More About Calvin Klein:

Calvin Klein was born Richer Klein on November 19, 1942 in Bronx, New York. He attended the High School of Industrial Art and went on to graduate from New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. Klein became a prot?g? of Baron de Gunzburg and with his help launched his popularity in the New York elite fashion scene. Klein said of being his prot?g?, ?He was truly the greatest inspiration of my life?he was my mentor, I was his prot?g?. If you talk about a person with style and true elegance?maybe I'm being a snob, but I'll tell you, there was no one like him. I used to think, boy, did he put me through hell sometimes, but boy, was I lucky. I was so lucky to have known him so well for so long.?

Klein and his best friend from childhood, Barry Schwartz, later went on to launch Calvin Klein Ltd., a coat shop in the York Hotel. It is believed that a buyer from Bonwit Teller got off the elevator on the wrong floor and ended up purchasing a $50,000 order. This was the biggest turning point in Klein's fashion career and led to his first collection of men and women's coats.

Following this Klein went on to expand his collection to include sportswear, jeans, hosiery and accessories. In 1985, Calvin Klein Cosmetics Company was formed and later launched Obsession. Klein said of Obsession, ?I wanted to evoke the sensuality and sexual ardor of an impassioned woman.? Obsession was such a popular fragrance it won the Fifi award for ?the most successful woman's fragrance?. Since this Klein has launched several other perfumes such as Eternity and CK One. Eternity was created to celebrate his wedding and has its notes drawn from a bouquet of roses. CK One is a unisex eau de toilette with a green-tea accord.

Calvin Klein is one of the leaders in fashion and fragrances. Each perfume that Klein has launched has won a Fifi award.