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Kibbe Style Type

Susan

Happy 4th Ladies!!
I've recently become a bit obsessed with Kibbe's Metamorphosis, and decided, as I'm rebuilding my wardrobe, to utilize it to determine what to buy and what to let go. I think I'm either Soft Classic or Soft Gamine, but seeking objective help. I'm 5'4, 38-31-40, with high contrast coloring. You can see my face below. I have had a pixie cut for many years, and all are agreed it is far more flattering than any other cut/length I've had. Have you ladies determined your "type"? How did it work out for you? If anyone wants a go at me I'm more than game, and would greatly appreciate it. I'm also happy to return the favor. I'm guilty of lurking on most of these forums, lol, but thought I'd put myself out there. This is such a positive and inspiring place! It's so nice to see women building each other up rather than knocking each other down:)

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Body Type

37 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

rachylou

Veteran

I think I'm Soft Gamine. How I determined this, I don't know. I did an online self-evaluation that was incredibly confusing to me. But I think I'm SG because of fabrics and silhouettes. For example, my best tops are soft and drapey. The thing about SG to me - got to be careful not to come out twee. Claudette Colbert is my icon. You remind me of Liv Tyler, but I don't know you'd have the same Kibbe type, which is interesting when I think about it...

Susan

Hi Rachylou!
I love Liv's look, thank you for the compliment. I think Kibbe pegs her as a Natural, which I'm definitely too fleshy for. I would never be called muscular or athletic looking, especially with my DD chest. Also she is a tall glass of water. I completely understand the twee aspect of the Gamines. I was looking at Polyvore etc to get visual ideas, and many of the looks were too precious for my taste. I fear I would feel like I were playing dress up. I took the quiz and also got a bit confused. Most of my answers were D, with some C, but D has no category. Most of my style icons are from the 20s and 30s. Claudette is the bomb. Incidentally, you remind me of my sister:)

Sal

Veteran

There have been a few threads on Kibbe- some forum posters are quite knowledgable. I do like the theory- go with what works for you rather than fighting it. I think I am a type of natural.

I love your haircut by the way!!

Sal

Veteran

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....your-style

Here is a link to a previous Kibbe thread that might help.

Laura G

Veteran

I went and found a Kibbe-style questionnaire online and just reading it made me tired! So, having established my utter ignorance of the subject at hand, I'd say your face at least has a very gamine look. And the haircut is perfect.

Anonymous

The link Sal posted has my opinion, lol. Kibbe still confuses me.

The Cat

Veteran

Agree with everything Laura G said.

Joy

Veteran

I gave up in confusion but learned that my body (angular) and face ( soft) do not go together. I am sure that I'm not the only one.

lozz_oz

Veteran

I'm going to have to do some reading about this as its new to me. Great haircut by the way!

Sal

Veteran

In reading the old thread and link I think I am a flamboyant natural. I fit most of the physical characteristics and this might explain why I feel good in bolder pieces but with a casual air.

My first picks for you would be gamine or maybe classic.. but then you have a natural look as well, but your colouring is dramatic. What styles of clothing are you drawn to that feel the most authentic?

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Due to the subjective nature of the questions, I think it would be helpful to have a trained technician perform the assessment. I've done it on myself--I think I was a soft classic--but I'd appreciate a trained second opinion. It does make sense to me that you should work with the style-cues or parameters that you are given. Makes me a little sad though as it confirms that I cannot carry off a super stark and edgy look ;-(

Susan

Thank you ladies for all your input and kind words about my haircut! I cut it into a pixie on a whim when I turned 30, and in the 16 years since keep coming back to it. It is easiest for my hair type (very thick and coarse), and makes me feel more, not less, feminine, if that makes any sense. I'm glad I'm not the only one confused by Kibbe. I also think it's very hard to be objective about oneself. I will check out the link you so kindly provided Sal. I tend to gravitate towards feminine styles, but nothing too girly or restrictive. I love accessories with a sense of humor. I like dresses as they are easier than pants fit-wise, but I love me a good trouser. I would LOVE to rock the Claire Underwood "House of Cards" look, or streamlined and edgy/androgynous like Marlene Dietrich, but I'm too curvy /soft and short waisted for that.

Susan

I'm with you on that Emily. I dream of stark/edgy, but my face and more so my body won't allow it. Neither will my kooky/eccentric personality, lol.

Gaylene

Veteran

Ah, the Kibbe rabbit hole is re-opened. But I wouldn't be too quick to adopt, or reject, what you can actually wear. I'll go to the grave maintaining that Kibbe's intention was never to put women into categories in order to tell them how to dress--or to have women imitate movie stars.

After reading his book, and researching some of his more recent writings, I've become convinced Kibbe's intention has always been to liberate women from a conventional, narrow ideal of feminine beauty by providing them with a tool which offered multiple versions of feminine beauty--a way of celebrating our uniqueness instead of trying to camouflage and disguise our "imperfections". His style cues revolve around line, shape, and proportion, not whatever is currently fashionable, and his guidelines are suggestions to be explored, not dictates about what we should, and shouldn't, wear.

Taken out of context, the questionnaire, images, and categories are of limited value. But, when I used Kibbe's tools as a stepping off point for some serious personal reflection, I ended up with a real insight into why some looks "get" me, while others are a constant struggle. Even better, Kibbe's ideas made me feel good about my face and body not looking like the slim, small-boned, evenly proportioned, feminine-featured ideal which was always held up to me as the way a woman ought to look. I'm Kibbe's Dramatic, and, when I dress my height, IT shoulders, narrow hips, and angular features as a Dramatic, I feel good about those very features other "experts" would have me downplay.

Laura G

Veteran

Joy -- so which one are you getting rid of?

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Gaylene--what you wrote is exactly correct, IMHO!

Sal

Veteran

I agree too Gaylene.

Used correctly there is a freedom in embracing your shape, your colouring, your features and playing to their strengths to look stylish. I think (and I think the same about colour theory) that it is not as simple as ticking all the boxes - it is a general overall feel or look.

The challenge is when your shape and/or colouring are against your style preferences. If you are very tall and muscular and prefer delicate lace, or if you are petite and rounded and prefer androgynous looks, or if your colouring suits warm but you are drawn to cool colours. Of course you CAN make it work, but it is not so easy.

Susan

Gaylene,
I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. I believe he really wants women to take what they perhaps perceive as flaws, and celebrate them for what they are, the things that make us uniquely beautiful. His message, albeit sometimes confusing, is truly positive in my humble opinion. I want to utilize it to help me be more mindful about how my money is spent wardrobe wise. Now that I'm in my 40s I feel compelled, more than ever, to have a thoughtful wardrobe that truly flatters and expresses who I am.

Gaylene

Veteran

@Sal. Good points about our sartorial preferences not always aligning with our bodies and coloring. BUT, I give Kibbe credit for helping me realize I COULD wear lace, and even ruffles, as long as I found my Dramatic's version of those traditionally softer, "feminine" looks.

What appeals to me about Kibbe's ideas is his assertion that feminine beauty comes in different forms and shapes--and, once we find our niche, we can study the designs, lines, and shapes which highlight our strengths. Armed with that knowledge, we get to explore our fashion and style preferences without putting all our efforts into worrying about "does this camouflage my XX?"

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Gaylene's point about the liberating side of Kibbe is excellent. That said, I do see gamine in you - not because you have a pixie haircut (that would be putting the cart before the horse) but because you are happy with it and it is so flattering on you.

Anonymous

I'm not familiar with Kibbe but you are insanely adorable and the second photo is perfection.
I think you exude a glamorous feminine style with a slight edge built in, as though you have a good sense of humor, or an adventurous spirit.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love what Gaylene says about Kibbe, and it strikes me as just right. I haven't looked at the material for a while, but I find it fascinating (and quite confusing, when I try to analyze myself). With that caveat, I do see your face as more gamine than classic, and it seems the pixie haircut just suits you beautifully. Your smile and half-smile both convey a touch of mischief, along with openness and sincerity.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have not read Kibbe's book but I have looked at some of the materials online. I have also don some of the quizzes. I like what Gaylene wrote which is how I see Kibbe. His work is a tool to help not a box.
My first thought when I looked at your photo was how great you looked in your hair cut. It works for you. So that would probably move you towards Gamine. Hard to say what else.
I do best in Natural clothes, hairstyles and make up. I have done quizzes and read the online material. But I am not all in the Natural body type. I have smaller bones and hands, etc. I am certainly not muscular.

Anonymous

I admit what I have read about Kibbe completely confuses me. Perhaps Gaylene's assessment is correct. But I find the photos of women he has "transformed" to be so laboriously overstyled - that my simple mind really can't make much sense of the whole thing.
On the other hand, I had a number of "ah-ha!" revelations when I read Carla Mathis' book. I think it is called "The Triumph of Individual Style". She, too, focuses on shape, line, texture and how those attributes enhance one's natural appearance. I found those ideas easier to absorb when they weren't tied to a "type" but just presented individually.

Sorry I can't be of assistance in answering your original question, Susan. But, whatever Kibbe type you might be, you certainly have a gamine-ish appearance as that term is commonly thought of. Your pixie haircut emphasizes your lively features and brilliant smile!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I'm new to Kibbe, but just want to say I love your hair!

Susan

Isabel-

I've been called insane, but never "insanely adorable", thank you so much:)

Style Fan-
I can see you as a Natural of some kind, perhaps with a dose of Dramatic? You have such fine features, very refined, and remind me of Meryl Streep, who I think is lovely.

It seems that Gamine is coming out the winner...lol. I don't mind that style at all, just wondered if it would suit me and just wasn't sure. I guess I will be keeping the pixie as you have all been SO generous with the compliments. THANK YOU!

Anonymous

I had my style essences done by John Kitchener PSC from California. I am Natural/Classic/Romantic. He has videos on Youtube that helped me find my style. Pinterest is my friend too. Your hair is so cute! I have found that taking my picture in outfits helps me see myself better. I am struggling with getting older, weight around the middle and finding something uncropped, non ruffled and not low cut.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi Susan, I also adore your haircut. I had never heard of Kibbe until this year when it was mentioned by a forum member when I posted the photo below. One Fabber thought I looked "elfin" in the photo and someone else thought I might be a gamine. The pixie cut does suit my small face and I love 1920s Eton crops. When I looked into it though, I thought much of my 56 y old apple-middled shape was too soft for that. I also had a lot of Ds in my answers. In the end I thought maybe Theatrical Romantic. Might be wishful thinking because I just adore the look of Vivien Leigh!

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Laura G

Veteran

When I first saw this thread I wanted to bring up a book that had a similar aim but didn't confuse me. Couldn't remember the title. Thank you Ryce -- it's The Triumph of Individual Style. It addresses just about every physical characteristic a woman might have, including skin colors and textures, in a matter-of-fact way. Lots of practical suggestions, but not about "correcting" anything or bringing you closer to some ideal. Wonderful book if you can find it.

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