“I think it’s more fun when you have a reputation but people don’t know everything about you,” Calvin Klein told Playboy in 1984. “A little mystery isn’t such a bad thing.”
For decades, the famously private designer has largely stayed away from the spotlight, particularly since selling his fashion company in 2003.
That privacy has only deepened public curiosity. At 83, Klein has recently become the focus of speculation surrounding his health and his long-running relationship with younger partner Kevin Baker, 37.
Klein, who founded his namesake label in 1968, prompted concern after being photographed alone in New York City on Sunday. His unusually pale and slender appearance led some people online to describe him as “skeletal” and compare him to the “walking dead.”
However, a fashion insider told Our News Outlet that although Klein “looks really frail,” he remains physically strong because he exercises every day.
“He is simply extremely thin, and he is comfortable with that,” the source claimed, adding that “everyone in his circle is super thin. That is just the way they are.”
“He believes thin is in.”
Calvin Klein has faced renewed speculation about his health after appearing frail during a rare outing in New York City, pictured on November 1
“He looks really frail, but he is still strong from working out every day,” a fashion insider told Our News Outlet. “He is just super thin, which he is fine with” — Klein pictured in his youth
The insider said Klein does not even rely on a cane, calling that “incredible for a man in his 80s.” If he ever needed one, however, they suggested he might be reluctant to use it.
“He is stubborn and refuses to stay home like an old man,” the source said.
“He is still very active. He attends fashion events and parties, wants to remain current, and enjoys the celebrity lifestyle. He likes spending time with designers and friends such as Christy Turlington and Kate Moss when he is in New York City.”
“In Los Angeles, he is constantly meeting actors and producers. He loves his life, wants to dine at the best restaurants, and enjoy himself.”
“He does not want to retreat because his ego is enormous. He is one of the world’s biggest fashion stars, so he feels he should be out with his friends and part of the scene.”
Klein’s youthful social life has also been associated with Baker, the model who is 46 years younger than him.
“His boyfriend is handsome and young, and Calvin enjoys that,” the source said. “It appeals to his ego.”
The pair reportedly met in 2016 and were first photographed together that March at the Mint Luxury Conference in Mumbai, India. They have remained closely connected ever since, dividing their time in Hollywood while revealing very little about their private life. Public appearances together have been relatively rare.
Last year, the two attracted attention when they arrived at a New York City party. Klein appeared unsettled by the camera flashes and seemed to stumble, while Baker continued into the venue.
He maintains his youthful social circle by spending time with A-list friends including Christy Turlington and Kate Moss, pictured together in 2025
Klein’s younger model partner Kevin Baker, 37, is also said to contribute to his youthful lifestyle. The pair have been together since 2016, pictured in October 2016
“He is stubborn and refuses to stay home like an old man,” the source said of 83-year-old Klein, pictured in February 2025
According to the insider, Klein and Baker’s connection has evolved from a romantic relationship into one based more on companionship.
“They are just friends at this point,” the source claimed. “It is more a relationship built around image and comfort. Calvin wants to appear virile and relevant, and having his boyfriend beside him helps with that.”
Another source rejected any suggestion that Baker is exploiting Klein.
KEEP READING: Egyptian TV Star Begs for Mercy After Death Sentence in Drug Case
“Calvin is very old, and his boyfriend likely understands that there could be significant benefits to being with someone like him,” the source said. “But that does not automatically mean he is taking advantage of him.”
“They have been together for years, and Calvin would recognize it if something dishonest were happening.”
The source also said the relationship should be considered from Klein’s point of view.
“He has lived an extraordinary life, has more money than he could ever need, and is not sitting around worrying about what his boyfriend may or may not gain from the relationship,” they said. “He is not helpless, he is not being coerced, and he remains firmly in control of his own life. Kevin understands that.”
Before Baker, Klein was romantically involved with much younger model Nicolas Gruber from 2010 to 2012. He was previously married to Kelly Rector from 1986 until 2006, and before that to Jayne Centre, with whom he shares daughter Marci Klein. Their marriage lasted from 1964 to 1974. Marci, 59, has two children with her former husband, Scott Murphy.
In a previous interview with Vanity Fair, Klein said: “I’ve had sex with men and women. I’ve fallen in love with women. I have experienced many things that have shaped my world.”
During the 1970s, Klein was a familiar presence at Studio 54, where he socialized with figures including actor John Travolta and artist Andy Warhol. His famously hedonistic lifestyle, however, now appears to belong to another era.
The insider said Klein and Baker’s relationship has shifted from romance to companionship: “They are just friends at this point. It’s more a relationship for image and comfort,” pictured together in December 2016
Before Baker, Klein dated Nick Gruber, pictured together in 2010
Klein was previously married to Kelly Rector, pictured, from 1986 until 2006. Before that, he was married to Jayne Centre from 1964 to 1974, and they share daughter Marci Klein, 59, who has two children with former husband Scott Murphy
“He was once heavily dependent on drugs and alcohol, until he entered rehab in the late 1980s,” the insider said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Klein entered the Hazelden Foundation in Center City, Minnesota, in May 1988 for treatment related to alcohol and prescription drug abuse.
Today, he reportedly spends much of his time practicing yoga and drinking green smoothies beside the pool at his $25 million Hollywood Hills home. He has enjoyed a quieter lifestyle since selling his company to Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, now known as PVH Corp, for approximately $700 million in 2003. Three years later, he stepped away from his position as a creative consultant. The health-conscious routine has earned him the nickname “Calvin clean.”
“He eats very little, and his diet is organic, natural, and healthy,” the fashion insider said. “He is careful about what he eats and drinks because he wants to live to 100.”
The source also insisted that there is more to Klein, who turns 84 later this month, than his guarded public image suggests.
“Calvin is not a bad person. He is kind, friendly, and intelligent,” the source said. “Many people do not know that because he rarely gives interviews and is extremely private.”
“He is a wonderful father to Marci and adores his grandchildren. Family matters to him, and it is a side of Calvin that few people get to see. He is Grandpa Calv.”
The insider added that Klein’s warmth exists alongside a formidable sense of self-importance.
“Even though he is a great guy, he definitely has an ego. He is always the biggest presence in the room. You can feel his power, and I believe he thrives on it.”
That confidence also appears to shield him from criticism.
“Calvin does not read negative comments about himself,” the source said. “He does not want to hear what ordinary people think while he is living in a world of privilege.”
“People can be very cruel about his appearance, but he is an older man. What do they expect? He is aging, and he cannot stop that.”
The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Klein for comment.
