With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker coming December 20, and Kylo Ren’s full repaired mask returning, Lucasfilm concept designer Christian Alzmann posted some early art ideas for Kylo’s helmet on Instagram.
As you can see, the original take on Kylo’s top seemed like an attempt to emulate, in some regard, Darth Vader. There’s the breathing-mask element plus the peaked dome top that comes down over the ears. Character-wise, it would have fit with Kylo’s admiration of his grandfather, but the choice was made to go a different route.