Rob Kardashian and Kylie Jenner: They’re only Human

No one understands the fame machine better than the ubiquitous Kardashian family. Consider it a testament to their fame that in spite of never having seen a single episode of the seven-season run of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, I can correctly identify almost every single member of the Kardashians and Jenners. I know more about Kim Kardashian’s dating history than I originally thought: how much her last marriage cost and how long it lasted. I even know about her psoriasis. And I’m actually a little more than curious to know whether or not Kanye West proposed to her on her 32nd birthday or not.

There comes a point when people become so famous, they start to seem a little unreal, like caricatures almost. It’s a little ironic, considering the Kardashians entered the public eye via a reality show. And so when local retail giant Human announced that they were flying in Rob Kardashian and Kylie Jenner to Manila to walk during Philippine Fashion Week as their brand new endorsers, I jumped at the chance to ground these public personas in my reality, at least.

While Kim K has already proven that she’s worth more than just 15 minutes, what interested me about Rob and Kylie is that although they’ve already grown used to living with the fame monster, they’re only starting to get their share of the solo spotlight. Having grown up with three sisters and a mother with such strong personalities, it’s understandable that Rob learned to keep a low profile. Young Kylie definitely lives up to the famed beauty of all of Kris Jenner’s daughters. As the youngest member of the brood at 15 years old, she grew up sharing media attention with her older sister, Kendall Jenner. Now she seems to be asserting her own persona in the entertainment industry.

In person, Rob is chatty with a quick sense of humor, especially when it comes to teasing Kylie, the way older brothers are wont to do. As Kylie starts making a name for herself in a household full of household names, she seems to understand the gravity of whatever she does or says in public and is more careful with her words as a result, frequently making sure to check with her manager and PR reps if it’s okay to talk about something before firing away.

The two of them are most candid when talking about fashion, especially since Rob is getting ready to launch his line of dress socks under the brand Arthur George, while Kylie is about to launch a clothing line with Kendall. Interestingly, they both seem to have a shared enthusiasm for sweatpants — it makes sense, considering that it’s a clothing staple on the West Coast. Luckily for them, while shopping at Human the day before their press conference, they each found their perfect pair of sweatpants at the store. It’s clear that they were just as excited to be in the Philippines as their fans were to see them in the flesh. Moreover, they appeared to be just as curious about us Filipinos as we are about them.

PHILIPPINE STAR: I’m going to start with Kylie. Even though you’re just 15, I’ve noticed that you already have quite a fashion vocabulary. Would you ever consider working in the fashion industry?

KYLIE JENNER: My sister and I, we started our own clothing line. We’re going to start and I can’t say much about it, but ... it’s coming out this spring and, yeah, we’re excited about it. (Kendall and Kylie were given the opportunity to design their own line by Canadian-based company Majestic Mills, whose licenses also include former reality star Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 line. They also have a jewelry line in the works, but details are still hush-hush. —Ed.)

How much design input did you have in the line?

KJ: A lot of input, definitely. We had someone helping us, obviously, but we went through everything and took out everything, added a bunch of stuff, changed all the patterns. I’d say we’ve had a bunch of meetings and we’ve just really made it to reflect mine and my sister’s style and I love it. It’s like, I’m really proud of it and I’m really excited for everyone to see it.

Who are your favorite designers and what are your current favorite fashion trends?

KJ: I think I’m really into a lot of leather right now, for sure, especially since we’re getting into winter. Skinny jeans, always. Big, baggy shirts, I love, like, Givenchy, all their shirts. I don’t know, just cool staple pieces. Definitely I’m obsessed with shoes. There’s this pair of boots that I have and this one pair of leather pants that I recently got that I’ve been wearing literally everywhere.

Speaking of your sister, is it true that you two are going to have your own spin-off reality show?

KJ: We’re not. Well, we’ve never actually talked about it. It’s the biggest, biggest rumor, but no, we haven’t even talked about it. Maybe in the future, but I haven’t even... we’re still... I don’t know.

But show business aside, what would you like to pursue in the future?

KJ: I definitely want — obviously, my clothing line, I really want that to be huge and I’m confident with it, so hopefully it’ll turn out well. We have a book and the beginning idea was that we were going to write our book about high school and all of that, but we didn’t end up doing that now. We’re going to make it sci-fi because I think my sister (Kendall —ed.) and I are not so interested in doing high school, which everyone would expect us to do, so that should be really good. I’m really happy about that also.

So is your book inspired by anything you’re reading right now?

KJ: Books that I’m reading? Ummm...

ROBERT KARDASHIAN: The Book. She’s reading a book now called The Book.

KJ: Whaaaat?

RK: It’s called The Book. It’s one of the books she’s reading.

You’re reading a book called The Book.

KJ: (Laughs) Apparently, according to him. But no, I love Perks of Being A Wallflower. It’s really good so far…

RK: The Bible. She reads The Bible.

KJ: Yeah... And, um, I plan on reading Twilight after I watch the movie and yeah, I’ve always loved Pretty Little Liars, that series.

And for you, Rob, in comparison to all of your sisters, you’re the most low-key. So what are you up to these days? I read that you’re working on a sock line.

ROB KARDASHIAN: Yeah, I have a dress sock line coming out in all the Neiman Marcus stores in the States on Nov. 9. They’ll also be online, but at Neiman’s first. And also, I’m doing a street-wear sock line and I’m also working on a clothing line right now and opening up a few different clothing stores as well.

I’m curious — why socks?

RK: Socks are just the beginning. People just start companies and they launch all kinds of pieces and they don’t necessarily succeed; they’re just trying to do it because they’re into it. But I’m doing that. Ralph Lauren started with ties and he has a very successful company, so he’s kind of who I look up to, along with Tommy Hilfiger, in that kind of (business) model. So, socks are just the beginning.

So who are your design influences?

RK: Definitely Balenciaga, Givenchy, Balmain, but everything at an affordable price. That’s my whole model, so to be in the top-tier stores, but at the lowest price points.

What are are you obsessing over right now, fashion-wise?

RK: There’s this company that’s called I Hate Ugly and they have the best pants. Those are, like, the only pants I wear and I have this one Givenchy jacket — I have a few — but I just wear that. Jordans, that interchange, my Arthur George socks and my hat — a Dodger hat.

Is your style influenced in any way by your fashion-forward sisters?

RK: Um, not really. Just in terms of buying girlfriends gifts and stuff, but that’s about it. They definitely make me want to put more effort into the fashion world in that sense. I’m more low-key, I don’t really care, but now that I’m stepping into the fashion world. I definitely need to get more involved and I’ve definitely grown to be more passionate about what to wear and stuff like that. But they definitely influence me when it comes to buying women’s gifts for a girlfriend, but not personally. (Although Rob declined to say, he’s been linked to singer Rita Ora in the news. —ed.)

Your mom used to own a children’s boutique in Calabasas and your sisters own three D-A-S-H boutiques in LA, Miami and New York. Did that in any way influence your foray into fashion?

RK: Not really. I kind of just fell into it just because it’s something that I love. I just don’t put an effort into it, but I think we all love fashion. Whether you love one piece, or whatever it is. It’s kind of just, like, I love these brands and everybody else does, but I felt that they’re just not affordable for the general public, so I wanted to create something that is just as cool and just as high-end, but obviously more affordable.

Would you consider doing a spin-off reality show about how you’re growing your brand?

RK: I mean, that’s just kind of part of our lives and you’ll see that watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians as is, but I would rather just focus on the fashion, clothing, my line, and literally just have that grow. That’s it.

Have you two already shot your ad campaign for Human? How was it?

KJ: Yeah, we just shot it today.

RK: It was amazing. It was fun to work together. We never work together, really, when it comes to fashion, so that was obviously fun and it’s obviously amazing to be in the Philippines for the first time and kind of do something here. I mean, I have a bunch of Filipino friends and such, so it’s fun to kind of step into their culture.

So what are your favorite pieces by Human, so far?

KJ: Everything, I think the jeans are all amazing. Like the ones I’m wearing right now in all the colors.

RK: I’m personally into their pants, they’re all really cool. They’re all different styles and they’re kind of high-end, but obviously at, like, lower price points. I’m very into that. And there’s a cool pair of track pants — I’m into sweatpants and stuff like that, so they’re definitely a unique pair.

KJ: We went into the store yesterday and I bought all the men’s sweats, but in all the smallest sizes.

RK: Yeah, and I got ’em all for my girlfriend as well. They’re pretty cool.

How did this endorsement come about?

KJ: My management team presented it to us.

RK: And we have a good relationship with the owner, Ben Chan, and it just came up. I mean, it’s a great opportunity to do something that’s outside of the States and kind of be involved with another culture.

KJ: Exactly.

RK: And like I said, I have a lot of Filipino friends who are in the fashion business, who I also have collaborations with my socks and stuff like that, and with a lot of different brands, so it’s kind of cool to be involved with a true Filipino company.