The 13 Kibbe Body Types & Their Clothing Lines

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Answers: mostly A under all sections.

Height: typically moderate to tall, usually 5.5ft and over (long vertical line).

Body type: straight and angular, may tend to long or sleek musculature (sinewy or lithe). Usually have long legs and arms, which are narrow in width.

If overweight: weight usually collects around the hip and upper thighs as opposed to the upper torso.

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A Dramatic will NOT:

• Have an hourglass figure
• Have lush, full facial features (round eyes, fleshy cheeks, full lips)
• Have a broad or blunt bone structure or facial bones
• Be petite or appear extremely small in stature
• Be perfectly symmetrical
• Have short or fleshy arms and legs

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Clothing Lines

The Dramatic Kibbe body type is characterised by long and lean lines, which gives an elongated, masculine and powerful appearance. Your clothing lines should focus on recreating this length and sharpness.

Look for clean, long vertical lines, along with some tailoring to provide sharpness. Long and straight trousers, dresses, and coats are great. Keep your silhouette simple, straight, and clear, with very little detail and little to no colour blocking to highlight your long vertical line. Monochromatic colour schemes work best on you.

The overall shape of your clothing should be sharp and geometric - triangles, rectangles, and anything sculpted, sleek, and elongated with crisp edges.

Opt for thick and heavy fabrics that are stiff and hold their shape well.

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The Soft Dramatic body type is defined by sharp yang with a pronounced yin undercurrent and is the overall combination of a bold, exotic physicality combined with a powerful sensual essence.‍

A slight deviation from the following characteristics is always possible and should not be worried over as long as it does not upset the overall sharp yang with yin undercurrent balance.

Answers: mostly A, with a few D or E answers under body flesh and facial features.

Height: typically moderate to tall, usually 5.5ft and over. Long vertical line.

Body type: fleshy (unless ultra-thin), particularly through the bust and hip area. Usually have long legs and arms, which can become fleshy in the upper arm and thigh areas without exercise. Usually have moderate-sized waist, which can become thick.

If overweight: heaviness is seen at the fleshiest parts of the body: the bust, hips, waist, thighs, upper arms, and especially in the face.

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A Soft Dramatic will NOT:

• Have a boyish figure
• Have small hands and feet, or a delicate bone structure
• Be overly petite, or appear small in stature, with short limbs
• Have delicate or small facial features
• Be symmetrical in body type or facial features

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Clothing Lines

Like the pure Dramatic type, the Soft Dramatic body type is long with angular bones, but it has some added roundness and softness (Yin influence) coming from the body flesh and facial features, which give it a very womanly look.

Overall, a Soft Dramatic is still a Dramatic and therefore your clothing lines should be clean and long but with some added softness which can be achieved through draping lines and waist emphasis. Large floral and watercolour prints can also add softness. Lightweight fabrics that drape are excellent.

The overall shape of your clothing should be large and crisp with slightly rounded edges. Strive to create a T-silhouette - wide and voluminous around the shoulder line combined with an elongated silhouette. To highlight your long vertical line, opt for little to no colour blocking and keep the amount of detail to a minimum.

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The Flamboyant Natural body type is defined by sharp yang with a soft yang undercurrent and is the overall combination of bold, strong physicality combined with a free spirit.‍

A slight deviation from the following characteristics is always possible and should not be worried over as long as it does not upset the overall Sharp Yang with Soft Yang undercurrent balance.

Answers: mostly B, with a few A answers under bone structure.

Height: typically moderate to very tall, 5.5ft and over. Long vertical line.

Body type: straight and angular (broad, not sharp). Arms and legs tend toward musculature. Bust and hips tend to be flat or straight (unless very overweight).

If overweight: the body tends to become square and stocky, and the face becomes fleshy and puffy. Extreme excess weight collects primarily from the waist down.

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A Flamboyant Natural will NOT:

• Have a voluptuous body type with a curvy bust and hipline
• Have an hourglass figure
• Have delicate facial features with small or sharp bones
• Have exotic facial features
• Be extremely petite
• Be symmetrical in body type, bone structure, or facial features
• Have a sharp or extremely narrow bone structure

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Clothing Lines

The Flamboyant Natural Kibbe body type is characterised by long, wide lines with blunt edges. It has a bit more angularity (yang influence) than the pure Natural archetype.

To complement the natural lines of this body type, your clothing lines should create long and unconstructed silhouettes, and relaxed, unstructured outlines.

Use bold, sweeping lines, which are elongated and straight (no waist emphasis) in your outfits. Loose, oversized garments - wide trousers, long coats and cardigans, and long scarves that hang off the body - work great. Asymmetric elements will help keep your outfits unstructured.

Opt for textured fabrics and asymmetric prints to create interest in your outfits. Wild and unusual colour combinations will give you a more unconstructed look.

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Answers: mostly B under all sections.

Height: typically moderate to slightly tall, up to 5.8ft. Long vertical line.

Body type: straight and muscular. No waist definition. Lean and slightly lithe. Flat hips and slightly flat bustline. Slightly long arms and legs. Possibly long-waisted.

If overweight: the body tends to remain straight (as opposed to becoming curvy). Excess weight tends to broaden the midsection and make the body a little square in shape. Extreme excess weight gives a very stocky appearance.

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A Natural will NOT:

• Have an hourglass figure
• Be extremely petite or extremely tall
• Have overly exotic or prominent features
• Be symmetrical with evenly spaced features
• Have extremely sharp features
• Have a boyishly thin figure with a lack of musculature in the arms and legs

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Clothing Lines

The Natural Kibbe body type is characterised by long but wide lines, and with blunt (slightly rounded) edges. Your clothing lines should focus on creating a relaxed outline to bring some movement into the straight body frame.

Keep your clothing lines relaxed and straight. The silhouette should be softly tailored, but always unconstructed. You want to create a fairly narrow and slim shape, but in a loose and easy way.

Long elements, especially ones that hang off the body, such as long scarves and cardigans, will compliment your long vertical line. Add asymmetrical elements into the mix to help keep your outfits unconstructed. Clothing can be slightly oversized, but not too baggy so as not to widen the silhouette too much.

Work with textured fabrics and materials with a natural feel, such as linen, wool, and suede, and prints with soft-edged geometrics (plaids, stripes, paisleys, etc.) or asymmetric, irregular shapes to create interest in your outfit. Wild colour combinations also help break up your straight frame.

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Answers: mostly B, with a few D and E answers under body flesh and facial features.

Height: typically moderate to slightly small, up to 5.7ft.

Body type: slightly soft, tends towards fleshiness. Slightly small waist in proportion to bust and hips. Slightly curvy, tends to an hourglass shape, but not extremely so. Slightly fleshy upper arms and thighs.

If overweight: the body tends to become extremely soft and fleshy, with the waist thickening. The upper arms, thighs, and hips tend to collect excess weight and cellulite most rapidly.

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A Soft Natural will NOT:

• Have an extremely straight body type
• Have extremely sharp features
• Have extremely sharp bone structure
• Appear extremely tall
• Have an extremely large and broad bone structure
• Be symmetrical in body type and facial features

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Clothing Lines

The Soft Natural Kibbe body type is long and wide with blunt edges like the pure Natural type, but with some added softness and roundness (yin influence) to it.

To recreate your natural lines, aim for unconstructed silhouettes but with shaping, particularly at waist, to create a softer appearance. Relaxed lines with subtle drape and flow are flattering.

Adding slightly asymmetric elements and some loose detail to your outfits will also help to create an unconstructed look. Select relaxed geometrics with rounded edges and easy swirls.

Opt for soft fabrics that drape and natural materials such as linen, wool, cotton, and silk.

To help keep your outfits relaxed and unconstructed, create soft colour combinations.

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Answers: mostly C, with a few A and B answers under bone structure.

Height: typically moderate, up to 5.7ft (moderate vertical line).

Body Type: fairly trim and compact. Slightly muscular when at an ideal weight. Bust, waist and hips are somewhat straight and in even proportion. Possibly slightly short-waisted. Legs and arms are average or slightly long.

If overweight: excess weight shows up straight away and collects from the waist down. Weight collects primarily on the hips and thighs, rarely around the bust line. The heavier the body gets, the more pear-shaped it becomes. The body will seem to radically change when you gain even a little weight. This is actually an illusion because the bone structure remains the same.

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A Dramatic Classic will NOT:

• Have extremely long limbs
• Have extremely exotic or overly lush facial features
• Have extremely large bones or extremely large hands and feet
• Have delicate bones or extremely small hands and feet
• Have an hourglass figure
• Have a boyishly straight figure

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Clothing Lines

Like the pure Classic type, the Dramatic Classic Kibbe body type is symmetrical, but it has some added angularity (yang influence).

Your clothing lines should focus on recreating this symmetry through trim and tailored lines with sharp edges to accentuate your angularity.

Choose clean, sleek, and straight lines. Structured silhouettes with hints of sharpness, such as a square or V-neckline will match with the slight sharpness of your body type. Detail is imperative to your look. Keep it crisp and geometric with sharp edges (eg, pleats, crisp cuffs).

Opt for high-quality fabrics in moderate weights, which are not too stiff. Your best colours are neutrals and deep colours, which should be used to create high colour contrasts in your outfits.

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Answers: mostly C under all sections.

Height: typically moderate, usually between 5.4ft  and 5.7ft. Moderate vertical line.

Body type: evenly proportioned bust, waist, and hips. Slightly lithe and sinewy musculature. Moderate to slightly long limbs.

If overweight: the body remains symmetrical, and excess weight usually distributes evenly.

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A Classic will NOT:

• Appear extremely tall
• Have large bone structure, or large hands and feet
• Have prominent or exotic facial features
• Be extremely petite with extremely delicate features
• Have an hourglass figure
• Have full, lush facial features (extremely round eyes, full lips, fleshy cheeks)

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Clothing Lines

The Classic Kibbe body type is first and foremost symmetrical. It is neither very sharp and angular like the Dramatic type nor very round and soft like the Romantic type. Its overall look is moderate and low contrast because of the blended Yin and Yang in the features. Your clothing lines should therefore be symmetrical and moderate in their sharpness/roundness.

Keep your outlines smooth and symmetrical with the emphasis on controlled and even edges, soft, straight lines or smoothly curved lines - softly tailored or slightly flowing.

A clean, unbroken silhouette with slight waist emphasis will give you a balanced appearance. Make sure to keep clothing elements symmetrical.

Keep things simple with classic cuts and a balance between soft lines and hard forms. There should neither be too much angularity nor too much roundness in your outfits. Blend everything together and keep your colour combinations low contrast. If you add prints, make sure they are symmetrical and understated.

Invest in high quality fabrics to compliment your elegant look. Lightweight textures, such as chiffon and silk, and smooth knits, such as cashmere, are great.

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Answers: mostly C, with a few D and E answers under body flesh and facial features.

Height: typically moderate, up to 5.6ft. Moderate vertical line.

Body type: slightly rounded, tends to slight fleshiness. Soft arms, thighs, and waistline. Evenly proportioned bust, waist, and hips. Possibility of being slightly short-waisted. Arms and legs tend to be moderately short (in proportion to height).

If overweight: the body becomes very soft; facial features become very fleshy. A "thickish" look is usually the result of excess weight; the waist is the first to lose any definition.

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A Soft Classic will NOT:

• Have a large or angular bone structure
• Have exotic or prominent facial characteristics
• Have a boyish or muscular body type
• Have a true hourglass figure, with a waspish waist
• Appear tall
• Be extremely petite or small boned with extra delicate hands and feet

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Clothing Lines

The Soft Classic Kibbe body type is balanced and symmetrical the pure Classic type but with some added softness and roundness (yin influence).

A Soft Classic is still first and foremost a Classic, therefore your clothing lines should be clean, unbroken, and symmetrical, with waist emphasis. Aim for smooth, soft, symmetrical silhouettes with slight shaping. Gently flowing lines that flare or swirl and smooth, horizontal, or diagonal draping are great.

To complement your additional Yin, add soft detail and accessories to your outfits. They should be smooth and symmetrical, and composed of rounded shapes with slightly intricate edges (eg scooped necklines, soft pleats or folds).

Choose high-quality, light to moderate weight fabrics that drape softly and flow easily without being clingy. Finishes should be slight matte or slight sheen.

To keep your appearance symmetrical and soft, select light, soft, and luscious colours and keep your colour combinations softly harmonising. Prints should be also be soft and flowing.

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Answers: mixture of A/B and D/E answers, with slightly more A/B answers

Height: typically 5.6ft and under (short vertical line).

Body type: very defined musculature (unless overweight). Lean and strong. Straight lines (flat bust line and hips) unless overweight. Tendency toward a leggy look.

If overweight: the body tends to become stocky and square. Excess weight usually collects from the waist down, rarely above. Arms and legs tend to become thick, as do the waist and hip area. The face may become very puffy and fleshy.

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A Flamboyant Gamine will NOT:

• Appear tall
• Have extremely exotic facial characteristics (except for extremely large eyes)
• Have a delicate bone structure with small hands and feet (in proportion to height)
• Have an hourglass figure with a waspish waist and curvy hips and bustline (even when overweight, the bone structure gives a more squarish shape)
• Be symmetrical, in body type or facial features

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Clothing Lines

Like the pure Gamine type, the Flamboyant Gamine Kibbe body type is a combination of yin and yang features, but with slightly more yang. Your clothing lines should repeat the same mixture of yin and yang elements to match your natural lines.

Focus on creating a strict, geometric silhouette with straight lines, clear edges, and sharp corners. This component of your look accommodates your Yang side. Your Yin should be reflected in the details. Your best shapes are asymmetric and irregular, short and wide geometrics with sharp or soft edges, chunky, boxy shapes and sculpted shapes also work well.

Make sure to break up your silhouette, for instance through the use of different colours on top and bottom, but keep the overall outline boxy.

Fabric should be lightweight to moderate, with a slight crispness. Very rough or heavy fabric can be worn in jackets, as long as it is combined with an opposite texture to break up the bulk. Opt for matte finishes.

Opt for electric, bold, and vibrant colours. You can get away with wild colour combinations. The same goes for your prints. Keep them bold and animated. Asymmetric and irregular patterns and shapes are best.

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Answers: mixture of A/B and D/E.

Height: typically 5.5ft and under (short vertical line).

Body type: straight. Lithe and lean, tends toward sinewy musculature. Tends toward flatness in bust and hips (unless overweight). May be very leggy. Possibly slightly short-waisted.

If overweight: excess weight tends to show up in the hip and waist areas, rarely does it appear above the waist. If a Gamine is extremely overweight, the body tends to get square or stocky.

A Gamine will NOT:

• Be over 5.5ft (and is usually even more petite)
• Have extremely large bone structure
• Have prominent or exotic features (except for large eyes)
• Have large hands and feet
• Have an hourglass figure, with a waspish waist and full bust and hips
• Be symmetrical in body type or facial features

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Clothing Lines

The Gamine Kibbe body type has a seemingly random, but equal mix of yin and yang features, which gives it a very youthful and energetic appearance. This energy, along with the complete range of Yin and Yang elements should be repeated in your clothing lines.

Keep your silhouettes fitted and compact with waist emphasis. Your outline should be sharp, fitted, and staccato. The use of severe lines with sharp edges comes from the Yang; the broken, staccato, animated outline comes from the Yin. Go bold on your detail, you can never wear enough. Detail should always be small, sharp, and call attention to itself.

Fabric must always be crisp, be able to hold a defined shapes, and be easily tailored. A matte finish is best, although hard-finished sheens can be very exciting. Opt for light to moderate weight fabrics.

Just like detail, your use of colour should be bold and sassy. High colour contrasts work well on you. The same goes for prints, which should be sharp, colourful, and animated. Small geometrics and angular asymmetrics are excellent.

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Answers: mixture of A/B and D/E, with slightly more D/E answers.

Height: under 5.5ft (usually very petite). Short vertical line.

Body type: soft, curvy body tends toward fleshiness. Curved bust line and hips with natural waist definition. Arms and legs tend to be soft and fleshy, particularly in the hip and thigh areas.

‍If overweight: the body tends to get very rounded, as weight collects mainly in the bust and hip areas. Arms and thighs may get very soft, and face tends to become fleshy. May feel overweight, even when at ideal weight because of the extreme round shape of the body paired with the short limbs.

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A Soft Gamine will NOT:

• Appear tall
• Have a rail-thin or extremely straight body type
• Have a large or broad bone structure
• Have large hands and feet or exotic facial characteristics
• Be symmetrical in body type, bone structure, or facial features
• Have a sharp bone structure

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Clothing Lines

Like the pure Gamine type, the Soft Gamine Kibbe body type is a combination of yin and yang features but with slightly more yin. And just like your natural lines are a mixture, your clothing lines should contain both yin and yang elements, but with slightly more roundness to accommodate the added yin in your natural lines.

The way to achieve this is by selecting clear and rounded lines with sharp corners and edges. Rounded shapes that are smoothly formed, such as ovals, circles, elliptical shapes, chunky swirls, teardrops, crisp clusters are great.

Your silhouette should be fitted, feminine, and small. Waist emphasis is also key to adding more Yin to your appearance. Make sure your outline is sharply tapered and fitted (especially at the waist, collar, and cuff). Detail should always be lively, energetic and plentiful!

Opt for lightweight and crisp fabric that can hold a defined shape as well as be supple enough to have a slight drape and movement. Finishes should be matte.

Outfits should be colourful with vivid, rich, and intense shades played against each other. Sharp colour contrast is excellent. The same goes for prints, which are best bold and lively and small to moderate in size.

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Answers: mostly D under all sections, or mostly D and E with a few A answers.

Height: typically moderate to petite, usually 5.5ft and under.

Body type: soft and voluptuous, although trim and smallish (as opposed to wide and bulky). Hourglass figure; curvy bust line and hips with a waspish waist. Soft, fleshy arms and legs.

If overweight: the figure will remain hourglass, with a defined waist. Upper arms, thighs and face will become quite fleshy.

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A Theatrical Romantic will NOT:

• Appear extremely tall
• Have large or wide bones
• Have large hands and feet
• Have extremely prominent facial bones or features
• Have small, narrow eyes, and thin or straight lips
• Have a boyishly straight figure devoid of a defined waist

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Clothing Lines

The Theatrical Romantic Kibbe body type is characterised by an hourglass figure just like the pure Romantic type, but with added sharpness or angularity (Yang influence). Your clothing lines should focus on accentuating the hourglass figure whilst adding some sharper, angular detail to accommodate the additional Yang in your natural lines.

Keep silhouettes fitted and following your hourglass figure, emphasising your curves. The waist should always be sharply defined, while the shoulders should be slightly more angular. You can also add angularity and sharpness through tapering at the wrists, hemline, and knee areas. The rest of your clothing lines should be kept soft, draped, flowing, and clingy.

Opt for lightweight fabrics that drape, such as silk or crepe. Soft textures, sheer fabrics, and shiny fabrics are all excellent.

Keep your colours light, bright, and lush. Some sharp contrast is exciting. Keep prints abstract and watercolour-like or choose medium to large floral prints.

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Answers: mostly E under all sections.

Height: typically moderate to petite, usually 5.5ft and under. Short vertical line.

Body type: soft and voluptuous. Hourglass figure; curvy (bust and hips, with a small waist (in proportion to the curves). Fleshy arms and legs.

If overweight: the body gets more rounded; the face gets very full.

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A Romantic wil NOT:

• Appear extremely tall
• Have a large bone structure or large hands and feet
• Have a straight or boyish figure
• Have angular or sharp facial features
• Have a prominent nose or angular chin
• Be symmetrical

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Clothing Lines

The Romantic Kibbe body type is defined by roundness and curves. Romantics have a full hourglass figure, which should be emphasised through your clothing lines.

To match the roundness of the Romantic body, keep the overall shape of your clothing round and soft. Circles, ornate swirls, and intricate flowing shapes in the form of ruffles, bows, and round necklines will add softness.

Your silhouettes should be soft and flowing (but fitted) and showcase the lush curves of your body. Waste definition is essential, as is lots of gentle draping everywhere. Your best fabrics are lightweight and drape easily, as well as softly woven fabrics, and sheer fabrics, such as chiffon.

To keep the overall look soft and feminine, opt for pale and delicate or rich and luxuriously blended colours. Small, delicate floral prints will add even more softness to your outfits.

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