Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Elle UK Magazine Pictures

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen appear on dual Elle UK covers for the glossy's April issue. The sisters have managed to build a massive high-fashion empire helmed by their luxury line, The Row, since leaving their acting careers behind. Mary-Kate and Ashley, who show off their well-honed individual style in the pages of the publication, talk about their "shared" thought process and their somewhat controlling approach to their design work. The Olsens also reflect on their decision to mostly stay out of the public eye these days. Check out some highlights from the interview:

• Ashley on how she and Mary-Kate think alike: "We're attracted to different things, but we arrive at the same place. I think we're probably unaware of how intuitive it might seem from the outside. It's basically one thought process shared between two people."
• Mary-Kate on other celebrity fashion lines: "Of course we knew about the trend of celebrities as designers, but we'd done that already when we were much younger. I don't understand the new idea of designers as celebrities either. To me, the Phoebe Philo [Celine designer] kind of modesty is the way to go. We love beautiful things. That's the only driving impulse."
• Ashley on their hands-on approach to work: "We are perfectionists. We've always wanted to be closely involved with everything, totally hands on — that's why it works. If we step away, it stops working. I know it sounds controlling, but that's how it has to be."
• Ashley on staying out of the public eye: "I don't have to be a pretty face. I've done that, but now it's important and liberating to be on the other side of the lens. I don't like to be the centre of attention anymore."

Photos courtesy of Alexei Hayand for ELLE UK