“Let women be” are the three words that define the Anne Klein brand for Aleesha Worthington, vice president of marketing at WHP Global, the brand’s parent company. “We know what we need; we can breastfeed our children and type an email at the same time. Let us be and we will get the job done,” is how she sees today’s multifaceted women.
Famously, Anne Klein said 50 years ago that “clothes aren’t going to change the world, but the women who wear them will,” which continues to be the leading DNA of the brand.
In a conversation presented by Anne Klein with Amanda Smith, chief executive officer of Fairchild Media Group, at the WWD X FN X Beauty Inc 2026 Women in Power Summit, Worthington spoke about the brand’s legacy as a trailblazer alongside its women consumers who are shaping culture and challenging expectations.
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“The Anne Klein woman absolutely is unapologetic,” said Worthington. “I’ve been working on the brand now almost three years and the beautiful thing about it is the seeds that were planted back then have come to fruition. Fast forward, the energy behind the brand really is unapologetic from the standpoint that [the consumer] can show up and be herself.”
Looking at how the Anne Klein woman has evolved, the consumer now “understands that she’s enough” and “has the right to bring that energy into any room.” Notably, Worthington said the brand allows consumers to walk into a room and command it without saying a word.
Building on the brand’s legacy, Worthington noted that Anne Klein herself was a trailblazer and her overall vision remains timeless. And as a multigenerational brand, people often post on social media wearing their grandmother’s watch, belt or the famous lion icon that’s been passed on over the years.
“When we think about thrifting, sustainability and people upcycling, you see the brand sort of live within this ecosystem of the new, now, and next. But it also pays homage to what the brand has built and the foundation that has been laid.”
When figuring out ways to best evolve the brand for today’s consumer, Worthington said the company wants to make sure it still speaks to Anne Klein’s foundational roots while also meeting the consumer where she is.
“We know that the Anne Klein woman is not a monolith — we’re not trying to force her to be that. We want to make sure that she can find herself in any of our garments. Even though Anne Klein is an American designer, people outside our nation are also looking for these product types while also understanding that one size does not fit all.”
Scaling Anne Klein to the global market also requires the brand to look at where women are heading. One of the notable pioneering clothing items for Anne Klein was suit separates, with blazers not being the same size as pants. Today, the brand offers a product range that allows the consumer to move from boardroom to family event and carries her through everyday life.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to join the WHP Global team for the last three years. The company acquired the brand in 2019 and our recent acquisition was of the Marc Jacobs brand. We recently surpassed $10 billion in sales. When you think about brands that have heritage, you think about what they mean to the everyday consumer, it’s important for us to market to her the way she can see herself. We want to make sure that this woman can see how she aligns with. We want to make sure that we continue to honor not only what Anne Klein has built, but also what the world looks like today,” Worthington concluded.
