Keeping up with Khloé Kardashian, as interviewed by Kim Kardashian
From starting her own fashion line to surrogacy and being a working mom, Khloe Kardashian unveils more in an exclusive interview done by her own sister Kim Kardashian.
Photography MORELLI BROTHERS
Styling and Interview by KIM KARDASHIAN
Members of the most famous family clan on the planet, Kim and Khloé are united by a deep complicity, a great mutual respect and a precise sense of what makes them different from each other.
KIM KARDASHIAN: Let's talk about our relationship. How do we look alike? And how are we different?
KHLOÉ KARDASHIAN: Ever since I was born, you have been my playmate, someone I look up to, a role model, a protector figure, a source of pride and envy. Siblings are the only people who accompany us from childhood to the end of our lives. And because of that, you (and other sisters, and our brother) will be a major influence in my life.
That said… we've had our ups and downs. We've had moments of distance and closeness, but I've never felt as close or more connected to you than in the last two years. I feel that we are very similar, but also very different. The yin and yang of the two of us push each other out of our comfort zone. For example, I am incredibly clumsy. I constantly laugh at myself. I like to dance, even if I'm not good at it. You don't necessarily like doing these things, but I think my awkwardness lets your guard down a bit and I think it makes you feel safe dancing or being awkward when we're together.
You push me forward in so many ways too. I'm not even sure you realize how much you push me, just for being you. Maybe it's our competitive nature. It's something we have in common, but seeing everything you can balance pushes me to improve. Our competitiveness is healthy.
We are both resilient and family oriented. We want to do good for the world, in any form. We fear God. We have a “family is everything” mentality. We take the high road, we stand up for people, even when they probably don't deserve it. We only do what we think is right. Probably our main differences are that you are very outgoing, while I love to stay at home. I am an ambivert by nature. I envy the calmness and coolness you can have when doing something new or speaking to a large audience.
“I am ambivalent by nature. I envy the calmness and coolness you can have when doing something new or speaking to a large audience."
- Khloé, on Kim Kardashian
KIM: You're on Season 3 of our show, "The Kardashians," on HULU — we've had a lot of family discussions about how to find a balance of sharing everything authentically while still maintaining some areas of privacy. How do you decide what is important to share, even when it's painful, and what is off-limits?
KHLOÉ: In 2007, when I started appearing on the show, I had no idea what to expect. I was filmed without thinking of anything and without letting myself be disturbed by anything. I was an open book and still am. I am incredibly transparent and honest. I know my fans expect this from me and that's who I've always been. There have only been a couple of times that the public has become aware of a situation that I would rather have handled privately and not have appeared on the show.
But it is reality and I hope there is some positive inspiration for others who may find themselves in similar situations. As hard as it is for me to admit the hard stuff and then relive it over and over and over… I understand this is what I signed up for.
KIM: I know our surrogacy experiences have been very different and I'm very proud that you were honest about your feelings about it in the first episode of season 3 because I think it's really important for people to hear all sides of the story. Would you recommend it to anyone who can't conceive?
KHLOÉ: I am incredibly grateful for your experience because you have been with me every moment of my life. And I appreciate that I learned a lot about surrogacy because of you. I could not have a second pregnancy due to health reasons and I am grateful that surrogacy was an option. My situation was very particular and, I hope, rare. I don't know if it would have been different if the situation had been better.
I just hope people remember the circumstances I was in at the time. I think all of this contributed to the fact that I felt so detached from my son in the beginning. I would never dissuade anyone from trying surrogacy, especially if they have problems conceiving. I don't think there is a one size fits all solution to anything. I just wanted to be honest about my experience. Even if someone doesn't have the same situation as me to overcome, I don't want anyone to feel alone. I think that's why I'm so vulnerable and transparent, even when it hurts. I want others to feel that they have an ally and that it's okay to feel a certain way.
KIM: Has having a second child changed you in any way? What is different about the way you parent Tate than how you approached motherhood with True?
KHLOÉ: Mother always said that “a son is one and two sons are like twenty”. I never quite understood what he was talking about, because in my head I was thinking “what is an extra child”?! But damn… now I understand.
Tatum is only 10 months old so we are still following a structured routine. I'm a planned and militant type of mom: every hour is literally planned, especially when they're young. At the moment I'm thrilled to be able to say that I treat them the same way, but I have a feeling that when he's older he might get a little more.
KIM: What do you love most about being a mom?
KHLOÉ: Oh God… I don't think I can answer that question, unless I'm writing a novel. I love being a mom for all the usual reasons anyone could tell. I love being a mom because I can give and receive unconditional love. I take my job very seriously and I am honoured to be able to help shape and train my two children into wonderful members of society. But my favourite part about being a mom is how it changed my perspective on my mom. I've always been madly in love with my mother, but now I feel a different kind of admiration and respect.
Now I understand it very well, while when I was younger I certainly didn't. Once you have kids, you realize so many things, and as much as we adore our parents, we are so hard on them. Now that I have kids, I realize they were trying their best, but I didn't have the means to figure it out.
KIM: I'm so sorry for what I said during my appearance at James Corden when I ranked my sisters from best to worst dressed: I love your style and the fact that you've always stayed true to who you are!
KHLOÉ: I love you Kim: I know you made me worst dressed because the others would be furious if you named one of them when you knew I wouldn't mind at all! Even if you don't say it, I know you're jealous of my shine. Apology accepted.
KIM: Can you tell us what your favourite red carpet looks have been and how your style has evolved over the years?
KHLOÉ: Just reading the word red carpet makes me anxious! I have to say that this year I've really made an effort to go to events that I normally would have chosen not to attend because of the anxiety they put on me or to keep people from criticizing my looks. Kimberly, you were someone who always pushed me to do things I didn't feel comfortable doing and I am so grateful!
You and Tracy (Romulus, Kim Kardashian's publicist) practically forced me to attend a couple of red carpets this year and I couldn't be more grateful for that. Among my favourite looks: I wore LaQuan Smith at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards and felt confident and beautiful. As a stylist, she really knows women's bodies and is so kind. My other favourite moment was going to the MET Gala, where I wore Moschino and Jeremy Scott made me feel like a fucking queen! He came to my house to encourage me and give me confidence. It's a big one!
Finally, all the looks I wore in Italy with you, in support of your debut collection with Dolce & Gabbana. I loved every single look Dolce & Gabbana dressed me in, but the one I wore to your show was legendary! Also, it doesn't hurt that I was twinned with little Chicago (Kim's third daughter) - speaking of a style icon!
KIM: Good American is in its sixth year. The brand was built on inclusivity before it became a trend and now a standard. Why is the brand mission so important to you?
KHLOÉ: Good American is definitely my biggest business venture to date, and I'm incredibly proud of it. I can't believe it's already been six years since the launch. The idea came from a conversation with Emma (Grede, the co-founder of the brand, ed) about what it means to be a woman today and the unfortunate reality that many women are ignored by the fashion industry. We've seen an opportunity to dress women of all sizes in really stylish clothes. Most women don't fit the sample size. Who's to say a woman shouldn't have access to a nice pair of jeans that offer just the right amount of stretch or a pair of thigh-high boots that fit the whole leg, not just the foot? Good American offers what real women want to wear.
KIM: Let's talk about beauty routines, you know I'm passionate about it. What's a step in your beauty routine that you can't do without?
KHLOÉ: I have to name just one… Oh my God! I have so many beauty treatments or routines that I love to do that it's hard! I think the simplest and probably the cheapest beauty tip is petroleum jelly or Aquaphor. I put it all over the eye area before going to bed. I also wear it from the base of my neck up to my chest and I never get wrinkles in those areas. I do it every night and I hardly ever skip a night. And if we're talking about something more daring, I'd say that Morpheus (a treatment based on a face and body remodeling radiofrequency) changes the cards on the table!
KIM: One talent that you have that I don't think I've ever seen anyone other than mom - and I think maybe beat her - is your organizational skills. It's your real superpower. Where did you learn this and what tips can you share on how to tackle home organization?
KHLOÉ: Kimberly… Mommy doesn't beat me! I don't have an ego for most things, but when it comes to organizing, I bet on myself. I don't know where I learned this skill, but I do know that both mom and dad were incredibly organized and precise. I respect that a lot. I've noticed that when things fall apart in my personal life, whether it's relationships, friendships, or even something work-related, my "needs" for organization get amplified. I rearrange and sift through even things that are already perfectly organized because I can control that area of my life.
I write everything down on paper, the old-fashioned way, so I can be clear on what to do. Then I start with one room and plan everything out, starting small and focusing on one area. I also write down what I need as I go. If you tackle too much at once, you can feel defeated. Another piece of advice: I believe that everything has its place and that place is where all similar things can be found. For example, I keep light bulbs in the same place in my house. For me, it is more functional.
KIM: What's the most important piece of advice mom or dad gave you?
KHLOÉ: I don't know if it applies, because technically it wasn't verbal advice, but it is the result of years and years of observing our parents and how they interacted with each other. No matter what they were going through, they always put us first. We never knew if there was a conflict between them. I've learned that my personal feelings for someone should never be my kids' concern.
My children don't have to choose sides. I want them to know that they are loved no matter what by both parents. My mom and dad did a great job of showing us what co-parenting should be like. My younger sisters, Kendall and Kylie, called my father "Uncle Robert". They will always love him. We spent many holidays together, we often had dinners, where my father came and joined us all together at my mother's and stepfather's house. I have only fond memories of the way my parents handled the co-parenting situation. I would say this is the best advice.
"My goal in life is to always hope to make people feel seen, appreciated, heard, respected, and loved."
- Khloe Kardashian
KIM: If we didn't have the reality television and the business deals and the limelight, I probably would have followed in my dad's footsteps and practiced law full time. Which path do you think you would have taken instead?
KHLOÉ: I was going to work with children. I've always loved children. I have always felt an innate desire to love and protect them. I know how I light up when I'm around them and I know how much children need a positive and loving influence.
KIM: Finally, thinking about the legacy and the mark you want to leave on the world, what is the most important thing for you?
KHLOÉ: I think people can look at a legacy in many ways. But when I think about my heritage, I think about the way everyone talks about my father. Whenever they talk about him, they remember his beautiful, selfless and authoritative soul. My father was a fully realized man but the most important thing to me was how wonderful he made people feel.
I want to be remembered as a wonderful mother, daughter, sister and friend. I want to be remembered for the way I made people feel. Maya Angelou was right, in my opinion, when she said, “I learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. So my goal in life is to always hope to make people feel seen, appreciated, heard, respected and loved. I hope people talk about me as they still talk about my father, even though more than twenty years have passed since his passing.
Team credits:
Fashion Market Editor: Luca Falcioni
Hair: Jesus Guerrero @ THE WALL GROUP
Makeup: Ash K Holm @ THE WALL GROUP
Manicure: Zola Ganzorigt;
Pedicure: Thousand;
Prop Design: Marianne Lu;
Producer: Creative P Studio;
Tailor: Mia Paranto;
Photo Assistants: James Goethals and Andrew Harless;
Stylist Assistants: Carolina Levi.
