Mary-Kate Olsen: Elle July 2008

Mary-Kate Olsen is Elle’s July cover girl.

Her photo shoot includes that ridiculous velvet inner tube-headwrap thing she wore to the New Yorkers for Children Gala. Some excerpts:

On her attitude about fashion: You’re either on the worst-dressed list or you’ve started a fashion trend. I don’t know why I wear some of the things I wear. I like wearing crazy things sometimes. I like being playful. Sometimes I feel like I’m playing dress-up and becoming a character. It’s sort of like an art. It can change your mood or the way that people are attracted to you.

On growing up famous (and surrounded?): As crazy and hardworking as my life has been, my parents knew how important it was to have a normal life as well. I grew up in a big family. And although I was always surrounded by a lot of adults [in show business], my big hobby was horseback riding, so I was surrounded by all my horseback riding friends, too. I was surrounded by people who cared about me and loved me.

On twin sister Ashley: We don’t agree all the time. The way we go about business or designing or making a decision is that we come at it from two completely different angles that at the end of the day, even when we don’t think we’re agreeing with each other, we are agreeing. We’re just getting there in different ways. Unless you’re a twin, you honestly can’t know how close twins can be.

For the full interview, photo spread and video clips, click here.