K is for Calvin Klein
"I've always had a clear design philosophy and point of view about being modern, sophisticated, sexy, clean and minimal. They all apply to my design esthetic" Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein's unwavering vision of minimal designs and wearable urban styles are what make him an icon, but his widely recognized marketing genius is part of what has made him a household name and one of the most popular gurus in fashion.
Born in 1942 in Bronx, New York, Calvin Klein started out at a coat company, and moved to sportswear, later leaving his mark with some industry firsts, including making utilitarian men's underwear sexy and the first unisex fragrance, CK One.
Back in the late '70s Klein launched a designer jeans line, which not only broke down price barriers by offering a lower-priced line, but spawned sexy ads featuring teenage model Brooke Shields which were just the first in a line of controversial ads. He's also influenced many of the minimal-chic designers of the late 20th century, including Miuccia Prada and Donna Karan, and remains one of the most recognizable designer names in the world with a career spanning more than two decades.
Famous clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Helen Hunt, Sandra Bullock, and known as the supreme master of minimalism, Klein’s look is all about modern, practical fashion – with the old adage of “less is more” being a classic style rule in his book. His look is all about muted and deep tones like grey, red, and black, and works with styles that frame the face through structure, rather than embellishment – deep V necklines, turtlenecks, buttoned-to-the-top jackets. If you’re aiming for a Klein look think urban uniform: leather skirt, turtleneck, tights and heels or boots, and choose long, lean lines in whatever you wear.
The Calvin Klein company, like many in the fashion industry, is known for its eye-catching advertising. It has been picked on by many conservative organisations for its use of seemingly-underage models in provocative poses – Klein’s advertising campaigns are frequently controversial, but prove this can be very successful to the point of making a blitz career. When he used Mark Wahlberg and Kate Moss in his underwear campaigns, the flirty ads shot the two largely unknowns to stardom, with Moss becoming a regularly reappearing face in many of Klein’s ads.
If you’re trying to rock a Klein-inspired look, remember less is more – keep it simple, chic and streamlined and you’ll achieve his minimalist style with a bat of your eyelashes.
"Fashion is about change and, for me, the philosophy is always the same ... that the clothes have to be really modern and make women look really beautiful." Calvin Klein
By Nikki Webber - Christchurch
"I've always had a clear design philosophy and point of view about being modern, sophisticated, sexy, clean and minimal. They all apply to my design esthetic" Calvin KleinCalvin Klein's unwavering vision of minimal designs and wearable urban styles are what make him an icon, but his widely recognized marketing genius is part of what has made him a household name and one of the most popular gurus in fashion.
Born in 1942 in Bronx, New York, Calvin Klein started out at a coat company, and moved to sportswear, later leaving his mark with some industry firsts, including making utilitarian men's underwear sexy and the first unisex fragrance, CK One.
Back in the late '70s Klein launched a designer jeans line, which not only broke down price barriers by offering a lower-priced line, but spawned sexy ads featuring teenage model Brooke Shields which were just the first in a line of controversial ads. He's also influenced many of the minimal-chic designers of the late 20th century, including Miuccia Prada and Donna Karan, and remains one of the most recognizable designer names in the world with a career spanning more than two decades.
Famous clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Helen Hunt, Sandra Bullock, and known as the supreme master of minimalism, Klein’s look is all about modern, practical fashion – with the old adage of “less is more” being a classic style rule in his book. His look is all about muted and deep tones like grey, red, and black, and works with styles that frame the face through structure, rather than embellishment – deep V necklines, turtlenecks, buttoned-to-the-top jackets. If you’re aiming for a Klein look think urban uniform: leather skirt, turtleneck, tights and heels or boots, and choose long, lean lines in whatever you wear. The Calvin Klein company, like many in the fashion industry, is known for its eye-catching advertising. It has been picked on by many conservative organisations for its use of seemingly-underage models in provocative poses – Klein’s advertising campaigns are frequently controversial, but prove this can be very successful to the point of making a blitz career. When he used Mark Wahlberg and Kate Moss in his underwear campaigns, the flirty ads shot the two largely unknowns to stardom, with Moss becoming a regularly reappearing face in many of Klein’s ads.
If you’re trying to rock a Klein-inspired look, remember less is more – keep it simple, chic and streamlined and you’ll achieve his minimalist style with a bat of your eyelashes."Fashion is about change and, for me, the philosophy is always the same ... that the clothes have to be really modern and make women look really beautiful." Calvin Klein
By Nikki Webber - Christchurch
