McJimsey's Natural - easier to understand than Kibbe

This is interesting. I agree--I find McJimsey's easier to understand. Thanks for posting it. I'm guessing I'm a Classic Dramatic, which is basically what I've come up with under Kibbe's guidelines. I really have a hard time analyzing my own features, though. Reading through the McJimsey stuff, I recognize that I have spent my life envying/wishing I were either natural or gamine.

10 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

What an interesting set of descriptions. You are right much more clear and easier to identify. I think I am more dramatic than I realized :-)!

10 years ago

psychedelicate

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Active Member

McJimsey is a little bit different also because you're not limited to one type. You are going to be a combination of types. If you are familiar with John Kitchener/PSC, it is more like that than Kibbe.

10 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Ok, I really don't quite understand your obsession with these types of analysis. In all the ones that you've been talking about, I don't see them talking about personality or lifestyle at all. Which in my mind trumps any of this. And do people in your day to day life really think at that level of analysis.
It seems to suck out the fun out of fashion, which is Angie's number one mantra.

10 years ago

psychedelicate

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Active Member

I can't speak for Bettycrocker, but on the contrary, I have found that style systems and color analysis have actually brought me BACK to fashion. Weight gain made it harder for me to figure out what to wear, and much like recommendations based purely on body type (which don't really work for me), it helps you identify what works and not waste time on things that don't. I know exactly what I need to make an outfit work for me. In terms of personality and lifestyle, that is for the individual. These systems are more about line, for the most part, just presented in a different way than body type recommendations.

10 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

bettycrocker, I couldn't help notice that there was a pic of an outfit with a skirt that in many ways resembled the one you posted about earlier! (And the outfit looks great.)

10 years ago

deb

Veteran

I bookmarked the site to read later. Thanks for the link. As for the analysis, I love to analyze everything. I think it is my blood so I find this view of fashion very interesting. We did a lot of this when I was taking design classes in college.

10 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

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Veteran

I agree with Anna. My lifestyle and my personality have more influence by far in what I choose to wear, than whether I have a heart-shaped face, or pale skin, or a larger chest.

In my experience, Kibbe was somewhat like reading my horoscope - enjoyable, interesting, and sometimes there are moments where I get to say 'Whoa! The Universe totally gets me!'. But mostly I just chuckle and go on with my day.

I'm not putting this down, or anyone who derives pleasure or enjoyment out of different types of analysis (I mean, seriously, how many 'wardrobe organization' threads and style-defining exercise threads have I eagerly jumped in on? There are always ideas to be derived in anything, and creative outlets to explore.

It just seems to me that if you plunge into this sort of analysis, without taking your own self and lifestyle into account, you will ultimately come up disappointed. I think any style has to come out of the things that inspire you, things that you enjoy,things that intrigue you, things that you secretly admire... no matter how strange or bizarre or taboo you might think those things might be.

10 years ago

Anonymous

I derive personal enjoyment out of reading all sorts of things about style, including Kibbe, which is what I'm trying to understand at the moment. There are certainly things I accept and things I dismiss, and I'm not jumping on any bandwagon. I'm bringing it up for discussion because I find his system interesting. After all is said and done, I do learn a thing or two.

10 years ago

Janet

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Veteran

I'm with Anna -- all this stuff makes my eyes glaze over. I'm a very analytical person, but this goes overboard for me. I feel like I know myself and my tastes well enough that no hyper-analysis of my physical traits will urge me to wear ruffles or full skirts if I don't like ruffles or full skirts, for example. But then, I'm not a big fan of capsules or 333 projects either -- I'm too emotional of a dresser and follow my whims.

I take this level of analysis with a big dose of instinct and spontaneity. To each her own, of course!

10 years ago

Anonymous

Whenever I'm not interested in someone's discussions, or if I don't have anything constructive to add, I refrain from posting in that thread. But again, to each his own, and I get that you're not interested. I have no apologies for starting this conversation. Many style topics are brought up and discussed on YLF.

10 years ago

Janet

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Veteran

I totally get that this level of analysis can be fun for others -- that's why I say to each her own!

10 years ago

Anonymous

Yep. Got it.

10 years ago

amiable

Veteran

This level of analysis is really fun for me some of the time. Thanks for posting it bettycrocker! I'm enjoying reading them, and you're correct, they're easier to understand than Kibbe. (I think I'm likely a natural, but haven't read the others yet).

10 years ago

Anonymous

You're welcome, amiable. I just like reading about it and determining which aspects, if any, apply to me. Like color analysis and body shape tips, there are things I choose to incorporate and things I choose to disregard. It's fun reading!

10 years ago

Laurie

Active Member

Know thyself, right? Self-analysis is never a bad thing in my book.

10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

This was interesting. In Kibbe's system, I am a gamine, but I see that in this system, I am in between gamine and ingenue. What was interesting was that it said that ingenues often become romantics as they age, and I definitely have a romantic streak. So I like how this system allows for more crossover than Kibbe. Thanks for posting!

10 years ago

Suz

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Veteran

Thanks for posting.

I don't fall into any of the categories in this system, which is interesting in itself!

10 years ago

psychedelicate

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Active Member

Suz, it is from the 1950s and was updated in the early 70s, so maybe that's why. And most people, according to the book, are going to be a combination of types, not just one.

10 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

The description of "Natural" fit me so exactly it was kind of weird to read it. Even the part of not liking certain colors because they feel "unnatural." And the part about shiny leather or shiny anything in clothing for that matter. Candace Bergen and Ali McGraw were both style icons for me as a kid.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Could be. I'd be such a combination that I wouldn't be able to take direction at all. I think it's because I'm one of those "yang" dominant but not "natural" smaller people. Definitely not an ingenue, definitely not romantic, not tall or dark enough for dramatic, and not a yin-dominant gamine. But not classic either.

Doesn't matter to me -- I am far enough along on this that I know some things that work and some that don't, irrespective of labels. What works: clean sharp lines and angles (especially asymmetrical angles); framing, tipping, stripes, checks, colourblocking. Separates. High hip length jackets work best but can also do longer or shorter if the details are right. Slim pants & jeans ideal. Refined footwear. Structured bags.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Texstyle, that's exactly how I felt when I read McJinsey's decription of "Natural." It suits me to a tee. And boy, do I not like shiny stuff. It's great on others, but not on me.

10 years ago

psychedelicate

(website)

Active Member

Suz, that sounds exactly like Kibbe FG, but if you've already got a handle on it, you don't need him. It is nice, though, to be able to talk fashion with my fellow FGs because we can share FG-specific finds, hairstyles, etc. FG would be gamine + dramatic + sometimes natural in McJimsey, I think. I get a little ingenue for myself too due to coloring.

10 years ago

girlwithflowers

Member

It took me a year to figure out my kibbe type (soft classic) and now I'm curious about my McJimsey type. I'm short and look young for my age (Currently 21). Looking young for my age is genetic. My parents look young. (Even though my mom barely cares for her skin and is stressed out all the time)

4 years ago

girlwithflowers

Member

It took me a year to figure out my kibbe type (soft classic) and now I'm curious about my McJimsey type. I'm short and look young for my age (Currently 21). Looking young for my age is genetic. My parents look young. (Even though my mom barely cares for her skin and is stressed out all the time)

4 years ago

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