>> Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are known for being press-shy, but yesterday they let The Oprah Winfrey Show follow them around on a typical day — which means stops at the Elizabeth and James and The Row showrooms for model fittings, plus meetings with Robert Lee Morris about their ongoing jewelry collaboration.  Morris jokes: "Ashley will show up a few days later and undo everything that Mary-Kate did," and the twins do admit that if they can't agree on something, they scrap the idea.  We also get a peek at the Spring 2009 Elizabeth and James jewelry — lots of layered chains — and also their new shoe collaboration with Steve Madden — think "beigey suede" and pony skin.

>> It's all thanks to a video montage at last year's CFDA Awards.  The tribute to jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris, who has worked with everyone from Calvin Klein to Karl Lagerfeld, attracted the attention of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.  "I was so moved," Ashley said. 

The twins asked Morris to help create an 80-plus piece jewelry collection for their wildly successful contemporary line Elizabeth and James, and the product — thick silver cuffs and rings, earrings and necklaces accented with turquoise beading, crosses and daggers — hits stores in September. 

The cool part about it is that the pieces are made to be mix-and-match, with an emphasis placed on the classic — which sounds very much like Ashley's touch.  As she explained it to WWD,

We liked the idea of having playful elements along with timeless and ageless pieces.  The symbols are attachable and you can take the jewelry and make it your own.  There are solid silver and gold pieces to wear forever and comfort pieces that you'll put on and wear everywhere.

I wonder how long before we're hearing about Elizabeth and James bags and shoes?
*image: source

>> Coming your way: a jewelry collaboration between Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and CFDA award-winning jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris for the Olsen's contemporary line Elizabeth and James. 

The project has been in the works for the past few months — the twins are big RLM fans — and the line of silver and brass dagger necklaces, amorphous knuckle rings, and edgy earrings will be available in the next few months. 

*images: source