FASHION

Obsession: Italo Zucchelli’s Most Iconic Calvin Klein Looks


Calvin Klein

With the announcement that Italo Zucchelli is out as men’s creative director at Calvin Klein Collection after twelve years, it’s an appropriate time to take stock of his legacy at the label and review his most memorable runway moments from Milan Fashion Week. Beyond discovering a cast of now-famous male models and bringing unique materials to the collection, he was also a master of styling separates, tailoring, and finding ways to incorporate color. Here, W‘s definitive look back.

1

Calvin Klein Fall 2014 Look 17

Depicting the infamous names of the house’s best-selling perfumes, Zucchelli used appliqued graphics to create coveted sweatshirts as desirable as their namesake scents.

Photo by Getty Images.

2

Calvin Klein Fall 2007 Look 7

Known for his techno tailoring, Italo Zuccheli’s conflicting color ways question the notions of artificial and organic. Playing off the stigma of Calvin Klein merely showing an array of grey underwear, Zuccheli showed a bevy of grey separates and then introduced techno colors like this fuzzy fluorescent knit. Photo by Getty Images.

3

Calvin Klein Spring 2013 Look 1

A fan of the monochromatic look, Zucchelli used a heavy assortment of paired pieces throughout his reign at the house. The matching denim looks shown on his buffed model in 2013 was one of his finest.

Photo by Getty Images.

4

Calvin Klein Fal 2016 Look 35

In his final season at Calvin Klein, blonde, bronzed godly models were clad in pure white sets that were punctuated by foiled outerwear like this gold metallic puffer- the show-stopping look for his final departure.

Photo by Getty Images.

5

Calvin Klein Spring 2011 Look 35

Paying tribute to the diffusion underwear line that the house has built an empire on, the designer made the runway debut of the signature Calvin Klein logo on the runway well before the “My Calvins” campaign took off.

Photo by Getty Images.

6

Calvin Klein Spring 2008 Look 18

Inspired by Bruce Weber’s photographs of the 1984 U.S Olympic team, Zucchelli took on American athleticism with sweatshirt fabrics and aerodynamic hair. This leather jumpsuit maintained the sportswear influences with a sexiness from the unexpected fabric choice.

Photo by Getty Images.

7

Calvin Klein Spring 2005

In his second season designing for the brand, Zucchelli introduced the provocative use of color as an intermittent surprise to his usual standby neutrals. The colors were slightly drained to feel vintage and this skin-bearing monochromatic twinset feels refreshingly retro compared with the hyper-future themed sportswear that came commonplace in seasons after.

Photo by Getty Images.

8

Calvin Klein Spring 2010 Look 34

Once again using bursts of surprising colors, vibrant blues and oranges spiced up Zucchelli’s classic tailoring.

Photo by Getty Images.

9

Calvin Klein Spring 2015 Look 24

Always mixing in unexpected fabrics with shine and transparency, Zucchelli’s standouts in spring 2015 were the clear plastic jackets that clung to his model’s continuously buff builds.

Photo by Getty Images.

10

Calvin Klein Spring 2009 Look 32

The monochromatic looks of seasons past got a serious boost with the spring 2009 techno suits that came in fluorescent pops of coral and highlighter yellow.

Photo by Getty Images.