Kibbe Confusion Cleared- and help revamping style adjectives?

I'm always game for something that may help me improve my style. The Kibbe categories have been completely confusing for me to grasp until recently when approprio posted the quiz and spreadsheet. I am most definitely a Kibbe Dramatic

Quiz: .http://colorconnection.yuku.co.....OjV2nzF9u5

Spreadsheet:

https://docs.google.com/spread.....uVFE#gid=0

The style suggestions for the Kibbe Dramatic (On the spreadsheet) make sense for me; They immediately resonate as being true. I am not currently making use of many of Kibbe's suggestions, but I am certain that they could improve my style and would like to incorporate some of them into my everyday life. It's interesting how some of his recommendations intersect with Angie's recommendations for a person who has a rectangle shape.

I'm getting stuck however, with how to go about incorporating Kibbe's ideas into my current style. Perhaps it's because of my style adjectives: Soft, Calm, Fresh, Classic, Polished

It's hard to be soft and dramatic at the same time! I am not a Kibbe Soft Dramatic, which is a separate Kibbe category, I am a very strong Yang, Kibbe Dramatic. That Soft adjective needs to be changed somehow? I'm not sure what adjective would work well in it's place. Dramatic includes the idea of using long line and geometric shape to create outfit proportions. It also recommends head-to-toe looks instead of separates. Strong Yang. I'm looking for a word that would represent these concepts?

Suz correctly pointed out that the high contrast of Kibbe Dramatic would be hard for me to incorporate and she is correct! It's hard to think of my color palette of Light Summer pastels as being dramatic! The only way to accomplish this is through shape and proportion.

I wonder about the word calm as well? I wonder if that should be changed to comfortable? or simple?, because I think those can be congruent with Kibbe Dramatic features.

11 years ago

Veteran

You've really done a nice job synthesizing your interpretation of Kibbe (from the limited resources I've reviewed) and describing your challenge. Well done!
So you have: Fresh, Classic, Polished
You want to replace: Soft, Calm.
Possibly add (I'm throwing out options): Subtle but Striking Lines, Clean Lines, Elements of Interest, Strong Details, Linear Shapes.
(and I like your possibilities of Comfortable and Simple)

Staysfit

AM. Great suggestions, I particularly like the ideas of Clean Lines, and Linear Shapes.

SandyG

Clean Strong Lines and bold interesting details in any color would mesh with Dramatic. Maybe adding grey and cream neutrals to mix with your pastels as a counterpoint? And add drama with your accessories -- handbags and shoes can take bold, strong shapes and add zing.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Nice work, Staysfit!
I wonder if you could retain "soft" to refer to your color palette.

psychedelicate

(website)

Active Member

What about "still"?

Also, you might want to have a look at Kitchener's Angelic. It is like an ethereal version of Dramatic.

rachylou

I like the idea of Subtle Yet Striking. I'd be tempted to go for Architectural, because I think that would tend to incorporate all the ideas (after a lifetime of listening to architects around the dining table).

Summer

I can see your problem of trying to marry dramatic with a light summer palette, Staysfit, but maybe you could try to incorporate the strongest colours and neutrals from that palette, and play down the softest ones.
You are right to seek the dramatic in the lines and proportions of your clothes. That's a very good place to start.
As for your style words, I think you can keep Fresh and Polished but that you'll have to rethink the others ( just when you think you have everything sorted!).
At the moment it's very much a case of trial and error, but I'm sure you will get there in the end. You have done well to have taken such positive strides already.

Psychedelicate, I feel like the style world is coming into focus! Angelic/Ethereal! Of course! I think it fits and I can see how I might have this quality and therefore require the soft as part of my drama. It's so interesting that Cate Blanchett, and Tilda fit this category because of all the style icons they are the two that I constantly refer to. Particularly Cate. I thought the article you referred to was particularly helpful. I loved the idea of having some soft flowing item with movement to create the Angelic feature, like shoelaces! I wonder what percentage Angelic/ethereal I have? Probably more than 5% and less than 100%. I know I have some though. Just like Cate, I know I need some level of Angelic/Ethereal in my outfit to make it work. Too much stiff, straight line geometry will look severe.

I love the suggestion of Still. That would consolidate soft and calm. I need to consider that, and it would leave room for something to represent the more linear aspects.

Firecracker, I agree that Soft could represent my color palette! I hadn't considered that option before your suggestion. It also seems a possible option for the Angelic/ethereal quality.

Rachy, I have been thinking about Architectural. I like that word.

With all these great suggestions, I'm starting to think..... Time to get out my scratch pad and write out some adjectives.

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