As an icon of minimalism, modernism, sexual provocation, and androgyny, Calvin Klein’s first book will find similar market appeal to Rizzoli’s celebrated industry-leading books on legendary fashion designers, with many behind-the-scenes stories and private insights from one of the most famous men in fashion. Few names in fashion are as recognizable as that of Calvin Klein.
This unique book presents a stunning archive of images that reveal his timeless influence as a designer. From founding the company in New York in 1968, he went on to change the face of fashion, bringing his visionary minimalism to the fore and defining looks for generations. Divided by theme, with characteristic simplicity and sophistication, each of the three sections in this volume looks at one singular element of Klein’s approach. In Provocative, we see the most controversial of his campaigns, from Brooke Shields’s infamous teenage portraits to the seductive photography of underwear collections. In Minimalist, we understand the simplicity, refinement, and elegance in every collection. And in the final section, we read in the designer’s own words the insights behind the campaigns and the secrets behind the successes. This magnificent survey is illustrated with era-defining photographs by many of the trendsetting names in fashion photography, from Irving Penn and Richard Avedon to Bruce Weber and Patrick Demarchelier. In the photographs are the world’s most iconic models, from Christy Turlington to Kate Moss, captured in images that would define their careers. Irrespective of time or place, Calvin Klein has an aesthetic and an identity that is simply unrivaled.