Harlem, Calvin Klein, Anna Wintour & Me
Harlem, Calvin Klein, Anna Wintour & Me? I know that's a weird combo but that's the kind of day it was on Tuesday. The journey began me taking a train from Westchester to Harlem...with night colors reminding me of Van Gogh and starry, starry nights...
In the subway, a drummer set up his kit to play, tired passengers leaned on steel girders and a father's shoulder...
An increasing rarity: a pay phone.
Exit at 96th Street. No, not up those stairs...
New York is walker's city. Every block has its own charms.
A short stroll and window browse later...the 92nd Street Y auditorium
for an intimate exchange on stage between with Fern Mallis, creator of New York “Fashion Week” and fashion icon Calvin Klein. For two hours she quizzed her old pal in a rare interview about fashion then and his life now. He's retired from designing and has turned to a new passion: architecture; specifically designing his own home. At 68, he sounded weathered and tempered by years in recovery and therapy.
“I don’t think addiction is caused by stress on the job. It has more to do with childhood issues or other things; people in the industry use their work, but it's not that.” When asked about if seeing his name everywhere was weird when he no longer designs for the company that he sold. He said he was always able to separate his name from the brand. "Sometimes when I see the visuals, I think if I were doing that I would do it differently — but I'm not. If I can't control it, why get upset about it?"
I found his candor about his life, including his current relationship with a 21-year-old male model Nick Gruber refreshing. “I fell in love with a wonderful young man."
I'd read about the big blow-out bash Klein had footed for Gruber's 21st birthday a year ago. The blogosphere tittered and twittered unkindly about the young man, whom I observed riveted in the fourth row with two blonde male look-a-likes. He never took his eyes off Klein. The same couldn't be said about Vogue's Anna Wintour and an icon in her own right with her instantly recognizable bobbed hair. I'd never seen her in the flesh before and she appeared to be a size sub-zero and wore sunglasses as soon as the lights came on. I'm normally not wowed by famous people, but I was terrified to go up and meet her when I had the chance.
At a small VIP gathering after, I sipped champagne and rubbed shoulders with a gracious, slightly self-deprecating Calvin Klein who has clearly veered from the bisexual vibe from his Studio 54 days to 100% gay. Up close, the years have not been kind to him and I felt his energy depleted. I choose to mostly observe the photographers who snapped relentlessly, guests who vied to be photographed with him and who tugged and pulled for pieces of his soul. Once outside and headed to his car he patiently signed autographs while a battle between iPhone cameras and paparazzi ensued. Finally, in an exasperated old man voice, he pleaded, "I have to go." and slipped inside the sleek black BMW.
I missed out on getting a great shot but I couldn't do it. From a respectful distance and no flash, I leave you with this and a quote by Thoreau: "Rather than love, money, or fame, give me truth."
Truth is what another designer is after. I was at a fashion show and opening party (sipping champagne again yesterday for Elie Tahari's new shop in Bloomingdales. Elie is only a few years younger than Calvin, but his energy is vibrant, earnest and true. After wishing him well, he took my hands in his and said, I'm sending this light back to you."
I couldn't help comparing Elie Tahari to Calvin Klein, not as a designer but as a home renovator. Elie is passionately involved of a mega home renovation as well on the heels of a well publicized divorce. A house or a home is symbolic of who we are at our core. In Jungian dream analysis, a house always represents parts of ourselves. I believe that renovating, decorating, fixing up or tearing down are ways of working on aspects of ourselves in an attempt to heal wounded parts. I'd love to see those two completed projects and learn whether those two men are happier as a result.
In the subway, a drummer set up his kit to play, tired passengers leaned on steel girders and a father's shoulder...
An increasing rarity: a pay phone.
Exit at 96th Street. No, not up those stairs...
New York is walker's city. Every block has its own charms.
A short stroll and window browse later...the 92nd Street Y auditorium
for an intimate exchange on stage between with Fern Mallis, creator of New York “Fashion Week” and fashion icon Calvin Klein. For two hours she quizzed her old pal in a rare interview about fashion then and his life now. He's retired from designing and has turned to a new passion: architecture; specifically designing his own home. At 68, he sounded weathered and tempered by years in recovery and therapy.
“I don’t think addiction is caused by stress on the job. It has more to do with childhood issues or other things; people in the industry use their work, but it's not that.” When asked about if seeing his name everywhere was weird when he no longer designs for the company that he sold. He said he was always able to separate his name from the brand. "Sometimes when I see the visuals, I think if I were doing that I would do it differently — but I'm not. If I can't control it, why get upset about it?"
I found his candor about his life, including his current relationship with a 21-year-old male model Nick Gruber refreshing. “I fell in love with a wonderful young man."
I'd read about the big blow-out bash Klein had footed for Gruber's 21st birthday a year ago. The blogosphere tittered and twittered unkindly about the young man, whom I observed riveted in the fourth row with two blonde male look-a-likes. He never took his eyes off Klein. The same couldn't be said about Vogue's Anna Wintour and an icon in her own right with her instantly recognizable bobbed hair. I'd never seen her in the flesh before and she appeared to be a size sub-zero and wore sunglasses as soon as the lights came on. I'm normally not wowed by famous people, but I was terrified to go up and meet her when I had the chance.
At a small VIP gathering after, I sipped champagne and rubbed shoulders with a gracious, slightly self-deprecating Calvin Klein who has clearly veered from the bisexual vibe from his Studio 54 days to 100% gay. Up close, the years have not been kind to him and I felt his energy depleted. I choose to mostly observe the photographers who snapped relentlessly, guests who vied to be photographed with him and who tugged and pulled for pieces of his soul. Once outside and headed to his car he patiently signed autographs while a battle between iPhone cameras and paparazzi ensued. Finally, in an exasperated old man voice, he pleaded, "I have to go." and slipped inside the sleek black BMW.
I missed out on getting a great shot but I couldn't do it. From a respectful distance and no flash, I leave you with this and a quote by Thoreau: "Rather than love, money, or fame, give me truth."
Truth is what another designer is after. I was at a fashion show and opening party (sipping champagne again yesterday for Elie Tahari's new shop in Bloomingdales. Elie is only a few years younger than Calvin, but his energy is vibrant, earnest and true. After wishing him well, he took my hands in his and said, I'm sending this light back to you."
I couldn't help comparing Elie Tahari to Calvin Klein, not as a designer but as a home renovator. Elie is passionately involved of a mega home renovation as well on the heels of a well publicized divorce. A house or a home is symbolic of who we are at our core. In Jungian dream analysis, a house always represents parts of ourselves. I believe that renovating, decorating, fixing up or tearing down are ways of working on aspects of ourselves in an attempt to heal wounded parts. I'd love to see those two completed projects and learn whether those two men are happier as a result.
Posted by Layla Morgan Wilde at 10/20/2011 12:00 AM 
Categories: Design, Baby Boomers, Media, New York, Photography, Spirituality
Tags: Harlem 125th street subway crrumbs bake shop-upper east side-NY mallis-clavin klein fern mallis- calvin klein nick gruber-calvin klein nick gruber-calvin klein-2011 harlem calvin Klein Anna Wintour quote-thoreau-fame elie tahari-light truth seeker-bloomingdales calvin klein-rare interview-oct. 2011
Categories: Design, Baby Boomers, Media, New York, Photography, Spirituality
Tags: Harlem 125th street subway crrumbs bake shop-upper east side-NY mallis-clavin klein fern mallis- calvin klein nick gruber-calvin klein nick gruber-calvin klein-2011 harlem calvin Klein Anna Wintour quote-thoreau-fame elie tahari-light truth seeker-bloomingdales calvin klein-rare interview-oct. 2011
Wow, what a fabulous evening you had. I wouldn't go into Harlem at night, but you had a marvelous time. Interesting, so interesting to know all that about Klein, Tahari and Wintour. Just fascinating.
Reply to this
Parts of Harlem are gentrified and no different from the upper east side, but other parts remain gritty. Did you know Bill Clinton's office is in Harlem?
Reply to this
Yes, I did know that about Bill's office, but I had forgotten. I was in Harlem once, accidentally, in the 70s, wearing a Raccoon coat. I was lost. But people there were very nice. John ran the NY marathon twice and the time I was there with him in 83, he dropped out in Harlem (fatigue, too much rain) and the guys in Harlem were high-fiving him. I have only visited NY about 20 times but never lived there, so I am a bit wary about parts I don't know well.
Reply to this
Thank you ! what a wonderful story and best of all for me a re visit to New York City. AS a teenager I lived on Staten Island. But have not been back in many many years. Thank you for the visit.
Reply to this
Glad you enjoyed it. More NY pics tomorrow.
Reply to this
Best. Blog. Ever.
Really. From Van Gogh to Fern Mallis to Calvin Klein to Elie Tahari -- and the notions of the self, and finally The Truth.
Just give me some truth now.
Well done, Layla.
Reply to this
Thanks so much.
Reply to this
What a wonderful post. I felt like I was there alongside you and I definitely feel like I would have reacted the same way you did.
I especially love: "I believe that renovating, decorating, fixing up or tearing down are ways of working on aspects of ourselves in an attempt to heal wounded parts." So true and a great metaphor.
I wasn't always a cat writer and actually wrote a conscious/spiritual parenting column in a local holistic publication for a couple of years. I love your writing style.
Thanks for the wonderful post -- I enjoyed reading it!
Reply to this