As we enter 2025, Calvin Klein makes its return to New York Fashion Week. On the second day of the event, the highly anticipated Calvin Klein show takes place in the brand’s birthplace, welcoming its new creative director, Veronica Leoni, who happens to be the first female designer for CK. Even Mr. Calvin Klein himself is present to witness the spectacle! Veronica Leoni boasts an impressive resume, having worked at The Row, Jil Sander, and CELINE, showcasing a rich design background. However, after a few seasons dominated by the Quiet Luxury trend, the market’s minimalist designs have become overly saturated, leaving fashion enthusiasts even more eager to see what secrets she has up her sleeve.
The entire collection focuses on unforgettable wardrobe essentials, blending the bold aesthetic of minimalism with the power of self-expression: coats, trench coats, car coats, capes, suits, silk blouses, shirts, five-pocket style trousers, square-toed flats, heels, handbags, glasses, and the CK One perfume bottle-shaped handbag. The cuts feature hollow processing, achieving three lightweight silhouettes: sleek and elongated, loose and cropped, and draped and wrapped. Lingerie is a recurring theme, creating an intimate closeness through knit henley tops, floaty slip dresses, and relaxed cuts.
The Calvin Klein Collection explores the tension between purity and expression, featuring meticulous cuts that first showcase embroidery and embellishments, followed by wild Ugandan muslin and flowing draped elements, before returning to a calm and restrained sophistication. Texture defines the quality of the fabrics, ranging from tightly woven soft wool and cashmere, to crisp woolen twill and herringbone, followed by matte thick brushed cotton twill and fleeced cotton, culminating in shimmering satin and silk satin.
The collection features rich urban-inspired hues, rooted in the brand’s classic neutral colors, including black, granite gray, moon gray, deep brown, gray-white, and porcelain, along with unexpected deep ruby, raspberry, and pale lemon colors.
The most memorable is undoubtedly the coats that appeared this season, which even received praise from Calvin Klein. Featuring a layered envelope-style collar design, a cocoon-shaped teddy coat, and an unembellished drop-shoulder trench coat, these pieces stand out. Additionally, there is a classic CK One perfume-inspired bag, representing a fragrance that debuted in 1994 (now celebrating its 30th anniversary). This unisex scent particularly captivated young people, gender-fluid individuals, and fashion enthusiasts who were attuned to music and the spirit of the times. With this collection, Veronica Leoni undoubtedly presents an impressive report card for the Fall/Winter 2025 season, signaling a fresh start for Calvin Klein.
