The small show, held far away from the Bryant Park tents in a gallery space, seemed an indication they wanted the headlines to be about the clothes they designed instead of themselves. It's the same strategy employed by fellow camera-magnet Victoria Beckham earlier this week.

The Olsens, who already were inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America, appeared only briefly at the end to take a very quick bow in front of Carey Mulligan, Chloe Sevigny, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and her French Vogue counterpart, Carine Roitfeld.

The clothes were indeed quite serious — and sophisticated. The first model wore a simple black wrap coat that was belted and black trousers with flat gladiator sandals. Most of the collection was black, which has been the norm on many catwalks at New York Fashion Week.