Glasses that double as smartphones? Sounds cool if you鈥檙e a tech geek but are they chic? Google seems to think so, which may be why it debuted the futuristic devices on the runways of New York Fashion Week.
The Internet giant teamed up with legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg on Sunday to show off its upcoming 鈥渁ugmented reality鈥� Glass glasses.
Models for the DVF鈥檚 Spring/Summer 2013 collection show donned the Star-Trek-looking eyepieces as they walked down the runway for New York Fashion Week. The bands of each device were colour-coordinated with the collection鈥檚 palette of corals, blues, and greys.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin himself made a surprise appearance at the show, walking the runway in a pair with a turquoise band that made him look, according to New York Times fashion writer Eric Wilson, 鈥渁s if he had stabbed himself in the eye with the straw of some tropical frozen cocktail.鈥�
Though Google Glass won鈥檛 be available until 2014, the company is already putting on the push for the upcoming devices.
It announced in April that the devices would be worn like glasses but would be able to take pictures and record video and sound. Users would also be able to check calendars, get weather updates and see messages from friends.
On Sunday, the DVF models used video-recording function to capture their view of the runway, while staff backstage recorded show preparations. The footage is expected to be released in a short film, 鈥淒VF through Glass,鈥� on DVF鈥檚 Google+ page Thursday, a DVF spokesperson said.
Though The Times鈥� Wilson complained that the glasses seemed to distract from the clothes, von Furstenberg appeared delighted to have teamed up with Google to show off the devices.
鈥淚 am so excited to introduce Glass to the fashion world and use this revolutionary technology to give everyone a unique perspective into fashion,鈥� von Furstenberg said in a joint DVF-Google news release.
Brin added: 鈥淏eauty, style and comfort are as important to Glass as the latest technology. We are delighted to bring Glass to the runway together with DVF.鈥�
The first version of Google Glass 鈥� to be called Explorer Edition 鈥� will only be available to developers for $1,500. They likely won鈥檛 be available to consumers until at least 2014.
