Can anyone look better wearing $2,000 Snap glasses?

Yesterday, Snap released its latest update $2,195 Detailed glasses. In a interview with CNBCSnap CEO Evan Spiegel described Specs as something the company has been working on for more than 12 years, trying to “bring computing to the world” and “creating more people.” He positioned them as a device to help people connect more with the world around them instead of looking down at their phones. People, he said, are tired of the spectacle.

As Spiegel spoke, I was struck by how, every time his head moved, the light caught the glass itself, revealing Specs’ hidden agenda. It was ironic that Spiegel spoke of the tiredness of the window and the desire to connect, as his device puts a screen between him and the interviewer.

But mostly, I was confused by how Specs looked at him.

Fashion is standard, but Specs’ design is bold and unique. They have chunky frames and petite looks that clearly remind them of aviators. The arms are large and seem too heavy to Spiegel’s ears. If there was no technology in them, I would say they were words, something that people wear like fashion icons Iris Apfel, Karl Lagerfeldor Edna Mode from The Incredibles.

To be clear, Snap is positioning this as an ambitious, high-end device. You only have to look at the company’s international advertisements, photographed by fashion designer Steven Meisel, known for his work and Vogue and several Haute couture houses such as Versace, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga, and Loewe. Models wearing Specs? Examples include big names like Kaia Gerber and Hoyeon, as well as basketball player Jimmy Butler and singers Jack Harlow and Imogen Heap. Basically, all people are known for their unique or mixed appearance. The problem is that the first rule of wearable technology is that the device must be comfortable – and versatile – enough to wear every day. And on that front, Snap is making these devices available for wearable use by a very small number of people.

I firmly believe everybody can pull off bold fashion with enough charisma and confidence. But in nearly a decade of covering smart glasses, I’ve seen time and time again that their bold design makes the average Joe feel comfortable wearing them. One of the reasons the original Google Glass failed was that its design was reminiscent of a Dragonball Z scouter or cyberpunk dystopia. It made you easy to see and easy to laugh at like a hole in the glass. Likewise, one of the biggest complaints I heard about Meta Ray-Ban Display Sunglasses it was that the design was very minimal – and that borrowed the familiar shape of the Wayfarer silhouette. One of the reasons why Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses work so well now is that they are smart and look like ordinary glasses. That’s why the upcoming Google and Samsung Android XR glasses are compatible with both Warby Parker and The Gentle Beast. Warby Parker offers a stylish yet understated option, while Gentle Monster is available for people with a little more flair.

There is no chance of being smart wearing Specs. Maybe this is good for public privacy – you can spot someone wearing the Specs a mile away. But that’s one big reason why self-conscious people I will not take this. (Another thing is that this is 2,195 dollars.) Another problem is that we humans are worthless creatures. These devices sit directly on your face and hide your eyes, which are called windows to life. If you think you’ll look stupid in this, you won’t buy it, even if it’s the most amazing piece of technology in the world. If there’s even a chance that wearing this on the first date won’t get you a second, what would you risk it?

There are other practical reasons why these glasses fail the most important rules of wear. For starters, the 47mm model weighs 132 grams, while the 52mm model weighs 136g. I found that the Meta Ray-Ban Display started to hurt my face after a few hours, and that weighs 69g. As a lifelong glasses wearer, I have been telling optometrists about the right weight of glasses for the past three decades. (When you have a sharp eye and very strong tips, light frames are a they should to protect the head.) Many have told me that the ideal weight for light glasses is somewhere between 15 and 25g. Acetate frames (think vintage Brooklyn hipster sunglasses) usually weigh 20-35g. Smart glasses usually range from 40 to 70g, and you can feel them after a few hours. Almost twice for the weight, I can’t imagine the Specs being comfortable to wear for more than a few hours at a time. That means for those of us who need advice, they won’t be your first pair, and that means you’re spending $2,195 on a second pair of glasses.

I find it impossible to believe Snap doesn’t know this. This is probably why they are leaning towards Haute Couture, high fashion. They know that at this price point and weight, the Specs is not a very popular device. It’s always been for early adopters, and it’s a group that’s probably the best looking and best looking. And, the number of consumer smart glasses is heating up. If Snap doesn’t want to miss the boat, maybe the idea is to strike while the iron is hot and hopefully people can get on board with a second or third model that comes closer to what the average person wants.

Look, some people will look good in this. Meisel’s photos are proof enough of this. But the cool, hard thing is that most of us will look like Spiegel – kind of dorky, a little goofy, and incredibly transparent.