It’s time to FINALLY get your Kibbe body type. Today I’m going to share with you a step-by-step guide to determining your body type, and all of my best tips for determining your body type on your own.
After watching this video (or reading this article), if you’re still struggling with your body type, my color and body typing service is always available! And if you shoot me a DM on Instagram, I’d be happy to give you a discount code to get you started.
If you’re new here, this year we are diving deep into The 12 Competencies of Personal Style together, to help you get organized, discover your personal style, and start to build your dream wardrobe. That’s why I’d like to invite you to join the 12-month free email course! By the end of the year, we will master these 12 useful concepts and develop your personal style, so that you can consistently create outfits that you love to wear, and ultimately build your perfect capsule wardrobe.
The 12 competencies of personal style are:
Color Type
Body Type
Core Style
The Wardrobe Framework
Wardrobe Editing
Fit & Measurements
Silhouette & Proportions
Color Story
Texture
Multidimensional Style
Conflict & Balance
and Creating Full Outfits
Last month, we focused on color type and I gave you my 3 most useful tricks for determining your color type. And if you’ve joined the course and performed the exercises, hopefully you were able to determine your color type and start creating your wardrobe color palette!
This month, our goal is to determine your body type and start to understand how to use your body type to your advantage.
To Kibbe or not to Kibbe
David Kibbe’s Image ID system is massively popular, and for good reason. This system is such an inspirational resource for understanding, embracing, and celebrating your beautiful body type through fashion.
However, in my opinion, Kibbe’s Image ID system imposes unnecessary recommendations on personal style for each body type. These bundles of body type, styling recommendations, and even color recommendations are what Kibbe calls Image IDs. And these Image IDs can often have a strong stylistic direction, such as Kibbe’s “Free Spirit Chic” representation of the Flamboyant Natural which evokes a very bohemian and earthy visual image.
What is really useful about Kibbe’s Image ID system is its use of Yin/Yang body analysis. So, let’s put Kibbe’s Image IDs aside and focus on understanding the body.
Before we jump into Yin/Yang body analysis in more detail, I’d like to assure you that it has nothing to do with fruits or triangles or trying to become an hourglass. Yin/Yang body analysis provides a framework for understanding how clothing interacts with our bodies without encouraging us to change, hide, or disguise any aspect of our body. In fact, it simply teaches us how to recognize our own natural lines and bring our style more in harmony with them.
So, when it comes to body type, Yin/Yang body analysis is far and away the most useful way to understand your body type. David Kibbe’s Image ID system is a massively popular subtype of this Yin/Yang body analysis.
Dominant Features & Accommodations
Yin/Yang body analysis as a whole is quite a complex topic. For the purposes of this article, I will assume that you have a basic understanding of the 10 body types, and that your goal is to narrow down which body type suits you best.
As a quick overview, the 10 body types are:
Dramatic
Soft Dramatic
Flamboyant Natural
Soft Natural
Dramatic Classic
Soft Classic
Flamboyant Gamine
Soft Gamine
Theatrical Romantic
and Romantic
Each body type can be primarily understood by its dominant features, or accommodations. In effect, your dominant features will be features that are best enhanced when they are accommodated in your clothing selections. That is why your dominant features are also called accommodations.
Accommodations are not meant to be a negative thing. In fact, it can be quite a relief to recognize your accommodations and realize that there are tons of beautiful people who share them with you!
There are six different types of accommodations that you may have, or a combination thereof. Only one or two of the following can be your dominant features:
Vertical
Width
Curve
Double-curve
Balance
and Petite
Vertical is perceived elongation or height in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette.
Width is perceived breadth or openness of the shoulder-line, or clavicle, in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette.
Curve is the predominant appearance of rounded contours in individual features and overall silhouette.
Double-curve is the predominant and uninterrupted appearance of nearly circular contours in individual features and overall silhouette.
Balance is a nearly equal and blended mix of yin and yang; moderation in all features in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette, and in comparison to the general population.
Petite is the combination of perceived narrowness and short stature, in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette.
Starting to understand your own dominant features is the first step to narrowing down your body type. So, let’s go over the dominant features and accommodations for each of the 10 body types.
Dramatic
Vertical
If you have the Dramatic body type, then your dominant feature is vertical. Vertical is perceived elongation or height in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette.
Your perceived height is impacted by both the narrowness of your bone structure, and the size of your head in comparison to your bone structure. Those with a narrower bone structure will appear taller, or more elongated, than those with a wider bone structure. Likewise, those with a proportionally smaller head will appear more elongated than those with a proportionally larger head.
Because of their vertical line and frame-dominant figure, those with the pure Dramatic body type have predominantly straight and sharp lines within their bone structure, silhouette, and individual features.
Soft Dramatic
Vertical + Curve
If you have the Soft Dramatic body type, then your dominant features are vertical and curve. This combination results in a naturally elongated hourglass figure.
The Soft Dramatic has a long and angular bone structure with soft flesh that creates a lush, curvy, and elongated silhouette with a defined waist.
Her facial features are also full and lush, often with large rounded eyes and full lips, combined with sharpness in the nose, cheekbones, or chin.
Flamboyant Natural
Width + Vertical
If you have the Flamboyant Natural body type, then your dominant features are width and vertical. In this context, width a way of describing the bone structure. Width is the perceived breadth or openness of the shoulder-line, or clavicle, in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette.
Often width is evident when the shoulders are significantly wider than the hips.
The Flamboyant Natural is frame-dominant and bluntly angular, creating a strong and sporty appearance. She may appear slightly curvy or have a defined waistline, but her shoulders and hips are softly squared rather than rounded. A trapezoidal hip shape is quite common in the Natural family.
Her facial features are slightly wide and elongated, often with high cheek bones.
Soft Natural
Width + Curve
If you have the Soft Natural body type, then your dominant features are width and curve. Similar to the Flamboyant Natural, the Soft Natural is frame-dominant and bluntly angular.
However, the Soft Natural’s bone structure is less prominent overall, with a smaller difference in width between the shoulders and hips.
Contrary to popular belief, Soft Naturals have a moderate vertical line and can actually be quite short. The Natural family has the widest height range of all of the body types.
The Soft Natural usually has a defined waist and slightly curvy shape in the bust and torso. Although the width in the shoulder-line interrupts her curve to create a beautiful athletic figure.
Her facial features are bluntly angular and slightly wide, yet moderate in scale. As a result, the Soft Natural’s facial features can often appear quite classic.
Dramatic Classic
Balance + Vertical
If you have the Dramatic Classic body type, then your dominant features are balance and vertical. Balance is a nearly equal and blended mix of yin and yang; moderation in all features, in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette, and in comparison to the general population.
The Dramatic Classic has an overall moderate and symmetrical, balanced appearance with just a touch of elongation and sharpness.
All features and proportions carry a similar visual impact; nothing in particular appears prominent or draws the eye. For instance, Dramatic Classic women may have shoulders that are slightly wider than their hips, but width in the shoulders does not need to be accommodated. In practice, this means that Dramatic Classics will not usually experience fit issues with one particular part of their figure. This doesn’t mean that they never experience issues with fit, but they are less likely to experience the same type of issue all of the time.
Instead of accommodating a prominent feature, Dramatic Classics instead need to accommodate balance and slight vertical. Classic, symmetrical, and tailored silhouettes will look best. Oversized or exaggerated styles can be overpowering.
Soft Classic
Balance + Curve
If you have the Soft Classic body type, then your dominant features are balance and curve.
The Soft Classic has an overall moderate and symmetrical, balanced appearance with just a touch of softness and curve.
Similar to the Dramatic Classic, the Soft Classic’s features and proportions all carry a similar visual impact. When glancing at a Soft Classic woman, the eye does not catch on any particularly prominent feature.
Soft Classics accommodate balance and curve. Classic, symmetrical, and tailored silhouettes with waist emphasis will look best. Oversized or very sharp dramatic styles can be overpowering.
Flamboyant Gamine
Petite + Vertical
If you have the Flamboyant Gamine body type, then your dominant features are petite and vertical. Petite is the combination of perceived narrowness and short stature, in proportion to the overall bone structure and silhouette.
I think it’s really important to remember that a petite women must inherently have a narrow bone structure with relatively thin bones. Petite does not purely describe height, but also the narrowness and overall delicate nature of the bone structure. This is why the Flamboyant Gamine woman can have both petite and vertical. Her narrowness creates a long vertical line, even though she may not be very tall.
The Flamboyant Gamine may have shoulders that are wider than her hips but, like the Dramatic Classic, she does not have prominent width.
She has a small and elongated figure, small and sharp facial features, and typically large rounded eyes.
Soft Gamine
Petite + Curve
If you have the Soft Gamine body type, then your dominant features are petite and curve.
The Soft Gamine has a narrow and sharp petite bone structure with a slightly curvy figure, creating a youthful appearance. It is important to remember that the Soft Gamine woman is primarily in the Gamine family, so her bone structure is more dominant than her softness. Due to her Gamine bone structure, her curve is more elongated.
She often has a small and slightly rounded facial shape, with large eyes and full lips. Often the Soft Gamine will have an Ingenue appearance, especially in her facial features.
Theatrical Romantic
Double-Curve + Petite
If you have the Theatrical Romantic body type, then your dominant features are double curve and petite. Double-curve is the predominant and uninterrupted appearance of nearly circular contours in individual features and overall silhouette.
Those with double-curve not only have a defined waist and rounded hips, but rounded shoulders as well. And the arc of their curves is almost circular rather than ovular and elongated.
The Theatrical Romantic’s curves are her most dominant feature. She is also slightly more narrow and sharp than the pure Romantic, and may have a sharper jaw line and facial features.
Romantic
Double-Curve
If you have the Romantic body type, then your dominant feature is double curve.
The Romantic woman has a lush, curvy silhouette with a clearly defined waist. She has a short vertical line, small bone structure, defined waist, and rounded shoulders and hips. Her shoulders, waist, and hips create an hourglass or pear shape. Her facial features are also delicate, soft, and full; often with large doe-like eyes and full lips.
In comparison to the Theatrical Romantic, the pure Romantic can have slightly wider shoulders and hips, and therefore is not petite.
The Line Drawing
Now that you understand the dominant features and accommodations of each body type, it’s time to start understanding your own features.
The best way to observe your own proportions and dominant features is to create a line drawing of yourself. I do this with all of my clients when helping them determine their body types.
Take a full-body photo of yourself in a neutral stance, squarely facing the camera, with your arms held slightly away from your sides. Wear solid-colored clothing that does not obscure your figure, such as a bathing suit or workout gear. Enlist the help of a friend, or set up your camera on a counter, tripod, or other surface at chest-height and perpendicular to the floor. Avoid mirror photos as the mirror will distort your proportions.
Then, load your photo into a sketch app to trace the shapes of your body. You could also print your photo and use trace paper if you’d like. You can start by tracing any shapes you see within your figure. Be sure to trace the outline of your head as well - this will help you get a better idea of your vertical line. Also, draw a line across the floor at the base of your heels to bound your height.
Then, trace the silhouette. Draw the shape your shoulders without including your arms, then the outline of your body down to your knees. The final result should look like a tight cap-sleeve dress, essentially.
Remove or hide the original photo, and now you have your line drawing!
Analyzing Your Line Drawing
Observe your line drawing and try to answer the following questions:
What kinds of shapes are most common in your line drawing? Do you see elongated ovals, circular shapes, sharply defined corners, or trapezoidal shapes with rounded corners?
Does any particular feature stand out when you casually glance at your line drawing? Try squinting to force yourself to defocus and take in the image as a whole. Even while squinting, does any particular feature appear noticeable? This could be prominent elongation or height, a well-defined waist, broad shoulders, or nothing at all.
How many heads tall are you? Cut and paste the outline of your head and stack them from the top of your head to the line you drew at the base of your heels. If you are less than 7 heads tall, you may have a short vertical line. However, keep in mind that the vertical accommodation is not limited to height. Vertical can appear anywhere in the body in the form of elongation. For example, the Flamboyant Gamine has petite and vertical - she may be less than 7 heads tall but she still has vertical in her body proportions.
Process of Elimination
Now that you have your line drawing and an initial assessment of your shapes and lines, let’s clear the board by eliminating some of the body types.
Petite. If you know you aren’t petite, eliminate Theatrical Romantic, Soft Gamine, and Flamboyant Gamine. If you are very confident that you are petite, then you are one of these three body types.
Width. If your shoulders are clearly not wider than your hips, eliminate Flamboyant Natural and Soft Natural. If your shoulders are wider than your hips, you may be Dramatic, Flamboyant Natural, Soft Natural, Dramatic Classic, or Flamboyant Gamine. However, if you are very confident that you have to accommodate width in your shoulders when it comes to your clothing selections, then you are either Flamboyant Natural or Soft Natural.
Curve. Curve is not an easy trait to use for eliminating body types, because as humans none of us are entirely made up of perfectly straight lines. However, if your line drawing includes a clear pattern of rounded ovular or circular shapes, then you are likely one of the soft types.
Double-curve. Double-curve is quite a rare type of curve which presents as a clear pattern of nearly circular shapes. Those with double-curve will notice that their rounded shoulders and chest create a circular shape which ends around the waistline. Their hips will also create a circular shape which touches or overlaps with the circle created by their shoulders and chest. In your line drawing, this may appear almost like a drawing of a snowman with one circle on top of the other. If you are one of the rare women who see these shapes in their line drawings, then you are most likely one of the Romantic types. In even rarer cases, Soft Classic and Soft Gamine women may have double-curve.
Vertical. Although vertical accommodation is not all about height, you may be able to eliminate some body types based on height. If you are very tall and clearly elongated, you are likely either Dramatic, Soft Dramatic, or Flamboyant Natural. If you are very short, you are either Romantic, Theatrical Romantic, Soft Gamine, Flamboyant Gamine, or Soft Natural. It’s important to note here that the Natural family has no height limits, but the Soft Natural has a moderate-to-short vertical line and the Flamboyant Natural has a moderate-to-long vertical line and sometimes a very long vertical line.
Balance. Like curve, balance is another tricky feature to pinpoint. However, if you truly see no prominent or dominant association with any of the previous characteristics we discussed, then you may be very balanced and symmetrical. In this case, you are likely one of the Classic types.
Tie-Breakers
If you’re still struggling to determine your exact body type, here are some common tie breakers that I have encountered.
Dramatic vs Flamboyant Natural. The Dramatic body type is much narrower than the Flamboyant Natural. And although the Dramatic’s shoulders are typically slightly wider than her hips, she doesn’t have to accommodate the width in her shoulders in her clothing selection. For example, fitting a classic tailored blazer off the rack will likely be very easy for a Dramatic, while it is much more of a challenge for the Flamboyant Natural. The Dramatic also tends to have thinner and sharper bones, with the Flamboyant Natural’s bone structure appearing much stronger.
Dramatic vs Dramatic Classic. In general, it is fairly easy to differentiate the Classic body types from other body types. This is because the Classic types are very moderate in all aspects. Therefore, the Dramatic will have a clear and prominent vertical line in comparison to the Dramatic Classic. If you see clear elongation in your line drawing and you are stuck between these two types, you are Dramatic. You can also look at facial features for a tie-breaker here. The Dramatic’s facial features will be stronger, sharper, and more geometric than the Dramatic Classic.
Flamboyant Natural vs Soft Natural. As I mentioned earlier, the Natural family has no height limits, which may confuse you when deciding between Flamboyant Natural and Soft Natural. The difference here is all in the vertical line. The Flamboyant Natural has a long vertical, while the Soft Natural has a short vertical. You may be able to assess your facial features as well to determine your level of elongation. If your face is elongated, then you are more likely Flamboyant Natural. The Flamboyant Natural also has a more prominent bone structure and proportionally wider shoulders than the Soft Natural in general. The Soft Natural’s less narrow hips help support her curvier silhouette by allowing her waist to look smaller in comparison.
Soft Natural vs Soft Classic. Soft Natural and Soft Classic can often have a lot of similarities in their appearance, especially in the facial features. Here it is important to remember that width is an accommodation for all naturals. So if you don’t have to accommodate the width in your shoulders in your clothing selections, then you are likely not a Soft Natural.
Soft Natural vs Flamboyant Gamine. The Soft Natural and Flamboyant Gamine have completely different sets of accommodations - width and curve versus petite and vertical. Similar to the previous tie-breaker, Soft Natural must have width. The Flamboyant Gamine is inherently narrow due to her petite frame. Although the Flamboyant Gamine’s shoulders may be wider than her hips, they are still narrow and do not require accommodation. The Soft Natural also must accommodate curve, while the Flamboyant Gamine does not require curve accommodation.
Dramatic Classic vs Soft Classic. Deciding between the two Classic body types seems like a very difficult task at first, but it’s actually easier than you might think. Because the Classic types are a balanced and blended combination of yin and yang, any small amount of extra drama or softness will determine their specific type. If you believe you are Classic and you see any hint of sharpness in your features, then you are likely Dramatic Classic. The same goes for extra softness with the Soft Classic.
Soft Gamine vs Theatrical Romantic. It can be difficult to differentiate the Theatrical Romantic description from the Soft Gamine description, although the difference becomes clear when comparing examples of the two. The best way to understand this difference is to notice how the Soft Gamine has an overall more youthful and fresh appearance in her proportions, while the Theatrical Romantic has an overall more sensual and moody appearance. The Soft Gamine will also have more elongated limbs, while the Theatrical Romantic’s arms and legs will be proportionally shorter. You may also notice this difference in elongation in your hands and feet as well.
And if you’re still struggling with your color type, my color and body typing service is always available for the price of a haircut. Plus, if you send me a DM on Instagram I would be happy to give you a discount code to get you started.
Just remember that body type is not a set of rules that you must apply to your wardrobe; it is a lens through which to see your outfits and your wardrobe more clearly. Each of The 12 Competencies of Personal Style is a tool to add to your personal style toolbox, to help you confidently and consistently create outfits that work for your life and your style. So have fun first and foremost!
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FINALLY get your body type!