," Mary-Kate tells Newsweek of The Row, which generates an estimated $10-12 million annually. "We wanted someone else to rep it. But we couldn't lie."

Buyers were skeptical, questioning everything from where the garments were manufactured to the high costs of production.

"With the retailers, we dealt with some tough cookies," Ashley recalls. "Their attitude was, 'Who do these girls think they are?'"

"It definitely took time to earn people's respect," Mary-Kate adds.

Fortunately, the 24-year-old twins are finally being recognized for their design achievements: they received their first ever CDFA nomination this year. (They will face off against Joseph Altuzarra and Prabal Gurung in the Swarovski Award for Womenswear category).

Designing quality merchandise wasn't enough for the stylish duo; they also wanted to make sure the majority of their collection was produced on American soil.

"I really believe in our being able to create here and utilize the skills that people have here," Ashley explains. "The skill set is here. Our main issue is that some of the machinery is gone, so some knitwear is produced in Italy. But whether it's clothing or cars, I believe in manufacturing as close to home as possible."

"We really want The Row to be an American luxury brand," she continues. "We believe in not just American by representation but American by make."

Credit: Us Magazine

Jessica Simpson Shows Love for the Troops

Giving a very special performance, Jessica Simpson was spotted singing for military families in Denver, Colorado last night (April 13).

The “Come On Over” songstress showed up at the Colorado Rockies vs. New York Mets game at Coors Field to pay tribute to the men and women who serve this country.

Credit: Celebrity Gossip

Mrs. O on the hook in IG-Gate?

The Washington Times raises interesting questions:

In the past 10 days, two major developments have occurred. First, Obama administration attorneys continued their efforts to deny Mr. Walpin his day in court. On Dec. 7, they filed reply briefs rearguing their demand that the case be dismissed without even a hearing. Second, Rep. Darrell Issa of California and Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, both Republicans, have openly questioned the honesty of CNCS Chairman Alan D. Solomont. Most explosively of all, dirty deeds may have been employed to hide extensive involvement in the affair by the office of first lady Michelle Obama, whom the White House months earlier had announced would play "a central role in the national service agenda." . . .
Mr. Issa, the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote a scathing letter to Mr. Solomont on Dec. 11. Parts of it are worth quoting at length:
"After Mr. Walpin's removal, there was speculation in the press that former Chief of Staff to the First Lady Jackie Norris may have influenced the President's action because she left the White House to become a senior advisor at CNCS around the time of Mr. Walpin's removal. Accordingly, Committee investigators specifically asked if you discussed any Corporation business, including the issues relating to the Corporation's Office of Inspector General, with Ms. Norris. You indicated that you did not. ... The White House announced on June 4, 2009 that Ms. Norris had been appointed Senior Advisor to the Corporation. ... In light of all this, it seems highly implausible that you would meet with Ms. Norris on June 9, 2009 and not discuss the IG," who was fired the very next day. . . . .
Mr. Issa is right to smell a rat, especially since White House aides reportedly cut short congressional staff questioning of Mr. Solomont when the line of questioning began to lead to Mrs. Obama. . . .

Read the rest. The inference of a cover-up is obvious, the evidence of an actual crime is less so. However, remember that the FBI has also been asking questions in the Walpin case. If anybody questioned in this case lies to the FBI, that's a crime. If anybody destroys evidence relevant to a federal investigation, that's another crime. The question is whether Obama administrations will begin snitching on one another, rather than to risk prison sentences.

I've said all along that this story -- not just Walpin/AmeriCorp but the other inspector general stories, including AmTrak and SIGTARP -- is not going to go away. Whether it results in a takedown of any major administration figure, there's enough here to keep making news for months to come.