Calvin Klein has officially launched its Fall 2026 campaign across Asia (per Vogue Thailand on 11 August), and the face chosen to represent Thailand is Sea Tawinan, under the concept “Confidence Starts Underneath”: confidence starts from the layer closest to your skin.

It sounds like a generic brand slogan, but look at the actual images and it is a statement that underwear is no longer something to hide.

Trend Read: The Waistband Peek

What it looks like: the Calvin Klein logo waistband peeks above the jeans on purpose, paired with a denim overshirt or flared jeans. It is not a sloppy look, but a deliberate proportion that turns the waistband into a graphic detail of the outfit.

What it looks like: the Calvin Klein logo waistband peeks above the jeans on purpose, paired with a denim overshirt or flared jeans. It is not a sloppy look, but a deliberate proportion that turns the waistband into a graphic detail of the outfit.

Where it comes from: the underwear-as-outerwear idea (letting the base layer become part of the outer look) is surging again, but much softer this time. Summer 2026 took the idea to its peak in a gentle, everyday version rather than the provocative Y2K one. Menswear runways went the same way: the SS26 collections of Études, AWGE and Dolce & Gabbana all played with boxer shorts, while on the retail side several underwear brands say the main trend of 2026 is a bigger logo on the waistband.

Trend level: already mainstream, not a micro-trend, backed by runways, mass brands and an Asia-wide campaign. The extreme version (boxers instead of shorts) is still for the fashion-forward.

Why this campaign is more interesting than it looks

• Calvin Klein is selling an icon, not something new. The logo waistband has been the brand's calling card for decades. This time it upgrades the fabric and comfort, and retells the story for an era when the line between under- and outerwear keeps getting thinner. • Denim is the link. The campaign never shoots underwear alone; it is always paired with the Calvin Klein Jeans line, which is smart because viewers can instantly picture how to wear it out of the house. • It builds on the whole year. CK laid the groundwork with the denim campaigns of Ling Ling Kwong (March) and Jung Kook (whose latest chapter dropped on 16 September), so choosing Sea to carry the underwear side extends the Thai audience without a break.

• Calvin Klein is selling an icon, not something new. The logo waistband has been the brand's calling card for decades. This time it upgrades the fabric and comfort, and retells the story for an era when the line between under- and outerwear keeps getting thinner. • Denim is the link. The campaign never shoots underwear alone; it is always paired with the Calvin Klein Jeans line, which is smart because viewers can instantly picture how to wear it out of the house. • It builds on the whole year. CK laid the groundwork with the denim campaigns of Ling Ling Kwong (March) and Jung Kook (whose latest chapter dropped on 16 September), so choosing Sea to carry the underwear side extends the Thai audience without a break.

How to Wear It Now (Bangkok edition)

• Pick mid-rise to slightly low-rise jeans. Let the waistband show about 1–2 cm; no need to pull it high. The point is effortless. • Wear an unbuttoned overshirt instead of a T-shirt on top. In this humidity, a thin open denim shirt breathes better and gives the waistband room to work. • Prioritise fabric over logo. If you will wear it all day in a hot city, look for breathable mesh or microfibre; confidence fades fast when you sweat through. • Finish with a skin scent. If the concept is confidence from the innermost layer, a clean musk that sits close to the skin, like Byredo Mojave Ghost, suits it better than a loud scent that announces you from ten metres away.

• Pick mid-rise to slightly low-rise jeans. Let the waistband show about 1–2 cm; no need to pull it high. The point is effortless. • Wear an unbuttoned overshirt instead of a T-shirt on top. In this humidity, a thin open denim shirt breathes better and gives the waistband room to work. • Prioritise fabric over logo. If you will wear it all day in a hot city, look for breathable mesh or microfibre; confidence fades fast when you sweat through. • Finish with a skin scent. If the concept is confidence from the innermost layer, a clean musk that sits close to the skin, like Byredo Mojave Ghost, suits it better than a loud scent that announces you from ten metres away.

Verdict

In ✅ a waistband that peeks on purpose + relaxed-fit denim Out ❌ low-rise so low you see half the torso, 2000s-style

In ✅ a waistband that peeks on purpose + relaxed-fit denim Out ❌ low-rise so low you see half the torso, 2000s-style

Photos: courtesy of Calvin Klein References: Vogue Thailand — Calvin Klein Fall 2026 campaign with Sea Tawinan https://vogue.co.th/article/sea_tawinan_calvin-klein-fall-2026 · nss magazine — Is underwear still private? https://www.nssmag.com/en/fashion/45714/is-underwear-still-private-underwear-as-outerwear-summer-2026 · FashionUnited — The SS26 trends of the men's fashion weeks https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/heavy-loads-and-wisecracks-the-ss26-trends-of-the-mens-fashion-weeks/2025071182763 · Boardsport Source — Men's Underwear 2026 Retail Buyer's Guide https://www.boardsportsource.com/?p=155197