Calvin Klein Enlists Moonlight Cast for Latest Provocative Underwear Campaign
Calvin Klein enlists Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes and Alex Hibbert, for Raf Simon’s first underwear campaign.
The world went to bed Sunday night knowing Moonlight won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It awoke this morning to find that the movie’s cast are the latest faces of Calvin Klein Underwear and there really isn’t any confusion about that. The campaign features Oscar winner Mahershala Ali alongside Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes and Alex Hibbert, the three actors that shared the role of main character Chiron. They are all proudly sporting their Calvins in the images shot by Willy Vanderperre.
It’s the first fashion campaign for all four actors, and it’s also the first celebrity underwear campaign unveiled for the iconic brand since Raf Simons was officially installed as its chief creative officer. Perhaps also of note, while the ads feature that brand-new Calvin Klein logo, the waistbands of the underwear itself still feature the older logo (so your underwear drawer isn’t out-of-date, yet).
We should have seen the news coming. Sanders, Rhodes, and Hibbert showed up to the ceremony Sunday night in Calvin Klein suits (Ali was in Zegnaa, for what it’s worth), and Sanders took over the brand’s Instagram stories during the ceremony. (Co-star Naomi Harris was also wearing Calvin Klein’s new By Appointment line on the Oscars red carpet as well).
Rhodes, a former competitive sprinter before becoming an actor, certainly has the most provocative ad.
Ali, the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award, isn’t shy either.
Sanders looks relaxed.
And all Hibbert needs is a smile.
“It’s an acknowledgment of remarkable actors who are revealing something important of being a man today in what they do,” said Simons in a statement.
The photos were shot by Vanderperre, a longtime collaborator of Simons who is now apparently CK’s go-to lensman. Vanderperre also shot the preview photos of CK’s By Appointment line that featured Millie Bobby Brown and the brand’s recent modern art-infused campaign.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering what the cast looks like in more than just Calvin Klein’s underwear, here’s Sanders, Hibbert and Rhodes in their matching Klein suits from last night:
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Naomie Harris in Calvin Klein By Appointment attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Isabelle Huppert in Armani Privé attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
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Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Don’t You Dare Call Moonlight’s Mahershala Ali “Hershel”:
