Kibbe Body Type Intro: How A Kibbe Quiz Transforms Your Style

Are you tired of your clothes not fitting well? Do you feel like everything you wear is kind of “off”? It could be because you are not wearing the right style, cut, and fabrics for your body shape.

Enter the Kibbe Body Type Quiz to help you identify your “Image ID”. I know this sounds mysterious-but trust me, this intro will leave you yearning for more.

What is the Kibbe Body Type System?

David Kibbe invented the “Kibbe Body Type Test” system which is called a “head-to-toe metamorphosis”, He even wrote a book about it (good luck finding it though). His system considers the lines of the body as well as body flesh and “essence”. It can truly leverage your natural features to help you dress in alignment with your physical attributes.

His revolutionary concept based on “Yin and Yang” improves on the basic cookie-cutter way most Image Consultants were trained in the traditional “body shape”. The KIbbe body type system includes the analysis of your body flesh, facial features, and bone structure. It also includes the size of facial features and your hands and feet.

What are the Kibbe Body Types?

There are 5 main Kibbe body types and 13 different Kibbe body type variations. These variations are based on your body shape, body flesh, and facial features. They exist on a Yang to Yin scale. Here are the 5 main Kibbe body types:

Here’s a great beginner video from a vlogger who explains it well:

Characteristics of the 5 Main Kibbe Body Types

Here are the main 5 “pure” types: which one are you?

1. Dramatic

If you are very tall, thin, and appear “sharp” you are a dramatic Kibbe body type. You have “yang features”. You don’t have a waist and have straight lines running up and down the sides of your body. You are “straight”.

You appear narrow and do not have body fat or any roundness. Dramatics have narrow shoulders. They also have blunt and angular facial features.

2. Natural

Naturals are also tall but have some “soft yang” which is due to muscle tone. Naturals are moderately long and have an angular and broad bone structure.

Naturals appear “less sharp” than dramatics since naturals are broader and have the look of width. Facial features are mostly angular with muscular cheekbones.

3. Classic

Classics have more yin than naturals and are “slightly soft”. If you are a classic, you have a balance of yin and yang and have even proportions. You appear moderate in size and your bone structure is “evenly shaped”.

Classics appear moderate in height. If you are a classic, your proportions are generally balanced. Your hips are slightly rounded. You also have some soft natural round features in your face and silhouette. If you are a classic, classic style clothing look best on you.

4. Gamine

Gamines are petite and have a sharp lean bone structure. They are a combination of yin and yang due to their petite “cute” features but lack of body flesh and curves. Their body shape has straight lines.

If you are gamine, your upper arms and thighs are thin. Gamine’s facial features are angular with large eyes and bony cheekbones. A vertical line body shape best describes Gamines. Gamines look great in elegant and tailored clothing.

5. Romantic

Romantics are petite or “lush yin”. The romantic body type is petite and appears extremely soft. They have a defined waist. Their body lines are rounded. They also have full breasts.

If you are a romantic, you have sloped rounded shoulders and rounded hips, You appear fleshy in the arms and thighs. Romantics have small hands and feet and shorter arms and legs. Their facial features have delicate bone structure with rounded full lips and rounded cheekbones.

The 8 Variations of The Kibbe Body Types

What I love most about the Kibbe Body Type is how it breaks down the intricacies of real women to help you capture your true “essence”. I believe this is what sets it apart and will help you truly dress in authenticity.

Here is a brief overview of the nuances of each Kibbe Body Type and why taking a Kibbe Body Type Quiz is important:

Soft Dramatic

A soft drama has a mix of yang and yin. They have sharp bone structures but have body flesh in their upper arms, busts, and hips.

Soft dramatics are tall with long limbs. Soft dramatics have an “exotic” look, especially in their facial features, and will have full lips.

Flamboyant Natural

Flamboyant naturals have sharp ‘yang”. Flamboyant natural’s bone structure seems tall and “wide”. They are angular, muscular, and broad.

Flamboyants have flat or athletic busts and hips. They do not have an hourglass figure and have less body flesh. Their facial features include thin lips and taut cheekbones.

Soft Natural

A soft natural will have “soft yang ” and is angular with more muscle tone than body flesh. They are slightly broad at the waist with both height and vertical lines.

If you are a soft natural, you’ll have a broad flat waist and appear “thin”. Your facial features are blunt and not symmetrical. You may have thin lips.

Dramatic Classic

Dramatic classics have a balance of yin and yang but lean more towards yang. They are evenly proportioned with soft natural curves that are slightly angular. They appear slightly rounded.

Dramatic classics have a “compact” look. A dramatic classic has a slightly defined waist. Their facial features are squarish and angular.

Soft Classic

A soft classic has a balance of yin and yang. They have more yin than dramatic classics and have slightly curved or fleshy busts and hips. Their bone structure appears delicate and they have a soft physicality.

If you are a soft classic, you are slightly rounded and your arms appear to be short in comparison to your height. Soft classics have vertical lines and do not have width.

A soft classic has facial features that may be wide with smaller eyes and narrow lips. They do not have lush features.

Flamboyant Gamine

Flamboyant gamines are petite and have more yang than yin. They are bony with some musculature and angular features. Their shoulders are square with a slightly wide bone structure. Flamboyant gamines are often described as “boyish”.

If you are a flamboyant gamine, you do not have much body flesh or curves. Flamboyant gamines appear lean and “leggy”. They may have flat bustlines and hips. Flamboyant gamines have very large eyes, full lips, and taut cheeks.

Soft Gamine

Soft gamines are both yin and yang with more yin essence. They are petite and have soft rounded curves and body flesh. A soft gamine will have a lot of body flesh compared to a flamboyant gamine.

Their busts and hip areas are curvy, but they have a delicate bone structure. At the same time, they have yang which shows up in slight angles and broadness. Their upper arms and thighs are fleshy.

Soft gamines have wide faces with big eyes and angular or broadish facial features. If you are a soft gamine, you have a delicate hourglass figure and appear “slightly short”.

Theatrical Romantic

Theatrical romantics have more yin than yang. Their yang shows up in slightly sharp and angular bone structure while they have an hourglass figure. A theatrical romantic has body flesh that is curvy at the bust and waist and has a sensual essence

The difference between a romantic and a “theatrical” romantic is that romantics are more “lush” and do not have the slight sharp bone structure as theatrical romantics.

If you are a theatrical romantic, your arms and legs are fleshy, especially when gaining weight. Theatrical romantics have soft lush facial features and large eyes. Overall, they have a delicate essence.

What is Yin and Yang?

I would be remiss if I didn’t explain what yin and yang are since it’s the foundation of the Kibbe System. In Chinese philosophy, yin represents femininity and darkness while yang represents masculinity and brightness.

According to Brittanica, “Yinyang, in Eastern thought, are the two complementary forces that make up all aspects and phenomena of life. Yin is a symbol of earth, femaleness, darkness, passivity, and absorption”.

While “Yang is conceived of as heaven, maleness, light, activity, and penetration”.

How Can the Kibbe Quiz Help You?

As you can see from the intro above, it can get confusing real fast. I admit that this intro just scratches the surface. If you want a deep dive, I suggest you do your research (as I continue to do). Kibbe also has a Facebook group, “Strictly Kibbe” which has a screening process by the way, so don’t get too excited.

There are many quizzes online, but the one I like and that seems accurate is Quiz Expo’s Kibbe Body Type Quiz

My results were “theatrical romantic” which is accurate. I’m petite with an hourglass figure. I have long arms and legs that are “fleshy”. I have a delicate bone structure while having soft curves.

Kibbe Body Type Quick Guide

OK, if your head is spinning in this magical world of Kibbe, here is a cheat sheet to help you hone in your your body type:

If you are tall (over 5 ‘7) you are automatically either dramatic or classic.

If you are petite (5 ‘4 and under) you are automatically a gamine or romantic. If you are of average height, you are likely in the natural category.

The fun begins when you are ready to hone in on which specific variation of the 5 Kibbe body types you are. Are you a soft natural or soft dramatic? That depends on your yin/yang qualities. Don’t forget to include the characteristics of your flesh and facial features!

My Final Thoughts On Kibbe

As a personal stylist, I love the Kibbe body type system. It helps you enhance your true “essence” and dress in alignment with your natural features. If you want to learn how to dress to flatter your size, whether you are plus size, petite, or tall, this system has you covered.

It’s a powerful system which will help you highlight your best features as well as your personality. The Kibbe system also includes color analysis, which is great for discovering your color palette.

I hope you find the Kibbe body type system as interesting as I do. Try a quiz to identify your Kibbe body type and start improving how you look and feel today!

FAQ’s