On Kendall Jenner’s #MyCalvins Ad Campaign:
“You know, I’m really not that familiar with it. I’m honestly not. I’m sure she’s a lovely young woman. It’s not the kind of thing I would have done, even today.”
The 73 year old designer started the clothing company named after himself in 1968 in New York City. In December 2002, he sold the company to Phillips-Van Heusen for nearly $730 million and now has limited say in the direction of the brand.
On Social Media Stars Taking Jobs From Real Models:
“Now, models are paid for how many followers they have. They’re booked not because they represent the essence of the designer, which is what I tried to do. They’re booked because of how many followers they have online. I don’t think that, long-term, is going to work. I don’t think that’s a great formula for success for the product you’re trying to sell.”
“However, if you take really exquisite photographs of the right people in the right clothes in the right location, and you put it online, that’s fine, [but] just putting any old clothes on Kim Kardashian, long-term, isn’t going to do a thing.”
On New Designers Reselling Old Trends:
“When I see motorcycle jackets for $2,000 that are distressed or ripped jeans from couture designers, I think to myself, ‘Are they kidding me?’ We’ve been doing this for 30 years. It’s not new.”
“I understand why it’s young and cool, but there is a thing about respect for women and trying to make women look as beautiful as they possibly can, and also [creating] new things. There’s a lot that’s going on that’s disappointing.”
It’s important to note how well connected social media stars are to the who’s-who of the fashion industry. Kylie and Kendall Jenner are besties with models Bella and Gigi Hadid. The Hadid sisters were classmates with the daughter of Paul Marciano, co-founder of Guess. Being besties with his daughter, Marciano had Gigi Hadid in Guess ads since she was 2 years old.
Cara Delevigne has also become a huge star on social media. Cara’s godfather is Nicholas Coleridge, president of Vogue’s publishing house Condé Nast International.
Instagram celebrities aren’t booking gigs. Rich kids with well-connected parents and a million followers are. Justin Bieber also appeared in the new ad campaign. See what Klein had to say about Justin’s pictures on the NEXT PAGE.