Kibbe body types: Style guide with a test (2024)

Kibbe's theory

David Kibbe's body type theory is one of the systems of appearance typing based on the manifestations of Yin and Yang in a particular woman.

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David Kibbe

Yin, according to Chinese philosophy, is a woman. She is characterized by soft forms and features, roundness, romanticism. Yang, on the contrary, is masculine with its angularity, stiffness, activity. According to Kibbi's typology, each person combines both yin and yang, and the type is determined by the ratio of these beginnings in appearance.

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After determining the body type by Kibbe theory, women are dramatically transformes and look harmonious

In his book Metamorphosis, David Kibbe assured us that this formula for finding a style works, but it's not perfect. No limits and restrictions - the result you get is only a reference point to help you find your style.

Kibbe body types: classification

David Kibbe's theory states that women can be divided into 5 basic types and 8 additional types. In total, the classification includes 13 body types.

The main types of appearance according to Kibbe:

  1. dramatic;
  2. natural;
  3. gamine;
  4. romantic
  5. classic.

Below we have compiled a description of Kibbe types with brief style recommendations.

How to determine your type

To find out your Kibbe type, you have to take a test, which includes a visual analysis of:

  • height;
  • shoulders;
  • arms and legs;
  • torso;
  • hips;
  • face;
  • hair.

The first time you try to define your type according to Kibbe, you almost always end up with a classic, a consequence of a biased assessment of appearance. Kibbe himself notes in the book that classics are very rare.

When taking the test, it is important to follow one rule: be objective. You may encounter internal resistance - sometimes it's hard to admit that you have broad shoulders or not feminine enough hips. But if you can let go of subjectivism, you're one step closer to finding a personal style that fits your temperament, body type and sense of self.

You can take a test to determine your Kibbe body type at the end of the article ➜

Dramatic

Dramatic body type according to Kibbe are bright and active girls. They have expressive looks, but depending on the subtype of the type, in different manifestations.

Dramatic could be:

  • soft;
  • pure.

Below we will look at the 2 subtypes of the dramatic in detail. Note that some of the descriptions in the types may coincide - this is due to the fact that they are based on similar external characteristics.

Soft dramatic

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The soft dramatic is a surprising combination of pronounced Yang with less traceable Yin. As a rule, it is a large and angular figure, which is softened by opulence.

Height - from 165 cm.

Body build is most often full, especially in the thighs and chest area. Arms and legs are long, waist is medium pronounced. Soft dramatics tend to be obese. The waist is the first to become fat, followed by the arms and legs.

The face is expressive, sharp. The cheekbones, chin, and nose are large, with a clear, angular shape. The eyes are large and the lips are lush and voluminous. Often girls of the soft dramatic type have cheeks.

Recommendations in the choice of clothes:

  • Choose soft fabrics. Too stiff material deprives the soft drama of grace and makes it too heavy, heavy. Don't be afraid of draperies - they will emphasize the yin and add the final touch to the soft dramatic image.
  • Use big jewelry and decorations. Simple, shallow, laconic is not what you need to express yourself. Cutouts are extreme, trimmings are sensual and expressive, accessories are flashy.
  • Stick to clear geometric shapes. Here it is important to balance between expressive shapes and softened angles - this is the only way to emphasize your type.

Celebrities with soft dramatic type: Sophia Loren, Marlene Dietrich, Monica Bellucci, Eva Mendes.

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Monica Bellucci

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Eva Mendes

Pure dramatic

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Pure dramatic also combines two beginnings at once, but here it is more dominated by Yang.

Height - from 165 cm.

The physique is angular, the legs and arms are elongated. The figure is slender, and if the girl is prone to fullness, puffiness is formed in the hips and never in the upper part of the figure.

Face - the features are straight, the eyes are usually elongated, such as almond-shaped. The lips are thin, the skin is taut.

Tips for choosing clothes:

  • Keep the geometry. In contrast to the soft dramatic, the pure one needs to use clear shapes and not soften them - the more expressive the geometry, the more it will match the appearance.
  • Choose fabrics that hold their shape. It can be thin and light - like cotton or linen, or heavy and dense - tweed, denim, twill, brocade, suiting.
  • Make friends with minimalism in details. Jewelry, decorations on clothing, accessories, choose minimalist. No fuss - only restraint and chiseled forms.

Pure dramatic type celebrities: Cate Blanchett, Joan Crawford, Tilda Swinton.

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Cate Blanchett

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Tilda Swinton

Kibbe's Dramatic type - description and tips on choosing clothes

Natural

Kibbe natural body type is athletic girls, close to Yang, but softened by feminine Yin. The straight man's physique is far from the typical female figure, but this is compensated for by expressive facial features and charisma.

Natural may be:

  • soft;
  • pure;
  • flamboyant.

Soft natural

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The soft natural is characterized as sensual and fresh. Yang is very difficult to trace here, as it is compensated by the predominant Yin. Soft lines, innocent appearance, and a beautyful figure make the soft natural attractive and feminine.

Height - no taller than 171 cm.

Physique - possible tendency to slight obesity. Thin waist, hips and breasts are expressive. Figure most often resembles an hourglass type, but without expressive curves. Lushness is observed in the upper arms and legs.

The face is soft and rounded. Lips are plump, eyes are round of medium size, nose is small and often wide.

Advice on how to choose clothing:

  • Emphasize the waist. Your waist is one of your main assets, so try to accentuate it with straps, belts or a fitted cut. But do not overdo it - do not overstretch this area.
  • Do away with crisp geometry. It is acceptable to use asymmetry and irregular geometry, but a little softened is better.
  • Use loose silhouettes. Try to choose dresses with flared skirts, loose pants and other clothes with a relaxed cut. Emphasize the silhouette only in the waist area.

The celebrities of the type of soft natural: Heidi Klum, Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johansson.

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Sandra Bullock

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Scarlett Johansson

Pure natural

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The pure natural is a muscular figure, almost devoid of smooth silhouette outlines, but not seemingly angular. The image of the pure natural demonstrates his sense of humor, inexhaustible energy and charisma.

Height - average, no taller than 173 cm.

The physique resembles a rectangle. The figure is thin, sometimes even excessively so. Hips and chest do not stand out, arms and legs are elongated. The waist is weakly expressed.

Face - the features are broad, often asymmetrical. Eyes medium to small, lips thin.

Advice on how to choose clothing:

  • Pay attention to the fabric. Almost all kinds of fabrics - from light and airy to heavy - go with the pure straight. But there are exceptions - translucent and delicate materials will be inappropriate. The list of undesirable includes stretch fabrics with the exception of knitwear.
  • Stay with uncomplicated details. Do not complicate your images with complicated prints, small accessories, heavy jewelry. Choose simple minimalistic things, devoid of drama and theatricality.
  • Demonstrate charisma and uncommonness. In the pursuit of simplicity, do not forget that one of the virtues of a straight man is charisma. Mix simple prints, play with textures, styles - create a unique, even a little diffuse style.

Pure natural celebrities: Ally Sheedy, Liv Tyler, Carol Burnett.

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Ally Sheedy

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Liv Tyler

Flamboyant natural

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Kibby's flamboyant natural is bold and impulsive women. The figure is angular, but not sharp or rigid.

Height - from 165 cm.

The physique is large. Shoulders are often broad, arms are long. Angularity is observed. The chest and hips are flat, without roundness.

Face - eyes can be any size from very small to very large. The lips are thin and straight, and the features are open.

Recommendations for the choice of clothes:

  • Add soft pieces to your closet. Look for clothes made of suede, leather or fabric that has a velvety surface. It will look perfect with the flamboyant body type.
  • Do away with the intricate details. Do not overcomplicate images with a lot of elements, and if you want to surprise people around you, use a combination of textures - it will look more effective. If the clothes have some ornaments, choose simple and large elements, asymmetry or irregular shape.
  • Wear clothes with a low waist. Look at the trend for things with a low fit - your type allows you to wear such clothes. It will make your waist visually longer, which will only benefit you.

Celebrities of the flamboyant natural type: Nicole Kidman, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz.

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Cameron Diaz

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Sarah Jessica Parker

Kibbe Natural - body type description and style tips

Gamine

The Kibbe Gamine type is a play of opposites. On the one hand, miniaturization in figure and facial features, as required by Yin, on the other hand, a straight physique, as expected for Yang.

Gamine can be:

  • soft;
  • pure;
  • flamboyant.

Soft gamine

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Soft Gamine by Kibbe is all about charm and femininity combined with determination and courage.

Height - up to 165 cm.

Body - the body is soft, often traced tendency to obesity. Hips and chest with beautiful curves, waist of medium definition. Arms and legs are soft and short.

The face is doll-like. Rounded eyes, expressive cheeks, puffy lips. The contour is rounded, sometimes with a heavy jaw.

Recommendations for clothing choices:

  • Choose fabrics that hold their shape. They can be thin or thick, but they should always be stable, immobile. It is not advisable to choose materials that are prone to creasing.
  • Emphasize the waist. Add belts to your looks, and choose clothes with accents at the waist - embroidery, contrasting trim.
  • Avoid minimalistic looks. Simplicity is not your option. Much better suit clothes with an abundance of intricate details that will emphasize individuality.

Soft Gamine type stars: Jessica Brown Findlay, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

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Jessica Brown Findlay

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Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen

Pure gamine

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Pure Gamine is the type of Gamine in its classic manifestation, that is, composed of opposites. They are also miniature girls, but less cute than the soft gamine.

Height - below 165 cm.

The physique is lean. Whereas the soft gamine is prone to obesity, the pure gamine, on the contrary, is more wiry and lean. Breasts and hips are hardly traceable, legs can be very long even in adolescence.

Face - expressive large eyes, thin, straight lips. No roundness is visible - all parts of the face are taut.

Recommendations for clothing choices:

  • Give up softness and smoothness. Use clear sharp forms with clear geometry. Smoothness does not suit pure gamine body type, as it strongly contrasts with your appearance.
  • Work out the details. Pure gamine can afford to abound in elements - prints, jewelry, and accessories are acceptable in almost any quantity.
  • Forget about modesty. Gamine is a charismatic and attractive person, so there is no need to be modest about your clothes, hair and makeup.

The stars of the pure gamine type: Coco Chanel, Rosanna Arquette, Heather Locklear.

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Coco Chanel

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Rosanna Arquette

Flamboyant gamine

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The type of flamboyant gamine is opposites with a predominant masculinity. Yin is also important, but Yang still dominates.

Height - up to 167 cm.

The physique is muscular and pronounced. Girls of the flamboyant gamine type are often flexible and sturdy. Lines are straight, hips and chest without curves. The legs are long, which especially stands out against the low height.

The face - big eyes, medium or full lips, the shape of the face increased or in length - elongated, or in width - wide.

Recommendations for the choice of clothes:

  • Look out for irregular shapes. Unusual and asymmetrical will look great on your figure. At the same time, everything should be moderate, not too intricate.
  • Don't wear total looks. Flamboyant gamine is lost against the background of monochrome images, so it is not recommended to wear blouses in one color. Better pay attention to contrasting, saturated, screaming colors and their combinations.
  • Find the golden mean in fabrics. You do not want fabrics that are too light or too heavy. The ideal choice is moderately firm, able to hold its shape.

Stars of the flamboyant gamine type: Penelope Cruz, Zooey Deschanel, Shari Belafonte.

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Penelope Cruz

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Zooey Deschanel

Kibbe Gamine body type - description and style tips

Romantic

The Kibbe Romantic type is an appearance with a predominantly feminine quality. Smooth curves, grace and elegance are the main characteristics of the image. The romantic is characterized by the desire to always make his image sublime and memorable - simplicity is not about this type.

The Kibbe type of romantic comes in 2 varieties:

  • pure;
  • theatrical.

Pure romantic

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A pure romantic is exactly the type we described above - soft, seductive, in some places aristocratic and diplomatic.

Height - not tall, usually below 165 cm.

The physique is most often of the hourglass type. Voluminous breasts, seductive hips, expressive and thin waist. Arms and legs lush, but moderately so.

The face is sensual, appealing. Full lips, big eyes, rounded features and contours.

Advice on how to choose clothing:

  • Choose the right silhouettes. For a pure romantic, strict lines and angular shapes are forbidden. The cut and shape of clothes should be soft and rounded. Circles are not necessarily correct - intricate figures in the silhouette base are also welcome, but softened.
  • Accentuate the figure. Romantics are the owners of the hourglass figure type and should emphasize it. Highlight the waist, beautiful breasts and hips. Don't be afraid of tight clothes that highlight the silhouette.
  • Use soft or light fabrics. Stiff materials are not the best solution. Choose crepe, jersey, silk - they drape well, emphasizing the cute appearance. Suede and velvet are suitable for the denser fabrics.

Stars of the pure romantic type: Christina Ricci, Beyonce, Marilyn Monroe, Kate Winslet.

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Beyonce

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Kate Winslet

Theatrical romantic

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The theatrical romantic is grace and appeal, but with a touch of drama. This type allows a little bit of drive in the image, but the basic recommendations will be the same as for a pure romantic.

Height - less than 165 cm.

The physique is petite, like an hourglass. The curves are expressive, but not large.

The face is sweet, soft. Big eyes, plump lips, rounded cheeks.

Recommendations for the choice of clothes:

  • Avoid shapelessness. Hourglass is not a figure to hide, so forget about oversize, baggy pants and oversized sweaters. It is important for the theatrical romantic to emphasize her beauty, otherwise she will not feel confident.
  • Work on details. Jewelry, accessories, trimmings in clothing - choose complex, interesting ones. Simplicity and minimalism are not suitable for the theatrical romantic. Bows, lace, embroidery, sequins - all this will fit perfectly into the image.
  • Give up everything large. A large bag, a huge bow, massive earrings - such elements of the outfit come into conflict with a petite graceful figure.

The stars of the theatrical romantic type: Mila Kunis, Rihanna, Salma Hayek.

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Mila Kunis

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Salma Hayek

Kibbe Romantic - features of the type and selection of clothing style

Classic

The Kibbe Classic type is a clear balance of masculine and feminine. Women of this type are elegant and refined. Their appearance is symmetrical and their images are sexy and classic at the same time.

A classic could be:

  • pure;
  • soft;
  • dramatic.

Pure classic

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A pure classic is a traditional, undiluted classic type of appearance. Moderately austere and clear, elegant, attractive.

Height - average, ranging from 162 to 170 cm.

The physique is proportional. Hips, bust and waist with harmoniously distributed volume. The body is trim, moderately muscular.

The face is expressive, symmetrical, and harmonious. The facial features are as if chiseled.

Recommendations for the choice of clothing:

  • Always choose symmetry. Perfectly cut clothes with a clear shape and symmetry of details are what you need to emphasize your beautiful figure and facial features.
  • Use simplicity. Your appearance does not need an addition - you are already harmonious and expressive, so do not complicate it with clothes and accessories. Point details of simple shape and design are allowed, but without fanaticism.
  • Don't try to be cute. Your appearance will not look harmonious with cute flowers and bears, so it is not recommended to soften the image in this way. It is better to bet on the advantages - to emphasize the aristocratism and elegance.

The stars that are pure classics: Isabelle Huppert, Cybill Shepherd.

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Isabelle Huppert

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Cybill Shepherd

Soft classic

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A soft classic, as opposed to a pure one, is a little lighter and more romantic, but without extremes. There is also a balance between masculine and feminine, but with a slight preponderance of Yin.

Height - up to 167 cm.

Body is symmetrical, but rounded. There is a tendency to slight obesity, but the figure is well-proportioned. Arms and legs short in relation to height.

The face is symmetrical and proportional. The eyes are large, the lips are plump.

Recommendations for the choice of clothes:

  • Avoid angularity. Make sure that silhouettes, prints and accessories are not too sharp. Choose models with softened corners, but be sure to have a flat and symmetrical shape.
  • Do not wear clothes made of heavy and stiff fabrics. The soft classic is a softened version of the classic, so it does not tolerate thick materials and rough textures.
  • Don't make up diffuse images. Each detail in the outfit must combine with all the rest, so - no eclecticism. In general, it is better to be careful with the number of accessories - there should not be too many of them.

Stars with a soft classic type: Carolina Herrera, Laura Linney.

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Carolina Herrera

Kibbe body types: Style guide with a test (38)

Laura Linney

Dramatic classic

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The Dramatic Classic is a combination of the Dramatic and the Classic, but with a predominance of the latter. The type is characterized by clean lines in the figure and even some sharpness - in the shoulder area, for example.

Height - up to 171 cm.

Physique is neat and trim. All parts of the body are proportional - waist, hips, chest, everything looks harmonious. Arms and legs are medium to long. The appearance of the figure will change abruptly if you gain weight - the waist will disappear, the hips and buttocks will become rounded. In this case, the figure resembles a pear type.

The face is average throughout: average-sized eyes, lips, features.

Recommendations for the choice of clothing:

  • Don't be afraid of sharp shapes. The dramatic classic is a great type to use sculpted silhouettes with clear and sometimes sharp angles. But - the clothes should sit perfectly, clearly on the figure.
  • Do away with light and heavy fabrics. Medium-density fabrics are ideal for you. Knitted materials and knitwear are also suitable.
  • Wear clothes with shoulder pads. The shoulders are the part of the body worth emphasizing, so the trend for wide-shouldered clothing should not pass by the dramatic classics.

The celebrities of the Dramatic Classics type: Maria Shriver, Olivia Wilde.

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Maria Shriver

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Olivia Wilde

Kibbe Classic body type description and style guide
How to create your own personal style - 8 steps guide

Q&A

How do dramatics gain weight?

Depends on the type of dramatic. Soft - gets fat in the area of the chest, hips, waist, and arms and legs. The fullness is especially evident in the face. Pure Dramatics have excess weight deposited in the thighs and almost never affect the top.

What should I do if I don't like my Kibbe type and the style it suggests?

First of all, you should follow the advice of the author of the method and not take the information about your body type as the only guide to action. In addition, the recommendations can always be adjusted slightly so that they do not conflict with your type, but still be comfortable for you.

What kind of Kibbe type can a girl be if she is tall?

Girls who are tall are more likely to be natural or dramatic. But you should not focus only on one external characteristic - they are evaluated as a whole. Sometimes it happens that some characteristics have slight deviations from the described indicators - this is normal.

DRESS MagazineEverything about the figure and body types - selection of clothes according to the body type, improvement of figure with the help of clothes - in the section of the DRESS Magazine

Types of women's figures and suitable clothing
Write your opinion

For the test to be useful and to help with style choices, you need to stick to the main rule: Be objective and answer the questions honestly.

Kibbe body types: Style guide with a test (2024)

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