station style: Calvin Klein History And Men's Underwear Photos

Born to Leo and Flore Klein on November 19, 1942 in Bronx, New York Calvin was named Calvin Richard Klein. Interested in fashion since childhood, he chose to spend his much time on sewing and drawing instead of enjoying other traditional boyhood activities. He also spent a great deal of time at Loehmann’s, a high-fashion discount store in the Bronx, to look at the Norman Norell designer samples. Calvin attended New York’s High School of Art and Design and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1962.

After leaving school, Klein apprenticed for designer Dan Millstein in New York City’s celebrated garment district. In 1968, Klein and his childhood friend Barry Schwartz launched an apparel line of men and women’s coats in name of company called Calvin Klein Ltd., which later changed to Calvin Klein Inc. Their company soon got a substantial order from the buyer Bonwit Teller, which marked their success and beginning of their recognition in the fashion industry.

Klein expanded his offerings to include women’s sportswear and by 1970s, Klein’s sportswear line had expanded to include women’s apparel, and a whole ready-to-wear signature line of separates such as sweaters, skirts, dresses, shirts, and pants that could be intermixed for a complete day and evening wardrobe.

From classic, sharp designs available mostly in neutral tones, Klein revolutionized the fashion industry with a basic, minimalist style, much the same way as Ralph Lauren has become a staple in the fashion world. But it was in the late 1970s and early 1980s that Klein introduced a whole new concept of designer jeans at an affordable price. Teenage model Brooke Shields, clad in her tight Calvin Klein Jeans, made it known to the world that “nothing stood in the way of her and her Calvins.” And women worldwide proved that they agreed with young Brooke.