FRIDAY 12:43 PM FEBRUARY 7, 2025 MIDTOWN
This morning, Calvin Klein Collection returned to the runway at NYFW with a lineup of minimal looks designed by their first-ever female creative director, Veronica Leoni. The show was staged at the original Calvin Klein HQ, evoking Carolyn Basset-era nostalgia with sleek, all-American looks. Of course, Mel and Dara were on hand to do some on-the-ground reporting, gathering hot takes from fashion luminaries including Law Roach, Louisa Jacobson, Lynette Nylander, Guinevere Van Seenus, and more. They even got a moment with Mel’s personal hero, the legend Calvin Klein himself.
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LOUISA JACOBSEN: Veronica is a bad bitch. The show was gorgeous. We love seeing a woman in a top fashion job.
JEREMY O’HARRIS: It was very clean.
JACOBSEN: I like the blanket as dress.
DARA: And Loli [Bahia] closed. I really gagged for that. What did you think, Mel?
MEL OTTENBERG: I loved it. I just really love Calvin Klein. I’m looking at him right now.
DARA: I’m too starstruck.
OTTENBERG: There’s no one I’m more starstruck by, in the whole world.
DARA: Have you met Calvin Klein before?
OTTENBERG: He came to an event that we had—I’m going to go get in line to talk to Calvin Klein.
DARA: You should go kiss the ring. He’s the all-time of all time.
OTTENBERG: You think my favorite is Yves Saint Laurent? No shade.
DARA: Calvin is your king. Yves, I’m so sorry.
JACOBSEN: Are we still discussing the show?
DARA: I love your coat.
JACOBSEN: Thank you so much. It’s Calvin Klein.
DARA: Oh it is? The shoulder is incredible.
JACOBSEN: Calvin Klein, when he first started his brand in the ’60s, he made six coats and two dresses and wheeled them around all of New York.
DARA: This coat is pretty fab. I’m taking a picture. Hi, Law. How are you? What did you think of the show?
LAW ROACH: I think that we missed him. We missed it. It’s quintessential New York. Welcome back!
DARA: What did you think of the show?
ANONYMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER: Great, really gorgeous.
DARA: How should I credit you? As an anonymous photographer luminary?
ANONYMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER: I was backstage. I didn’t see the show. [Laughs]
DARA: Lying photographer luminary.
ANONYMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER: It was good. I loved it.
DARA: Jordan, hi, how are you? What did you think about Calvin Klein?
JORDAN HEMINGWAY: It was sensual. “Cool” is a subjective word, but I was like, “This is cool.”
HEMINGWAY: I’m always in leather.
OTTENBERG: We should’ve gone and talked to Calvin Klein, but I couldn’t handle it.
DARA: Let’s be brave. I’m feeling brave because I’m fully incognito.
ELIZABETH SALTZMAN: Hi.
OTTENBERG: I was just saying how Calvin Klein is my favorite of all time.
SALTZMAN: Well, because he’s so American.
DARA: The most American.
SALTZMAN: He must’ve been a big influence, as a young person, growing up.
OTTENBERG: It’s really the American dream. I’m a minimalist.
DARA: You could’ve walked that runway. That, I would’ve loved to see. Some fashion personalities would’ve been nice.
OTTENBERG: Who styled the show?
DARA: Let’s go find out backstage. Mel’s going to meet his hero.
OTTENBERG: I’m about to be introduced to Calvin Klein.
DARA: There he is.
OTTENBERG: Hi, how are you?
CALVIN KLEIN: It’s so nice to see you again. I’m good.
DARA: There we go. Photo? You’re giving the same storyline with the hair. No one can top that, actually.
OTTENBERG: American dream.
LYNETTE NYLANDER: This is the only thing that matters, actually. It’s crazy that he’s even here.
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DARA: What did you think of this show?
NYLANDER: It’s gorgeous, naturally. Mel, you’re a minimalist but you have a uniform and it’s a thing. Dara, you and I speak the same language.
DARA: I’m a minimal maximalist, I would say.
OTTENBERG: Yeah, that’s true.
NYLANDER: Are we really having a serious conversation with your yellow hair? [Laughs]
DARA: The impact of simplicity.
NYLANDER: I’ll give you that.
DARA: We need variety. Well, at Calvin Klein, this is what I want to see. I want a burger from McDonald’s and I want minimal clothes from Calvin Klein.
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NYLANDER: There’s a reason why we all drink Coca-Cola. It is what it is. It says what it does. But in general, with fashion, I am bored.
DARA: Yeah. Let’s go backstage. We have to follow Calvin and see some clothes.
OTTENBERG: I’m having lunch with Harrison, The Dare, later.
DARA: Le Dare. Now we’re going down a mysterious concrete hallway and we are now backstage. My view is Calvin Klein congratulating the new designer of Calvin Klein Collection. Incredible, but I want to see the clothes.
LYAS: Do you think we can get Calvin Klein to take a selfie?
DARA: That’s on you, babe. I would never ask Calvin Klein to take a selfie. But I love that.
LYAS: [Laughs]
DARA: That is the hubris of youth.
OTTENBERG: What was your first Calvin Klein job?
GUINEVERE VAN SEENUS: I think it was 1995 and I was in Europe and I had been going to castings for decades and never really getting anything and then they were like “Calvin wants you on the Concorde.” I thought they were joking. I went on the Concorde for the show. That was my one and only time on the Concorde.
OTTENBERG: Thirty years ago right now. That’s insane. And then you walked the show?
VAN SEENUS: Yeah. And some campaigns.
OTTENBERG: Was the show always right here? Or was it in the tents?
VAN SEENUS: I was so young. I don’t remember. I just remember being backstage. I don’t know how I got there.
