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kibbe types- confusion

Sally

Veteran

I have jumped down the rabbit hole of the kibbe /yin yang styling phenomena. Can you be between categories? I can't decide if I am a soft classic or dramatic classic. I'm 5ft 6inch and appear average in height and build. I always have a stomach and bust even when slim and my arms are quite fleshy, but I have long limbs compared to my torso. I am short-waisted and have very little waist definition, and hate wearing anything that shows off the waist or stomach too much. The kibbe theory advocates classics define their waists.

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Body Type

20 replies

Latest reply was from suzieq

Anonymous

I'm not sure about the classic. I'd be more inclined to say soft dramatic. I would definitely have guessed you taller.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I think that most people are going to fall somewhere in between on all of this. More that thinking about your specific body, think about what you feel most authentic in when you're wearing it and then determine what style that is....at least, that's how I think of it.
Like, for me- I'm not tall, but people who see photos always assume I am taller than I am, probably partly because I have large hands/feet. So I fit into a type that includes a long vertical line in the description, even though I'm not tall.

Hope that helps...

Joy

Veteran

I don’t take Kibbe seriously when I figured out that I do not fit into any category. My face is a different type from my body.

cat2

Veteran

Joy, I failed Kibbe as well!

rachylou

Veteran

I worked backwards to my Kibbe type, from materials and construction to category...

Sal

Veteran

I see you as more of a Natural Sally. You suit relaxed styles - Long lines, loose hair, denim etc - it leans that way to me.

I think it resonates with some people more than others. It resonates with me more than colour theory (I have decided I mostly suit warm colours and avoid about five colours (mid-dark grey, bright white near my face, taupe and cool browns, acidic yellows and greens, and icy pastels) mostly and the rest sort of falls into place.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

There are layers upon the original system that accommodate (or try to) mixes and face/body mismatches. The main takeaway for me is that there are many kinds of beauty and different people are flattered by different styles, shapes, lines, silhouettes, patterns etc. Sounds obvious but if you think about how style and trends used to work with everyone pretty much dressing alike, it is not obvious at all.

The Triumph of Individual Beauty was the first and best book to introduce me to this paradigm shift.

slim cat

Veteran

I second what @Sal said - more Natural than Classic. Soft casual with polished finishes, etc.
I think what important is what you feel when you wear certain clothes, styles, your comfort and preference.

Bijou

Veteran

I agree with Sal - I see you as a Natural rather than a Classic. More Jennifer Aniston than Grace Kelly.

Sally

Veteran

Thank you everyone for your help. I was out pondering over it while doing other things....lucky I'm on holiday so can spend time on this.
@suntiger I wondered about soft dramatic too as they are similar. I think the soft is important.
@chewyspaghetti.Yes I get what you mean about seeming tall. Two people of the same height can seem tall or short. People often think I am taller than I am in photos too.
@ Joy and Cat2 LOL at failing kibbe
@Rachylou yes I can see that that would work if you know what suits you.
@ Sal, slim cat and Bijou yes I can see where you are coming from with the natural because I tend to wear natural casual clothes. But I suppose we need to incorporate our body type into what fits our style and personality. For example my body is probably more like Catherine Zeta Jones than Jennifer Aniston because CZJ has the bust and tummy more apple shape (but she is thinner like most celebrities) but I wouldn't dress like CZJ ( or even Grace Kelly) because she wears a lot of glamourous dresses which probably wouldn't suit my personality or lifestyle. I love Jennifer Aniston's style but I couldn't pull off a lot of what she wears because her body is very different, eg the tank top with the cargo pants. I think the yin yang idea is also a bit of an epiphany as I've always loved mens wear and structured suits but I can't pull them off because they are too yang. Someone like Annie Lennox can do it. I need to incorporate the softness somewhere (the yin), so Jeans with a flowing top that doesn't cling and maybe a soft scarf or accessory. I"m still working out how to do this but I realise when I have got it right, I have got the right combination. Anyway just my thoughts and I'm still thinking it over and open to new ideas.
@ Shevia I would love to read that book.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Sally I am not sure ( and sorry Shevia if I am wrong) but it may be The Triumph of Individual Style ( not Beauty) by Carla Mathis. The very good Australian stylist Imogen Lamport does have a review on her site Inside Out Style, of it.
Some of these books such as David Kibbe’s book and that one may seem old-fashioned as they are from several decades ago, so even if the concepts are relevant the pics and styling may feel dated. In 2015 I happened to see an original copy of Carole Jackson’s book Colour Me Beautiful, which I had loved reading in the 80s, in a B and B we stayed in. I was excited! Alas, after 30 years not nearly so good as I remembered!
I don’t presume to know much about Kibbe but I did get excited when I discovered it because it seemed so different from the seasonal colours or the body shape systems.

Sally

Veteran

@Jenni NZ You are right about fashion books being outdated. That is the problem with fashion and photos.

You might be right about the natural. I think this is a better guide for finding the kibbe body guide.
https://fashiondigestlondon.co.....d-styling/

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

That's a great link, Sally. I particularly like the image guideline of the four body types next to each other, and the chart stating yin or yang for bone structure, face, etc. That makes a lot more sense.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

That’s a great site Sally, thank you!

Synne

Veteran

I like the "dress for your face"-approach to Kibbe. Here is an example,
https://www.truth-is-beauty.co.....-your-body

Star

Veteran

Hhhmm, I just did the Kibbe test and not relating to the results at all. I find Carol Tuttle's Dress Your Truth method more easier to identify with. Do you know it? I am a DYT 4/2 and it totally matches.

smittie

Veteran

You have a strong shoulder line and wear straight blazers very well. But you would probably not want to wear anything too tailored. So I would say natural, or possibly dramatic. (I think Jennifer aniston has a classic body type with a natural face.)

suzieq

@Joy: I failed Kibbe for the exact same reason. My face & body don’t match. I’m petite, but not the least bit Gamine.

nuancedream

Veteran

I am with Joy and suzieq with failing Kibbe. I guess I am some type of classic. Kibbe et al. are just guidelines, not hard and fast rules. I instinctively know what works or doesn't work for me.

suzieq

@nuancedream: i think I have good instincts on what looks good on me, too. The buying mistakes I’ve made in the past are pretty much all color related, not style. A full-length mirror helps.