Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s fashion empire is rapidly expanding. Their successful jewelry line, Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth & James, is filled with interesting Olsen-inspired pieces the girls designed in collaboration with famed jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris.

Just in time for spring, the team has rolled out new jewelry pieces that take the collection in a more mature direction. The complete collection is available through Shop Bop.

The snake wrap ring (left) is $100, the freeform dish ring (middle) is $175, and the gothic cross ring (right) is $95.00.

Images: Shop Bop

Mary-Kate wasn’t the only Olsen who had a great year, Ashley Olsen’s 2008 turned out pretty well too! Ashley’s year was a bit more subdued and behind-the-scenes as she turned her professional focus to Dualstar, the Row, Elizabeth & James and the expansion of each respective line. If anything, 2008 was the year Ashley emerged as a smart, savvy, dedicated and hard-working businesswoman.

Here’s Ashley’s best moments of 2008. Do you agree? Disagree? Did I miss one? Let me know in the comments!

5) Her relationship with Justin Bartha

2008 has been a good year for Mary-Kate and Ashley personally. Both seemed to have found stable, happy relationships. Ashley and Justin Bartha are doing their best to stay out of the public eye. However, the types of rumors swirling about their relationship this year (marriage and moving in together) seems to say that Ashley’s in this for the long haul. It’s been a long time since Ashley found a man she could trust and have a solid relationship with, so I’m happy for her.

4) Announcing Steve Madden Shoe line

You know a brand is successful when it announces expansion into other areas of fashion. Elizabeth & James, Mary-Kate and Ashley’s contemporary sportswear line, has been a hit with both fans and critics. Shoes are risky and different, which shows that Ashley and co. are confident about their brand and their line. Partnering with Steve Madden will ensure that the brand have credibility and will also connect with their core audience.

3) Being honored at the Institute of Contemporary Art

In December, Ashley attended an exclusive event in Boston at the the Institute of Contemporary Art for up-an-coming American fashion designers. Being invited to this event proved that Mary-Kate, Ashley and their brands are more than a celebrity-driven line. They are becoming go-to people to see what’s new and exciting in the world of American fashion.

2) Launching Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth & James

Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth & James was the perfect marriage between Mary-Kate and Ashley’s personal style, the androgynous aesthetic of Elizabeth & James, and the talent of a world-renowned jewelry designer. Robert Lee Morris is known the world over for his designs and getting him to agree to work with Elizabeth & James showed the world Ashley is serious about fashion and serious about brand-building. It doesn’t hurt that the line is quirky, unique and stunning!

1) Launching Influence

Influence is a project Mary-Kate and Ashley worked on together and is possibly their most personal and revealing project ever. (It’s #3 on Mary-Kate’s Best Moments list). It’s #1 for Ashley because it’s the most public encapsulation of the 2008 success of the Olsen fashion empire.

I don’t doubt Mary-Kate was, and is, involved with all their fashion projects. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s Ashley who spearheads the operation. She’s been focusing solely on fashion for the past couple years, whereas Mary-Kate is experimenting with both fashion and acting. That’s why it seemed appropriate to give Ashley greater kudos for their fashion successes.

Famed jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris is responsible for the new Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen jewelry line Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth & James. The line is currently on sale at Intermix features lots of cool cuffs, crosses and snakes. It’s very reflective of Mary-Kate’s and Ashley’s personal style and is true to Morris as a designer.

Morris chatted briefly with the National Jeweler Network about the collaboration. It’s a project he really enjoyed working on. He also appreciated the new lifeblood this collaobration will inject into his business, as he is now being exposed to a whole new generation of clients through MK and Ashley.

“I am very happy about the collaboration because it introduces my name to a whole new generation of hip kids, as well as savvy young dressers in their 20s and 30s,” Robert says. “The association simply highlights the genius of collaboration of brand names in a time of questionable economic times.”

The Morris/Olsen pairing is a brilliant one. It exposes Morris to a whole new legion of customers and it gives the Olsens credibility in the jewelry industry. And the final product is fantastic–I love this line!