Where is Kelly Klein now? The former muse and ex-wife of fashion icon Calvin Klein has built a fascinating life beyond the runway. From her beginnings as a design assistant to her current pursuits in photography, ceramics, and equestrian life, Kelly’s story is one of reinvention and quiet success.
Who Is Kelly Klein?
Where is Kelly Klein now begins with understanding where she started. Born Kelly Rector, she graduated from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and began working as a design assistant at Ralph Lauren. Her path to Calvin Klein wasn’t straightforward—he initially turned her down for a job.
Fate intervened at Studio 54. Kelly ran into Calvin, and the next morning, he offered her a position as assistant designer. She started in 1981, they began dating shortly after, and married in Rome in 1986. For years, she served as his muse and helped create iconic moments for the brand, including designing men’s underwear for women that generated $70 million in sales in 1984 alone.
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Her Marriage to Calvin Klein
Where is Kelly Klein now connects to a 20-year marriage that produced both business success and personal magic. “My whole life changed with Calvin,” she told Vanity Fair in 2008. “He would walk into the room, and it was just like the lights went on. The movie started every single day.”
Former Calvin Klein employee John Calcagno recalled their connection: “It was some kind of magic. He fell in love with her and she madly with him.”
They separated after a decade but remained close friends. Their divorce was finalized in April 2006. The following year, Kelly welcomed son Lukas via surrogate.
Her Photography Career
Where is Kelly Klein now includes a successful pivot behind the camera. After years in fashion, Kelly transitioned to photography. Her work has appeared in British Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Interview magazine. She has shot advertising campaigns for hotels and published six coffee table photography books.
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Her Ceramics Business and Current Life
Where is Kelly Klein now finds her splitting time between Palm Beach, Florida, and the Hamptons. She launched her own ceramics company, channeling her design sensibility into handmade pieces. She told Architectural Digest in August 2025 that she’s prioritizing time with son Lukas before he heads to college.
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Her Friendship With Calvin Today
Where is Kelly Klein now proves that divorce doesn’t have to mean distance. Kelly and Calvin have maintained a genuine friendship, even posing for photos together during New York Fashion Week in February 2025—nearly two decades after their divorce finalized.
Their enduring connection, creative partnership, and mutual respect offer a refreshing example of how relationships can evolve rather than end.
Source Information:
This article is based on Vanity Fair’s 2008 profile, Elizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Architectural Digest (August 2025), Equestrian Living, and FX’s Love Story series.
Watch Love Story: FX on Hulu
Read Vanity Fair: The Kelly Klein Story
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