| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| HTA ID | HTA-0448 |
| Title | Calvin Klein in Paris — Fashion Week Interview |
| Date | c. 1980–1981 |
| Date Confidence | MODERATE — PM Magazine France Week; Calvin Klein was at the height of his fame in 1980–81 (jeans campaign era); he mentions upcoming children's line launching in June |
| Program | PM Magazine (Paris/France Week) |
| Station | WDVM-TV (formerly WTOP-TV), Channel 9, Washington DC |
| Duration | ~8:00 (estimated) |
| Format | Celebrity profile / Interview |
Henry interviews fashion designer Calvin Klein in Paris during a fashion show. The interview covers Klein's philosophy of design, his background growing up in the Bronx, and his view of fashion as meaningful rather than superficial. Klein describes his approach: taking the structure of a jacket and making "casual, contemporary, modern, very male clothes."
Klein reveals he always knew what he wanted to do — sketching at five years old, in special art classes in high school, coming from a middle-class Bronx background to become famous. He tells Henry: "This is really the American dream... this kind of success that I believe can only happen in this country. You don't have to be born into wealth in this country."
The piece includes behind-the-scenes footage of the fashion show preparation — 19 people from New York pulling the show together, Christian (hairstylist) doing the models' hair, and Klein's attention to every detail. Klein addresses the criticism that fashion is superficial: "I used to think that a lot... but then I came to realize that what I do affects a lot of people."
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| People | Henry Tenenbaum (interviewer), Calvin Klein (fashion designer), Christian (hairstylist) |
| Organizations | WDVM-TV, PM Magazine, Calvin Klein Inc. |
| Locations | Paris, France (fashion show venue) |
| Subjects | Fashion, design, celebrity, American dream, entrepreneurship |
| Themes | Art vs. commerce, American success story, creativity, self-made wealth |
| Tone | Admiring, substantive, behind-the-scenes |
"This is really the American dream. This is the sort of thing, this kind of success that I believe can only happen in this country. You don't have to be born into wealth in this country."
"I used to think that a lot, and I had a lot of difficulty with that, because for a time, I was thinking, I'm doing something that's really not very important. But then I came to realize that what I do affects a lot of people."
"If you could put on clothes that make you feel really nice, your whole attitude changes. It brings a smile to your face, and if I can do that, I think that's not bad."
Shot backstage and during a Calvin Klein fashion show in Paris. The interview is substantive — Henry draws out Klein's personal philosophy rather than just showing clothes. The behind-the-scenes access (19-person crew, hairstylist, model preparation) suggests significant production coordination. Klein mentions his daughter doing a biography of him, and his upcoming children's jeans line launching in June — useful for dating. Part of PM Magazine's France Week alongside the Champagne Cellars story.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Series | PM Magazine France/Paris Week |
| Related | HTA-0447 Champagne Cellars of Reims (same tape, same week) |
| Era | PM Magazine/WDVM period (1979–1981) |
| Theme | Celebrity interviews (see also Dustin Hoffman, various profiles) |
| Tape | HN_36 — Paris week tape |
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Source File | HN_36 Paris.txt |
| Alternate Files | None identified |
| Source Location | /transcript_working/!transcript macwhisper/ |
| Transcription Quality | Good — clear interview audio, some ambient fashion show noise |
| Repository Status | Preserved |
Calvin Klein was at the peak of his cultural influence in 1980–81, following the controversial Brooke Shields jeans campaign ("Nothing comes between me and my Calvins"). His mention of a children's line launching in June likely refers to Calvin Klein Kids, which launched in 1981. The interview is notable for its depth — Henry gets Klein to reflect on meaning, class, and the American dream rather than just discussing fashion. Klein's Bronx background and self-made success story resonated with the PM Magazine audience. This is one of Henry's most significant celebrity interviews from the PM Magazine era.