There is always a camera pointed at it Kylie Jenner – whether she appears on the Met Galaor sitting courtside at a New York Knicks game with her partner Timothée Chalamet. As one of the most photographed women in the world, she knows better than anyone what it means to to look and viewed to become. Now she’s shifting that perspective by one exclusive pair Meta glasses.
These are Kylie Jenner’s Meta smart glasses
The collection is available in three color variants – black with black glasses, dark tortoise with chocolate glasses and black with transition grayglasses, which Jenner says is perfect for Los Angeles – and contains Meta AIwhich she personalized with her own voice commands and greetings. “I recorded all the little sentences,” the star tells ELLE exclusively. ‘You put it on in the morning and it says: “rise and shine.”‘
The cat-eye frames reflect Jenner’s ever-evolving personal style and her shift toward a more refined, understated wardrobe. “A few years ago I would probably have something a little more daring pushedwith more in it,” she explains, in line with the minimalist aesthetic which can also be seen in her newly rebranded fashion brand line Khy.
Below, Jenner talks about creating a product that personal feels with her Meta glasses, embracing a more subdued aesthetic and the little details that won her over.
Kylie Jenner Meta glasses
Kylie Jenner Meta glasses
What made you want to work with Meta?
‘Glasses have always been my thing. It’s honestly the first thing I notice about someone. So when Meta came to me and said I could actually design a pair, not just do a campaign, I thought: ‘This is a bit different. I was allowed to be involved in everything: the shape, the colors, the packaging, even the little sound it makes when you put it on.’
What design elements were most important to you?
‘The form, one hundred percent. I wanted something slender and oval that actually feels like a fashion item, not like you’re wearing a gadget. And it was the details that made it complete. There is a custom gemstone on the left lens who catches the light, and the charging case has a mirror on the inside.’
How was designing these glasses different from designing for Khy?
‘My approach is actually the same. I always start with what I would wear myself. What do I reach for without thinking? The difference here is that there real technology is in. So I had to learn where the camera is, how the speakers work and how to make it all disappear completely so that it still just feels like glasses. There was a moment when I thought: this is who I am now hardware designing? That’s not something anyone expects from me. But I’ve done fashion, done beauty, and this felt like the most logical next step.”
What inspired the design of the glasses?
‘I’ve always been attracted to slim, minimalist frames. A simple oval shape actually works with everything. I wanted that energy. I also drew a lot from how I view beauty. Beauty is all about details: texture, finish, packaging. I also applied that here. The sound, the mirror, the case. Those little moments are important to me.’
Meta glasses by Kylie Jenner
What are your must-haves? eyewear and daily accessories?
‘They have to look good. I don’t wear anything every day that doesn’t feel like me. After that it’s about weight and feel. Nothing heavy or cumbersome. The case, it custom sound when you put them on, the packaging. If it doesn’t give you that feeling when you pick it up, I’m not interested.’
How did your personal style influence the design of these glasses?
‘Where I am now, I want things that just blend in with your look. You set them up and they work with everything. They don’t compete with what you wear, they complete it. I think people who know my style see it and think: yeah, that’s just right. It feels exactly where I am now.’
Matthew Velasco is fashion news editor at ELLE. Based in New York City, he previously worked as a news writer at W magazine and as an assistant editor at V magazine. Besides fashion, he enjoys interior design, tennis (both watching and playing) and a packed antique shop.
