Kibbe Dramatic or Natural? - YouLookFab Forum

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Kibbe Dramatic or Natural?

WB

I joined the other day and followed a link from one of the responses I got. I couldn't find the intended item on the page, but I did get lost in Kibbe-land. I took the test and it seems I would be a Dramatic. I couldn't decide between choices sometimes so some options got a range: A came up 10-12, so I'm strongly yang; next highest was B with 3-5, so some less yang features. There didn't seem to be a modifier for strong A with some B. Thing is, I think I'm more of a Natural style-wise. P erhaps a Flamboyant Natural?

I'm 5"7 with a small to small-medium bone structure (my finger and thumb fully overlap around the widest part of my wrist, but I'm right at the cusp of small and medium build with a measurement). I have long arms, hands, and feet. I have a long waist and proportionately short legs, but most people don't notice because I'm long and thin in general.

I attached photos of me with intense makeup just for fun (note that this was also way too much makeup for me in general - it was for photoshoots, except for the one in the bottom middle) and my everyday look as well as a small collage of dress up outfits and casual outfits over the years. I am 6 months pregnant in the wedding dress (yes, the burgundy dress with pants underneath - I couldn't be caught dead in one of those white things).

Thoughts? Also, I'm visual and I would LOVE to see your pictures if you know that you are a dramatic vs a natural. Thanks!

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from anastasiabirago

Joy

Veteran

I'm leaning toward dramatic for you. Kibbe doesn't work for me at all. For one thing my body is and always has been angular but my face and features are soft and rounded.

WB

Joy, would that make you a Dramatic as well, but a Soft Dramatic or a Classic Dramatic? I also hear you about the Kibbe not working. It's possible that while dramatic style clothing could and do work on me, the style doesn't feel right with my personality - or I'm not understanding it correctly.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Kibbe is a superficial assessment of your physical appearance. It has nothing to do with what you like to wear, only what styles might suit you. You should wear whatever you like. If you feel like a natural, you should dress like one. And for heavens sake, don't look at any Kibbe styling on the Internet. It's almost always terrible.

However, it can be useful for inspiration and creating a template for how you mix your clothes. Since you asked, I'm somewhere between SD and FN. I've been using a bit of both when putting things together, asking myself which persona I'm playing to. It can work quite nicely if you don't try to follow too many rules.

WB: I'm seeing Soft Dramatic/Flamboyant Gamine, because you're very slender with Yin eyes and mouth. Of the six outfits you showed, the first is very SD and the next two quite FG. The last three are very much Natural.

For the SD/FG type, you have a couple of great style icons in Alexa Chung and Leandra Medine, but I'm guessing you'd prefer to dress like an adult.

Joy: soft dramatic all the way down. You wear it very well.

Sheila

Veteran

My opinion is that with that number of A answer you are a pure dramatic...
I think you are prettier than this but you remind me of a young A Huston.
Your features, height etc... line up with her quite well.
I think you could handle pure dramatic quite well as well as styles. You could add natural in another form... maybe shoes... or color...and step into FN a bit...

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WB

Approprio: That is quite helpful. Thank you! I just looked at Alexa Chung. I do like her style, but I have also outgrown the miniskirts or shorts with button-up blouses. I do like her shoes quite a bit, and this particular outfit very much sans the fake fur accessories: http://www.celebritystyleguide.....lexa-chung

Except for liking stronger colors, than the two middle ones, I like everything about the shape, textures, and combination choices of these: https://lavieboston.files.word.....hemian.jpg Am I gravitating towards SD or FG with the above?

I like very, very little of what I see of Leandra Medine, but we might have been style admirers of each other when I was in high school and played with more eye-popping patterns and exaggerated clothing shapes - so you're spot on about my wanting to dress more like an adult now.

WB

Sheila, aw, thank you! I very much like Anjelica's look and style and think she is quite beautiful. I see the similarities in lanky shape, and long faces with striking eyes and dark hair, but I also feel a bit like I could look like her when I "grow up", which is, um, maybe age 60? (Because I'm already 40 this year.) I'm going to think on this though, because I've been looking for a wedding dress for an upcoming wedding and keep wanting to reach for the long slinky black dresses and instead trying the cute colorful ones, which all look wrong somehow. Now that I have joined this forum, I am excited about the option of uploading photos of my finds for feedback!

Vix

Veteran

Hi WB --

I've only dabbled in Kibbe (partially because I think he'd stick me in FN at best when I prefer to cling to Soft Dramatic!).

However, I see much more "D" in you than "N." Certainly facially. In some shots you look like a mix of Angelica + Isabella Rossilini -- like if Isabella's broader features were elongated and popped onto Angelica's head shape.

IRCC the Ds really shine in an unbroken or low-contrast column of color. I know gamines are the opposite -- lots of horizontal breaks that give me hives when I try to imitate the look. Can't recall about the Ns.

Now which type does your continued reaching for long slinky black dresses sound like, ha?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am also seeing some Lou Doillon here. Definitely dramatic of some sort! Great pictures!

catgirl

Veteran

I know less than nothing about Kibbe but in the pic with the leopard background you look a lot like the stunning Liv Tyler.

http://search.yahoo.com/search.....live+tyler

http://search.yahoo.com/search.....live+tyler

WB

Shevia: yes! I love being able to go look at pictures! It is so helpful to me. She is slightly taller and thinner than me, so wears the cut of her clothes a bit differently than I would, but I definitely feel that she and I have similar faces and it helps me get a feel for how I might look in a similar style. While I get the comparison to a younger Anjelica Huston, she always looks more mature and regal than I feel I can pull off, while I identify with the more light-framed look of Lou. I'm starting to see how I like a crisper overall look for myself and how I like the more dramatic of the outfits that she and Alexa Chung wear. Lou is definitely not a dramatic, right? Flamboyant Natural or Gamine?

WB

Alaskagirl: I've been told I look like Liv Tyler before, and it was actually because I like almost everything about her style, down to the flat shoes she wears in her everyday outfits, that got me to start this thread, as she is specifically listed as a Flamboyant Natural in comparisons of FN and Dramatic. Other than the dresses and rompers she wears (which I like, but don't own), my closet is full of clothes that look like her everyday clothes.

WB

The feedback and ideas have been so helpful. It's helping me figure out
my issues with things like interview outfits (part of it is finding a good fit) is that the clothes feel too severe on me when I like a body conscious fit
or a flowy look. See below. The first outfit is what I ended up wearing on my last job interview, but I was so self-conscious in it I wore my big black parka over it until I got to the building. The other two are outfits I like better and seem to be good office job clothes, but not formal enough as interview outfits. The one with skirt is a black print camisole under a cotton black wrap blouse that ties at one side and a heavier textured grey skirt. It is hard to see the color variations or difference in texture. I would usually wear it with the bottom edges of the camisole peeking out, but it I tucked it to test it as an interview outfit. How would you type these outfits?

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Summer

Veteran

I'm no expert on Kibbe types, although I did the quiz some time ago. Leaving that aside, the first thing that struck me in your pictures was your striking, dramatic look. You can certainly carry off the dramatic very well if that is your preference.
There's no reason why you can't opt for a Natural look as well though, maybe for your more casual life if you have one. Perhaps you could add drama to your Natural side with bold colours and strong lines?

lyn67

Veteran

Kibbe Dramatic Natural!:-))

Sheila

Veteran

Not sure... but the suit is probably DC... because of the length of the jacket. The middle are DC pants with a TR or SN top due to the sleeve gathers and fabric. The last is a dramatic color but a Soft Natural-SN or maybe Romantic style dress due to the flow and flare of the bottom and the direct waist emphasis.

Vix

Veteran

See, this is where Kibbe just kind of makes me zzzzzzzzzz -- and YLFers know I love a detailed analysis, ha!

A lot of body line/style analysts say to look at one's features, hand/foot shape, hair texture etc -- and then echo that in clothing.

So for instance, those with super-straight hair and sharper features look best in clothes/prints with sharper angles and/or geometric prints. Those with wavy/curly hair and more rounded features should repeat that with softer curved clothing, ruffles, rounder-edged prints.

[Stylist Bridgette Raes distills this pretty well, and I believe her blog/Facebook is active.]

One thing about Liv T is that her presence is BIG.

She's tall, her head is broader vs Angelica's narrow cat face, she's voluptuous, her features are bold -- and however she dresses in her off-hours her "work" clothes tend to be very classic bombshell. Legs and bosom out, form-fitting clothes etc. If I had to stick her in a type then it'd be Soft Dramatic. To me Julianna Marguiles (sp?) is a slightly-scaled down version of this.

I absolutely think you (everyone) can merge one's preferences with one's individual features and shape etc!

I have some interview and work outfits I can try to post later that might help, dunno. I personally can't do "straight classic" like your #1 without feeling super-uncomfortable (see also polo shirt + khakis or straight skirt, former uniform GAHHHH) so one of my style statements is "Contrarian Classicist."

WB

Yes, I'm more slight than Liv Tyler, I usually play up my shoulders or hips, as I don't have much to play up bust-wise. This is my favorite outfit to wear right now, the kind I feel the most comfortable in. It looks alot like the type of thing Liv wears in her everyday, but I look fragile to myself compared to her. The second is my variation of (stretch velvet) leggings with the other pair of boots I love, and my favorite jacket. If only I knew how to translate this look into interview clothing!

Perhaps a shorter suit jacket with a more nipped waist, slimmer fitting pants, and a brightly colored blouse?

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Vix

Veteran

Hi again WB --

I think your instincts about looking for a shorter nipped-in jacket or pairing a longer one with slim leg pants are good ones. Based on what you've shown a drapey silk or silk-esque blouse may may you feel more like you, too (but then I'm not much for stiff fabrics...).

How conservative is your industry?

Not sure it will help, but below are some examples of my more straight-laced outfits -- ones with a bit of drama or boho-ho-ness mixed with classic work wear. [I do wear things where the ratio is reversed!] Several pieces repeat.

I put some "FAILS" in too.

1 and 2/3: Interview outfits
4-5: Pirate blouse, would wear for interview with a suit like in 5
6: Longer jacket, straight leg pants -- would would roll sleeves down and wear a brighter/print blouse for interview
7-11: Work stuff, including my "Paper Doll Vix" series
12-13: FAILS for me personally (don't like high contrast + strong horizontal line in first, navy cotton jacket in last was too stiff for me, now donated)

14: One more, with a supple leather blazer

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WB

Vix - thank you for picture examples! It helps to see what works and what doesn't. I like the closer fit of your suit jackets and pants. The interview outfits (#1-#3) might still feel foreign to me, but I would at least feel stylish and a little luxurious rather than the sense of heading to a funeral that I get with my own current outfits. I usually stick religiously to my flat shoes, but this makes me think a longer pair of pants with heeled shoes could be doable for at least an interview. I will mirror test whether a simple addition of high heels makes my current outfit a little less boxy overall. I also really like 6, 9, and the one on the left in 8. I'm looking for Executive Assistant work, so the level of formality varies with each potential workplace. My main focus has been education, non-profit, healthcare, and scientific/research-based workplaces.

Vix

Veteran

WB --

Oh, we have a lot of overlap in terms of industries -- I feel your pain on the varied formality!

And ditto for trying to get it right on the nuances; some will award points for looking pulled together/standard business casual-plus (formal for interviews) while it seems some will ding for same.

I'd think for an EA role that more polished and attentive to detail vs less would be good for an interview, though.

[Right, ha? Why must this be so complicated?]

I'm a middle-aged corporate creative these days so try to look just different enough in interviews, but not so wild as to scare the horses. Esp if I'm doing a matched suit since that ups the formality compared to coordinated separates (blazer + pants/skirt/dress).

And no need for high heels if they aren't your thing, but you might want to look for an almond toe -- or pointed, since they're on trend -- so you have some more length sticking out under fuller-leg pants.

Plus I always think a really sleek flat/small heel with skirts/dresses or pants looks so sharp!

If you are in shopping mode, not sure what you're considering but I prefer lightweight wool or wool-blend for the drape. Helps to fend off the boxiness, breathable, and resists wrinkles...yea.

Then after you get the job it can be fun to add those softer Romantic or FN touches to the more structured interview-y ones. I wear a lot of cardigans vs jackets these days to up my approachability factor, but lots of cardigans do have at least a bit of drama.

Oops -- almost forgot: you're welcome for the pics!

jackiec

Veteran

I am no good at all the kibbe stuff, so I just wanted to say welcome

WB

Okay, I tried finding what I think is soft dramatic style dresses (and pantsuits) on my shopping trip today for that outfit to wear to an upcoming wedding. Thank you for all the tips. I think I got it right, or at least much closer to right than I was before I got everyone's lovely feedback.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ons-please

anastasiabirago

you could be a dramatic gamine.