Inside Calvin Klein’s private relationship with beau Kevin Baker – who is less than half his age
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Calvin Klein was spotted out on a rare lunch date with his longtime boyfriend Kevin Baker on Saturday.
The iconic designer, 79, and the model, 34, stepped out to grab food together at Mauro’s Cafe in West Hollywood ahead of Father’s Day, with Calvin keeping it casual in a pair of blue jeans, a long-sleeve grey top, and sneakers and his beau looking handsome as ever in a form-fitting dark green shirt and khaki pants.
The Calvin Klein Inc. founder has been dating Kevin – who is less than half his age – for nearly six years now, but the couple has done their best to keep their high profile romance under wraps.
Calvin and his younger boyfriend were spotted for the first time back in 2016, and they have since been photographed taking lavish trips together around the world and attending various elite red carpet events side by side.
But despite Kevin often coming as the fashion mogul’s plus one to coveted runway shows, award shows, and star-studded parties, the two have never spoken out about their relationship to the public, so much of their love story is quite the mystery to fans.
So who exactly is Calvin’s boyfriend, how long have they been together, and how did they meet? FEMAIL has taken a dive inside their very private relationship – as well as Calvin’s past romances – and broke down everything we know about the notoriously secret couple.
Who exactly is Calvin’s boyfriend, how long have they been together, and how did they meet? FEMAIL has taken a dive inside his very private relationship with Kevin Baker. The couple is seen together in 2016
From his current boyfriend to his previous flings, here’s everything you need to know about the 79-year-old designer’s love life. Calvin is pictured in 2018
Before dating Kevin, Calvin was linked to a former porn star named Nick Gruber – who like Kevin, was almost 50 years younger than him – and often made headlines for his wild partying and drug use.
It’s been reported that things ultimately ended for the pair after Nick was arrested for cocaine possession and sent to rehab.
After their split, Nick threatened to share Calvin’s intimate secrets in a tell-all book about their two-year relationship, but ultimately decided to pull the plug on the tell-all memoir.
Before that, Calvin was married twice – first to his high school sweetheart Jayne Centre, with whom he welcomed a daughter, and second to his former design assistant Kelly Rector.
From his current boyfriend to his previous flings, here’s everything you need to know about the 79-year-old designer’s love life.
Calvin Klein’s current boyfriend, 34-year-old model Kevin Baker
Kevin is a model and actor, who – according to NewnOwnNext.com – hails from Spokane, Washington. His IMDB lists one acting credit – a role in the 2012 short called The Long Distance Operator. He and Calvin are seen in 2016
It’s unfortunately unclear how or when they first met, but Calvin and Kevin were publicly spotted together for the first time on March 30, 2016, at the Mint Luxury Conference in Mumbai, India (pictured)
They were then seen leaving the Broadway Opening Night Performance of American Psycho in New York City on April 21, 2016 (pictured). After that, they sat together at the 2016 Future of Fashion Runway Show on May 5, 2016
Kevin is a model and actor, who – according to NewnOwnNext.com – hails from Spokane, Washington. His IMDB lists one acting credit – a role in the 2012 short called The Long Distance Operator.
It’s unfortunately unclear how or when they first met, but Calvin and Kevin were publicly spotted together for the first time on March 30, 2016, at the Mint Luxury Conference in Mumbai, India.
They were then seen leaving the Broadway Opening Night Performance of American Psycho in New York City on April 21, 2016. After that, they sat together at the 2016 Future of Fashion Runway Show on May 5, 2016.
Kevin was also by the designer’s side at the 2016 U.S. Open on September 7, 2016. They made their official red carpet debut at the American Ballet Theatre 2016 Fall Gala on October 20, 2016.
Kevin was also by the designer’s side at the 2016 U.S. Open on September 7, 2016 (pictured). They made their official red carpet debut at the American Ballet Theatre 2016 Fall Gala on October 20, 2016
The two do their best to keep their romance out of the spotlight – they have never spoke publicly about their relationship and Kevin doesn’t use any social media. The couple is seen in March 2021
Throughout 2017, they were spotted on a number of lavish vacations together – including a trip to the Caribbean island St. Barts, where photographers caught them soaking up the sun on the beach, and a getaway to the Hamptons in New York, where they were pictured getting off a helicopter ride together.
NewnOwnNext reported that Kevin – who has has a twin brother named Joel, who is also a model – once appeared in an ‘x-rated video’ but didn’t share any other details.
The two do their best to keep their romance out of the spotlight – they have never spoke publicly about their relationship and Kevin doesn’t use any social media.
Throughout much of 2021, they were seen grabbing lunch and dinner together throughout Los Angeles and Hollywood, with their most recent outing proving that they’re still going strong.
Calvin’s past relationship with former porn star Nick Gruber
Before Kevin, Calvin dated a former porn star named Nick Gruber for two years. Nick, who grew up in the foster system in Florida while his mother served time in prison, reportedly met Calvin through mutual friends. They are seen together in 2010
According to the New York Post, Calvin became enamored with Nick after coming across a photo of him which he said ‘looked like a younger version of himself.’ The couple is pictured together in 2011
Before Kevin, Calvin dated a former porn star named Nick from 2010 to 2012. Nick, who grew up in the foster system in Florida while his mother served time in prison, reportedly met Calvin through mutual friends.
According to the New York Post, Calvin became enamored with Nick after coming across a photo of him which he said ‘looked like a younger version of himself.’
The two (seen in 2010) began living in New York City together, with Nick moving into Calvin’s $20 million penthouse on Greenwich Street in Manhattan. According to the outlet, Calvin helped Nick get a job at a restaurant, introduced him to a modeling agent, and even proposed marriage during their relationship
The outlet reported that the two – who had a 46-year age gap – first started their relationship by ‘sexting,’ before they eventually met in person after Calvin sent Nick a private jet to fly him from Kansas – where he was living at the time – to the Hamptons.
‘For my part, I really had no idea who [Calvin] was. Although I guess I didn’t realize it at the time, I grew up pretty poor,’ Nick recalled in his memoir, which was never released but the Post obtained a copy of the book’s proposal.
‘I wasn’t wearing designer labels unless they could be found on the racks of Walmart and even then I was hardly paying attention to the name inside my underwear.’
In the Hamptons, Nick said Calvin introduced him to his friends, which was a ‘big deal.’ He continued, ‘I later found out that this was a big deal for Calvin. He had never introduced a guy to any of his friends before.
‘Right from the very start Calvin was treating me as if I were his boyfriend. He was happy to show me off in public and I felt like a boyfriend too. It was a new feeling for me! I knew my life was about to change forever.’
The two began living in New York City together, with Nick moving into Calvin’s $20 million penthouse on Greenwich Street in Manhattan.
‘In a scene straight out of Pygmalion, Calvin goes to work transforming his love interest,’ his book proposal read, according to the Post.
‘Nick gets new clothes, a new hairstyle and teeth. There were meetings with a steroid doctor to help him keep his lean and pumped look. His skin was resurfaced and he even gets speech therapy to upgrade his speaking style.’
According to the outlet, Calvin helped Nick get a job at a restaurant, introduced him to a modeling agent, and even proposed marriage during their relationship.
When Nick turned 21 in January 2011, Calvin threw him a star-studded birthday bash attended by numerous A-list celebrities including Anna Wintour, Vera Wang, and Alec Baldwin.
However, the Post claimed that things started to turn sour between them after Calvin started to disapprove of Nick’s partying lifestyle and cut off his $10,000-a-month allowance.
However, the Post claimed that things started to turn sour between them after Calvin started to disapprove of Nick’s partying lifestyle and cut off his $10,000-a-month allowance. They are seen in December 2010
The romance officially fizzled out in April 2012, when Nick got arrested for assault and cocaine possession. Afterwards, the model was checked into to an Arizona rehabilitation center. The pair is pictured in October 2011 – months before the split
The romance officially fizzled out in April 2012, when Nick got arrested for assault and cocaine possession.
Afterwards, the model was checked into to an Arizona rehabilitation center. Rumors circulated at the time that Calvin was paying for the rehab, and had flown him there via private jet.
‘Calvin feels very protective over him. Despite all that has happened, and everything he’s done, he still loves Nick,’ a source told Page Six at the time.
After their breakup, it was announced that Nick was working on a book titled Obsession: My Life With Calvin Klein, where he reportedly planned on sharing intimate details on their two-year romance.
His new boyfriend at the time told the Post, ‘Nick has more of Calvin’s secrets than the NSA. Calvin took back everything he ever gave him [including a $250,000 Bentley], and Nick was pissed.’
Nick later decided not to release the tell-all memoir, however, he did speak candidly about his relationship with the fashion mogul in a series of interviews after it was over, and he claimed that Calvin once made him take a lie-detector test after he suspected Nick was cheating on him.
Recalling the incident, he told Page Six: ‘I passed it. And then, you know, things were much better. But I mean, what kind of partner would make you take a lie detector test? I was like, “Did you ever cheat on me, Calvin?” I never cheated on him.’
He also opened up about being ‘the first man’ that Calvin fell in love with.
‘I was the first man [Calvin] fell in love with. I don’t know why, but there’s, like, something about me that attracts everyone,’ he said. ‘I have a nickname called Romeo. I get every girl, and even guys. Something about me draws them all in.’
Despite being in an ‘exclusive’ relationship with Calvin for more than two years, Nick told the outlet that he was ‘straight.’ He also told New York Magazine in a later interview, ‘I’m not gay, but I don’t believe in labels, I believe in love.’
Inside his marriage to his design assistant, Kelly Rector
Kelly Rector served as Calvin’s design assistant and close friend for several years, before things turned romantic between them. The pair (pictured in 1976) tied the knot in September 1986 in Rome, Italy
After their wedding, Kelly (pictured with Calvin in 1984) couldn’t stop gushing over Calvin during an interview with the New York Times. She said, ‘I love everything he does. He’s just the best guy in the world. I am his muse’
A biography written by Steven Gaines and Sharon Churcher about Calvin was the first to report that their marriage had gone south, claiming that the designer was bisexual and that the couple (pictured in the 1990s) was living separate lives
Kelly served as Calvin’s design assistant and was his close friend for several years, before things turned romantic between them.
They tied the knot in September 1986 in Rome, Italy, at the historic and stunning Campidoglio City Hall.
The couple officially split up in August 1996 – after nine years of marriage – but remained friends. ‘They remain extraordinarily respectful of each other,’ a spokesperson said at the time. They intend to make every effort possible to work out any issue between them but in any event intend to remain the closest of friends as they are’
According to the Washington Post, Kelly – who is the daughter of a former Vogue cover girl and an acclaimed TV commercial director – graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York before landing a job with Ralph Lauren. She then joined Calvin’s design team.
After their wedding, Kelly – who stopped working for him to pursue a career in photography – couldn’t stop gushing over Calvin during an interview with the New York Times.
‘I love him,’ she said. ‘I love everything he does. He’s just the best guy in the world. I am his muse. I happen to be very American, look very American. That helps, to fit right into his sense of design and style.’
A biography written by Steven Gaines and Sharon Churcher about Calvin was the first to report that their marriage had gone south, with the authors claiming in the book that the designer was bisexual and that the couple was living separate lives.
‘Some intimates see the marriage as a happy compromise,’ the book read. ‘Others, an uneasy truce… Life cannot be easy for either of them.’
The couple officially split up in August 1996 – after nine years of marriage – but remained friends.
‘Calvin and Kelly Klein have made a joint decision to separate,’ a spokesperson told UPI at the time. ‘They remain extraordinarily respectful of each other.
‘They intend to make every effort possible to work out any issue between them but in any event intend to remain the closest of friends as they are today.’
Kelly made headlines in 2007 when it was revealed that she was having a baby at age 50 via surrogate – using her eggs and the sperm of a friend.
The designer’s first love, high school sweetheart Jayne Centre
Calvin married a textile designer named Jayne Centre in 1964, and together, they welcomed a daughter named Marci Klein in 1967. Calvin is pictured with Marci in 2001
Vanity Fair reported that Calvin and Jayne went to the same high school in the Bronx and started dating when they were just teens. Calvin is seen with his and Jayne’s daughter in 2009
After they wed, the couple moved to Forest Hills Queen, where they raised Marci (pictured in 2005). But while Calvin worked hard on launching his fashion business, Vanity Fair reported that it left little time for his wife. The couple split in 1974, after 10 years together
Calvin married a textile designer named Jayne Centre in 1964, and together, they welcomed a daughter named Marci Klein in 1967.
Marci went on to become a TV producer who is best known for her work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock and has won four Emmy Awards for her work.
Since their relationship happened before Calvin was skyrocketed into the spotlight, there isn’t much information on his and Jayne’s marriage.
Vanity Fair reported that they went to the same high school in the Bronx and started dating when they were just teens.
‘The early years of their courtship involved the usual dating rituals, a movie and a bite,’ the outlet wrote. ‘Jayne was smart and artsy, and they both wanted some kind of artistic life.’
They went on to both attend F.I.T. together before tying the knot at the Hampshire House hotel in New York City. After they wed, the couple moved to Forest Hills Queen, and while Calvin worked hard on launching his fashion business, Vanity Fair reported that it left little time for his wife.
‘There was many a night without Calvin. The days were long – 18 hours was not unusual – and Calvin often slept at [his office],’ it explained.
Calvin and Jayne’s daughter, Marci, told the outlet in 2008, ‘”Hippies” is not the right word for [my parents], but they were artsy.
‘The apartment didn’t look like other people’s. It had white wood floors and all white walls. They weren’t like anybody else’s [parents].’
The couple split in 1974, after 10 years together, with Calvin later stating, ‘We were kids. We grew in different directions.’
