I do understand the Yin & Yang concepts according to Kibbe, but feel like I can't be dressed in all Yin (as a Romantic Kibbe Type would suggest) - ruffles & ornate patterns can feel too busy & overwhelming on my height. But I also can't dress in all Yang either (I don't have strong enough features or height to pull it off). So I think I'm also somewhere in the middle with you @suntiger, leaning slightly more towards Yin than Yang (a Soft Classic, maybe? Don't think Theatrical Romantic fits?)

PS - I mentioned on the original post that I find 'wavy' stripes to fit me better than heavy block ones. Attached is an example of what I mean. I've also been thinking that maybe polka dots could be a better 'basic print' alternative to stripes for the Yin crew (since they're round), but reading that Gamine is more Yang than Yin is making me second guess that now. Any thoughts?

I have Saturday brain right now and I’m not quite up to working thru all of this, but I’m Bookmarking this to come back to it later. Interesting ideas, and i love thinking about things in a new way

I went down the rabbit hole, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned some new things. and reminded myself of others. It makes more sense now that I am having a hard time with current fashion- much of it is not my style, or my color palette. Very interesting, and reaffirming!

Suntiger, you are dead right! For the most part, Classic Gamine and Yang. But I LOVE soft and pretty flow, items with movement, lace, flounces, some pastels, and ballet flats too. There is Ingenue for sure. A little Natural cherry on top, perhaps?

Gamine Style is "Pure Playfulness", and I sooooo relate to that:

https://www.truth-is-beauty.co.....-type.html

Thanks for your great analysis

I think that is right for you Angie! And NemosMom I do think you are FN - texture, long lines, a bit of ruggedness, Relaxed hair, some bold elements, not fussy.

According to Kibbe I'm too short to be a Natural, and am probably somewhere in between flamboyant gamine and dramatic classic if we're talking strictly about body type. I tend to do well with the "broken" lines that suit gamine types, rather than long unbroken lines (e.g. I rarely do column-of-colour looks, or long-over-lean). I do like both the Natural-Classic-Gamine and Natural-Dramatic-Gamine looks on Truth is Beauty; there's kind of a sweet spot in between the two for me -- not too prep/polished and not too punk/RATE -- that I aim for but rarely hit.

I'd never really considered colouring as an element of the yin/yang continuum; I sort of think of colour as its own distinct axis. I've moved away from high-contrast over the past year or two towards mid/low-contrast looks. I don't wear a lot of pure black or pure white anymore. With colour, I'm never sure how much my shifts are a reflection of the zeitgeist vs understanding myself better. My personal colouring is definitely lower-contrast than it used to be, thanks to growing my hair out and spending a lot of time outside. But if I chop off all my hair and go back to working mostly indoors, that will change again. Will I go back to wearing higher contrast outfits? Who knows! I do think low-contrast and tonal is also "in" right now, and I'm sure that plays a role in what I choose.

Does embracing softer colours and longer hair bring more yin elements into my style? Could be, but tempered by a lot of other yang elements: linear patterns, sturdy fabrics... I definitely think it's important to use yin and yang as a continuum, not an either/or.

The blog post about "It's a good time to be gamine" really resonates. I was totally lost when *everything* was long-over-lean. There was just nothing for me to wear! I did pretty much all my shopping at thrift stores. Then the Kamm Pants/high-rise cropped wide-leg trend came in, along with boxy tops and chunky shoes, and suddenly I could shop retail again.

This truly is a rabbit hole! I find this sort of analysis much more compelling and interesting than color theory, so I spent some time poking around, following the links. Thanks for sharing this. I guess if someone has what we would call an "effortless" or "genuine" style, they are intuitively putting together looks that complement their physical self and overall gestalt (vibe, presence, drama, warmth, etc.), so everything looks cohesive and unstudied. It's very interesting.

I am finding it really freeing to be able to say something just isn’t me, even if it means sitting out long retail cycles.

I like what Jonesy said - effortless style may actually be aligned style. I have read a lot about these systems, and the idea that your style works best when it reflects your natural lines or even essence is fascinating to me. A long time ago it was suggested here on this forum that I am a flamboyant gamine, which surprised me at first, but I have since run with it. Been having second thoughts lately, but that is another topic!

Yah, I like these discussions.
I think I’m a straight up classic, but love gamine styles. But I think I look best in the basic styles that are not “too” anything. Straight up the middle.

I think high contrast colour really works well on me too.

I’m trying to think of some things I feel uncomfortable in, and I think it’s mostly long straight lines don’t look that good, and...oversized anything, sadly. Dramatic colours work though.

Glad to get everyone thinking
Effortless to me is the opposite of "trying to make things work" just because they look right on others or they're trending or they're wardrobe orphans. It's putting something on that just feels like it belongs. Like it didn't come out of someone elses wardrobe.

Coming back to this thread because @suntiger's last comment (re: effortless style) plus a lot of talk about Gamine in particular reminded me of this:

I've seen Zooey Deschanel typed as different types of Gamine a lot. But I always felt this was a bit of a Catch 22, since that's the way she dresses anyway. Then when I saw a post arguing that she was a Romantic 'masquerading' as a Soft Gamine, something clicked. I couldn't find the original post but this interesting analysis got me thinking again of what it is that we actually class as Yin vs Yang features:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Kibbe.....asked_for/

The one with the short hair on all the types was interesting. Proof that people with R are just wrong with short hair (to my eye).

Wow. This is all so fascinating ! Thank
You for posting about it and everyone who is chiming in.

Am I the only one who gets completely lost in these discussions? But I remember getting very unsatisfactory, muddled results when I tried taking Kibbe quizzes. I have no idea what I am, although I laugh at the idea of my being gamine, so that's not it. Part of me is curious, but the other part of me is pretty sure it wouldn't make me do anything differently from what I already do.

Soft Dramatic, my guess for you Janet. Lots of great comments here. Aligned dressing, yes indeed!

Fun discussion! Thanks for alerting us to this, Suntiger!

For myself, I think maybe I'm closer to Classic Gamine, now that I've taken a closer look at all her options for Gamine.

Anyway, I'm definitely "something" gamine! It could be Dramatic Classic Gamine too -- but I agree with you that her examples seem off for me -- a bit too intense/ dressy/ sharp. Then again, they are no more "off" than the Classic Gamine or the Natural Gamine examples -- the natural gamine outfits are too relaxed, casual, and earthy for me—not as crisp and structured as my usual style. The classic clothes are a bit too ...mmmm, verging on cliché of French style? and also a bit dressier than my current style -- which, of course, is not my preferred aspirational style, i.e. I'm way more casual now than I was two years ago, due to pandemic and new living situation -- which is why you might have pegged me as "natural classic gamine." Makes sense.

I agree to SD for Janet!
Definitely C and G Suz in any case!

I agree Suntiger and Synne re Janet being Soft Dramatic - or this being the closest....

Thanks for sharing these articles about Kibbe types. I've read a few of them so far and plan to read more because I still haven't figured out what I am and how knowing what I am will help me. I ordered two tops recently that I now recognize as yin and yang and am wondering what that tells about me.

Very interesting read - need to come back and take my time with it.
So far I figured out that I'm Gamine with natural inclinations ( the rest needs to be discovered ). Although all the examples/pictures are so fabulous - I feel not measuring to any of them ( even as inspiration )
.

I never know where to step into the circle of these things to use them: look at myself and what I wear to determine what category fits, then use that category to determine what to wear.

Those are pretty far apart Bonnie! Are you picturing them for different moods/ occasions?
I think there's definitely something to be said for starting with the clothes, what's working and not, to determine the Kibbe. And the main usefulness is it's then easier to figure out what will be harmonious, and stop buying, or even considering, those things that have no properties in common.

And the main usefulness is it's then easier to figure out what will be harmonious, and stop buying, or even considering, those things that have no properties in common.

Yeah. I like what Shevia and a few others above (can't remember now, sorry!) said about aligned style. Some get to this intuitively, and some need to be more analytic.

And even if you do it intuitively, it can sometimes be good -- when you're stuck about something -- to think about these yin/ yang balances or the categories to figure out why. For instance, I love tonal and column of colour outfits on others. But on me, they always always always feel "flat.
I mean, unless I add a scarf with a pattern or pops of colour via bag, shoes, etc.

It makes complete sense with my style type.

For visual types, this site is way easier than going directly down the Kibbe rabbit hole. Even if the clothing examples aren't completely current, you can get the idea pretty easily and quickly and see the distinctions between the subtypes.

ETA, Bonnie --

Check out the Natural-classic- gamine that Suntiger pegged me as. The colours are not right for you but maybe the style sensibility, to an extent.

I think it could also explain your choice of those two tops and why both might work on you really well. First -- while one is yin and one is yang, both are patterned and also tops, and you would COMBINE them with other outfit elements to create the balance that works best on you. And that would work really well. Also, while the patterns are quite different, there is a horizontal effect to both tops that would "cut you in half" (combined with bottoms) which for a gamine type is a good thing, not a bad thing, weirdly enough. And even if you wore tonal bottoms (which you might well do, for figure flattery or simple cohesion) those patterns up top would give you the sense of movement or dynamism or playfulness that is important to your overall look.

I'm definitely a gamine of some type who veers toward yang but I, too, happily choose and wear lots of "yin" type clothing -- soft scarves with organic patterns, for instance, and some tonal or organic patterns on blouses, sweaters, etc. It works -- if there's a balance of other elements.

Suntiger - Thanks for your help. I like the idea of starting with the clothes and what is working, and your explanation of the usefulness of the Kibbe types. I know I'm not R or D and don't buy those kinds of items and I thinkI must be a G, C, or N and buy items in all of those categories. Now I realize it would be useful to stick with one type.

Suz: Thanks for chiming in. There is a N-C-G category? I've always loved your outfits so it makes sense we share a similar type. I will check those articles.

Sorry for the quick replies but I'm camping at our local beach right now, it's our first trip in over a year in our MH and kind of a quick practice trip before we take a longer trip in May.

Jealous of the beach camping!
I don't think I have any gamine at all! All the juxtapostion these days seems like it would be gamine, cause it's playful. On some it looks authentic, but feels like a costume on me. Tattoo "poser" on my forehead costumey-lol.

Haha @suntiger in that case I'm not sure if I'm a Romantic either then, since I thought I'd look awful with short hair but surprisingly it looked ok (or at least the forum seemed to think so - also my husband kept trying to convince me not to do it but, now that I have, he keeps asking when I'm going to get my hair cut short again lol!)

I do think that it took more effort to make sure I had a cut that would 'work' for me though (still somewhat long in places), as opposed to another Kibbe Type (say 'Gamine') that could probably get away with a much shorter look with panache.

Oh well, food for thought - I therefore have no idea what I am either @Janet

Well I thought I would be a Theatrical Romantic but my hair has been wrong for that since I cut it all off aged 35. The difference between that and Romantic Gamine is not easy though in my recent reading...