What Is the Kibbe System and How to Find Your Type

The Kibbe Body Type System is a style typing method created by David Kibbe in the 1980s. It helps people choose clothes that match their natural lines and features. The system is not based only on body shape (like hourglass or pear) but on the overall balance of yin and yang – softness versus sharpness.

Kibbe uses complex concepts like:

Yin/Yang balance
Dominant (vertical/curve) vs. secondary lines (width, curve, petite, balance)
Not just body — but face, movement, energy, vibe

The Yin-Yang Concept in Kibbe System

In the Kibbe system:

Yin = soft, rounded, delicate, feminine
Yang = sharp, angular, strong, masculine

Each Kibbe type is a blend of these energies. Some are more yin, some more yang, and some are mixed.

Dominant Line & Additional Line in Kibbe System

The Kibbe system is based on a dominant line and an additional line. The dominant line can be either Vertical or Curve. The additional line can be Narrow, Width, Balance, Curve, Double Curve, or Petite.

The 5 Main Kibbe Families

There are 10 types in total, grouped into 5 main families:

Dramatic – sharp and angular, strong yang, dominant vertical
Natural – broad and blunt, moderate yang
Classic – balanced and symmetrical, equal yin and yang
Gamine – mix of opposites (yin + yang), youthful and compact
Romantic – soft and curvy, strong yin, dominant curve

Each family also has variations:

Flamboyant = extra yang
Soft = extra yin
Theatrical Romantic and Soft Gamine = yin with a little sharpness
Dramatic Classic and Soft Classic = mostly balanced, with a slight lean toward yang or yin

How to Find Your Kibbe Type

Finding your type can take time. Kibbe himself recommends focusing on your lines, not just body shape or face. Here are key steps:

1. Look at Your Bone Structure

Are your shoulders sharp or rounded?
Are your arms and legs long or short?
Is your frame narrow, broad, or balanced?
Is your torso longer?
Do you have a high waist?
Do you have small hands?

2. Look at Your Flesh (Body Flesh and Features)

Are your curves soft and full, or lean and firm?
Do you gain weight evenly or in specific areas?
Is your face more angular or rounded?
Do you look like a doll?

3. Observe the Overall Impression

Do you look delicate, strong, balanced, or mixed?
Do you appear tall and commanding, or small and lively?
Do you feel like whatever you wear, you always look like you’re going to a job interview?
Do you feel like you look like you’re wearing pajamas when you try modern oversized clothes?

Kibbe called this the “Essence” – how your whole look comes across.

Important Notes

Height matters, but it’s not everything. Kibbe. If you are taller than 5’6″ (168 cm), according to David Kibbe you most likely belong to a more yang-dominant Kibbe type (Flamboyant Natural, Dramatic or Soft Dramatic)
Your type doesn’t change with weight or age. You can gain or lose weight, but your basic structure stays the same.
If your features are “in the middle” — average height, some curve but not double curve, vertical presence but not extreme — Kibbe can feel impossible.

4. Learn the structure:

Vertical: Do you look tall even if you’re short? Try long lines.
Width: Do you look broad? Use strong horizontal elements.
Curve: Do you have soft edges? Try clothes that follow your body.
Balance: Do you look symmetrical and even? Keep things neat.
Petite: Are you small-scaled? Use shorter cuts and cropped fits.
Try to identify at least one key line in your silhouette — and try to build outfits around it.
Take pictures of yourself in different styles. Compare. What flatters you? What feels natural? This is more helpful than looking at a photo in leggings and guessing your “type.” Style is about trying, not labeling.

My Opinion?

Kibbe is an amazing system — but only if you’re already close to the answer. Otherwise, it’s mostly frustration. I believe that style should be simple.

It should be about trying clothes, experimenting, and learning what works — not spending years hunting for the perfect label.

Final Tip

Finding your Kibbe type is not about boxing yourself in. It’s about understanding your natural lines and learning to work with them, not against them. The goal is to look harmonious and feel confident in your own skin.

Explore All Kibbe Body Types

Dramatic Kibbe Body Type

Soft Dramatic Kibbe Body Type

Flamboyant Natural Kibbe Body Type

Soft Natural Kibbe Body Type

Dramatic Classic Kibbe Body Type

Soft Classic Kibbe Body Type

Flamboyant Gamine Kibbe Body Type

Soft Gamine Kibbe Body Type

Theatrical Romantic Kibbe Body Type

Romantic Kibbe Body Type

A Simpler Alternative: The 5 Body Shapes

The 5 body shapes (Hourglass, Apple, Pear, Rectangle, Inverted Triangle) are a more practical, accessible tool for most people.

Pros:

Easy to understand and apply
Focuses on balancing proportions
Styling is based on cuts and silhouettes, not personality
You can identify your shape quickly — and start dressing accordingly
The goal is visual balance (usually closer to the hourglass ideal), which even Kibbe tries to do — just in a more complicated way

Cons:

Focuses mostly on extremes (very curvy, very straight, etc.)
Doesn’t help much if you’re “in between”
Limited styling suggestions beyond cuts and lines

Learn more in our guide to the 5 traditional female body shapes here.

Kibbe vs 5 Body Shapes Summary

Final Advice

Don’t let style systems confuse you more than they help
Use Kibbe for inspiration, not for labels
Use the 5 body shapes when you need quick answers
Focus on lines, shape, and structure — not categories
The best way to find what suits you is to try it on and take a photo

Let your style be an exploration — not a cage.

Kibbe System in Detail:

The Kibbe typology is a system created by American stylist David Kibbe in the 1980s, designed to determine the ideal style of clothing based on physical features and personal essence. Unlike traditional body typologies (such as apple, pear, etc.), Kibbe focuses on the balance between soft (Yin) and sharp (Yang) features. The typology is divided into five main categories: Dramatic, Natural, Classic, Gamine, and Romantic, which are further divided into 10 subtypes according to his latest book (David Kibbe’s Power of Style), Dramatic, Soft Dramatic, Flamboyant Natural, Soft Natural, Dramatic Classic, Soft Classic, Romantic, Theatrical Romantic, Soft Gamine, Flambyoant Gamine.

(In 1987, David Kibbe published the book Metamorphosis, where he talked about 13 subtypes)

The foundation of the Kibbe typology is the concept that each person has a unique combination of soft and sharp features that determine which cuts, fabrics, and patterns suit them best. For example, Dramatic types excel in minimalist, structured outfits that emphasize their strong lines, while Romantic types shine in soft, flowing materials that support their feminine curves. Natural types prefer casual and comfortable clothing with an emphasis on freedom of movement, while Classic types benefit from timeless cuts and symmetry. Gamine types, which combine youthful playfulness with sharp details, look best in contrasting patterns and layering.

The Kibbe approach emphasizes authenticity and acceptance of one’s body. It’s not about changing proportions but rather finding harmony between what is natural and how we present ourselves. This system has gained popularity in modern times thanks to social media, where people try to discover their type and adjust their wardrobes accordingly. Although the Kibbe typology has its critics, many appreciate its individualized approach, which focuses not on ideal proportions but on the unique beauty of each type.