Calvin Klein Actually Hates Kendall Jenner’s Underwear Campaign

Gabrielle Chung

CREDIT: Tyrone Lebon/Calvin Klein

Well, this is just awkward.

Despite being one of the faces for Calvin Klein’s namesake label, Kendall Jenner isn’t one of the designer’s favorite people. In fact, the fashion icon admits he wouldn’t have chosen her to front his underwear in his latest ad champaign.

“You know, I’m really not familiar with [Jenner’s campaign],” he told former CFDA president Fern Mallis at a recent talk at Savannah College of Art and Design. “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.”

“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,” Klein said. “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.”

CREDIT: David Sims/Calvin Klein

Klein stepped down as creative director of Calvin Klein Collection in 2002. Francisco Costa, the current director of the brand, was in charge of selecting the models for the campaign.

“When [I say] I like Justin Bieber in the Calvin Klein Underwear [campaign], it’s because I like him — not because he’s got millions of followers,” he explained. “I think [Bieber’s ads] are very good.”

The designer’s harsh words for Jenner may explain the 20-year-old’s absence from Calvin Klein’s super-exclusive rave to celebrate Coachella on Saturday night (Apr. 16, 2016). Though Jenner was seen partying it up with family and friends at 1 OAK and Up&Down’s pop-up just hours before, she did not attend the label’s after-hours bash later that day.