The Men Who Made Calvin Klein
There’s a certain type of man you think of when someone says “Calvin Klein.” He’s confident but quiet. Strong but never showy. Effortlessly cool. And usually, yeah—he’s wearing nothing but boxer briefs.
For decades, Calvin Klein has chosen male models who aren’t just good-looking but magnetic. These are the guys who don’t need to say much. Their presence says it all. Whether it’s an intense stare in a grainy black-and-white photo or the way they casually pull on a pair of jeans—these men have shaped the look, feel, and soul of the brand.
Let’s talk about them—not just the abs and chiseled jaws, but the energy they brought to a fashion house that turned underwear into a cultural moment.
Mark Wahlberg: The Blueprint
Long before he became a Hollywood staple, Mark Wahlberg was just a 20-year-old rapper with a six-pack and a little too much attitude. When Calvin Klein tapped him for their 1992 underwear campaign, paired with the waifish Kate Moss, it was lightning in a bottle. The image—shot by Herb Ritts—was raw, sweaty, and a little bit aggressive. People didn’t know what to make of it. And that was the point.
Wahlberg’s ads didn’t just sell underwear—they sold an idea: that masculinity could be both vulnerable and provocative. He wasn’t some polished pretty boy. He looked like the guy you might actually know. That campaign changed fashion advertising forever and launched Wahlberg into the kind of fame very few models ever see.
Antonio Sabàto Jr.: The 90s Dreamboat
If you were around in the early 90s, chances are you saw Antonio Sabàto Jr.’s Calvin Klein ads plastered across bus stops, billboards, and magazine pages. There was something smoldering about him—those cheekbones, that gaze. He wasn’t rough like Wahlberg, but his presence had a softness that made him feel accessible.
Antonio’s campaigns weren’t just about underwear. They were about fantasy. He was the Italian-American heartthrob that seemed like he walked straight off a soap opera (and in fact, he did). But in CK ads, he was something more—almost mythic.
Travis Fimmel: The Wild Card
Then came Travis. A barefoot, blue-eyed farm kid from Australia who’d never modeled a day in his life. Calvin Klein didn’t care. They saw something in him—and they were right.
Fimmel’s ads in the early 2000s had that perfect mix of vulnerability and sex appeal. There was a boyishness to him, but also something untamed. He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed and didn’t care what anyone thought. That made him unforgettable.
Fun fact: His billboards reportedly caused traffic jams in Times Square. Yeah. That kind of unforgettable.
Jamie Dornan: Before the Grey
Before the world knew him as Christian Grey, Jamie Dornan was one of Calvin Klein’s most striking male models. His campaign with Eva Mendes wasn’t flashy—it was moody, restrained, and kind of hypnotic. There’s a stillness to Jamie in those ads, a quiet confidence that speaks louder than any flexed muscle ever could.
Dornan was the opposite of Wahlberg in many ways, but that’s what made it work. Calvin Klein doesn’t just cast bodies—they cast vibes.
The New Class: Elordi, Fike & Beyond
Calvin Klein’s most recent campaigns have a different flavor. Less bravado, more introspection. Jacob Elordi—tall, lanky, and charming—represents a new kind of masculinity. One that’s stylish, maybe a little awkward, and not afraid to be soft.
Dominic Fike, with his tattoos and indie musician aura, brings something completely fresh to the brand. He’s not the typical model type, and that’s what makes him so Calvin. There’s always been a bit of rebellion in the brand’s DNA, and Fike fits right into that legacy.
So What Is the Calvin Klein Man, Really?
He’s not one thing.
He can be ripped or lean, scruffy or clean-cut. He can be a rapper, an actor, a skateboarder, or a poet. What he always is, though, is confident in his own skin.
That’s what Calvin Klein sells, more than clothes or cologne or underwear: comfort with yourself. The ads might look effortless, but behind every stare and every slouch is a message. “This is who I am. Take it or leave it.”
More Than Just a Pretty Face
Sure, the photos are iconic. But what makes these campaigns matter isn’t just the aesthetic—it’s the impact. These men helped shift how society sees male beauty. They made it okay for men to care about fashion, grooming, and how they present themselves. They showed that strength isn’t always loud and that confidence doesn’t always need a six-pack (although, let’s be real, that didn’t hurt).
Final Thoughts
There’s something kind of timeless about a Calvin Klein ad. Maybe it’s the lighting. Maybe it’s the styling. But more than anything, it’s the men—each one bringing a different take on what it means to be bold, sexy, and unapologetically human.
Whether you’re looking at a billboard in 1992 or scrolling past an Instagram ad today, the Calvin Klein man leaves an impression. He always has. And chances are, he always will.
