Mr. Calvin Klein Talks His Design Legacy, The 90s, and More!
The Run-Through with Vogue
Vogue
4.1 • 764 Ratings
🗓️ 27 February 2026
⏱️ 79 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We are revisiting one of our favorite episodes with none other than Mr. Calvin Klein. He came to the Vogue podcast studio last year to chat with Nicole Phelps.
Calvin is the designer who dressed America—and the world—in his designer jeans and logo underwear. The designer who broke all the rules of luxury advertising and in the process became a household name. The designer whose streamlined slip dresses and sleek suits, even after over 20 years of retirement, still define American minimalism, providing a template for young designers of today.
He talked about his early days in the Bronx, his own first job at Women’s Wear Daily, his quest for perfection, and the keys to unparalleled success. Two words: Confidence and Drive
But first, Chioma shares an update from Milan, talks about her busy weekend at Vogue Cafe London and co-hosting British Vogue and GQ's Fashion & Film Party, and reveals her highlights from London Fashion Week. Chloe talks about her first issue with Rosalia hitting news stands and Vogue's Casa Magazines pop-up!
The Run-Through with Vogue is your go-to podcast where fashion meets culture. Hosted by Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content, Vogue U.S.; Chioma Nnadi, Head of British Vogue; and Nicole Phelps, Director of Vogue Runway, each episode features the latest fashion news and exclusive designer and celebrity interviews.
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| 0:00.0 | I'm Chloe Mel, and I am so excited to tell you all about the spring issue of Vogue, my first as head of editorial content. |
| 0:07.9 | It is full of so many examples of what Vogue does best. |
| 0:12.2 | There is a spectacularly romantic cover shoot with Rosalia, a beautiful and moving remembrance of Valentino Garavani by Hamish Bowles, |
| 0:21.5 | the quest for the perfect pillow with a beautiful oil painting illustration |
| 0:25.7 | inspired by the Simone Roche at runway show, |
| 0:28.9 | a tribute to shoes that pack a punch, |
| 0:31.4 | starring some of our favorite staff doggs. |
| 0:34.3 | It's an issue I'm so proud of. |
| 0:36.7 | I'm so excited for everyone to see it and to touch it and hold it and keep it. |
| 0:41.8 | And if you're not already a subscriber, this is the moment to join. |
| 0:45.7 | You can get unlimited access at vogue.com slash spring issue. |
| 1:12.1 | This is the run-through. I'm Chloe Mal. And I'm Czemanadi. Choma. I'm so excited to see you in Milan. I am truly going straight from here to the airport. Well, I'm stopping at home first to squeeze my children and then get my bags and then I'm off. |
| 1:14.1 | But very excited. |
| 1:19.7 | You know, there's been several – there was one plane that was carrying several editors from New York that turned around mid-flight because it ran out of water. |
| 1:22.7 | So I really truly hope that you make it. |
| 1:25.3 | There's a lot of the – between the blizzard in New York and these |
| 1:30.0 | planes running out of water, a lot of the editors from America haven't made it to Milan yet. |
| 1:35.4 | Listeners, you can't see my eyes going wider and wider, but I'm not loving this line of |
| 1:41.5 | encouragement. Alison Ward-Frank also just before this was like, you better check your flight because |
| 1:46.0 | everyone's flights got canceled tonight. |
| 1:47.5 | And I was like, everyone needs to change the vibes to being positive. |
| 1:52.1 | No, it's going to be good. |
... |
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