A KIBBE body type test is a popular method to find out your shape and styles that suit you best.
The system was introduced by stylist David Kibbe in the 1980s in his book David Kibbe’s Metamorphosis: Discover Your Image Identity And Dazzle As Only You Can.
What is the Kibbe body type test?
The Kibbe body types test includes a series of 13 style types based on physical characteristics.
According to the Concept Wardrobe, Kibbe’s theory is based on each person’s balance of yin and yang.
The body shape system is categorised into five style families: Dramatics, Naturals, Classics, Romantics and Gamines.
There are guidelines and advice for each body type regarding physical appearance such as clothing, hair and make-up.
How do I do the Kibbe body type test?
To take the Kibbe body test, first, you need a clear picture of yourself in a swimsuit or underwear.
You need to be standing straight and the camera to be around chest level.
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Get a piece of paper to record your answers.
There are three different sections, Bone Structure, Body Flesh, and Facial Features.
You need to record your answers like:
- Bone Structure: 1A 2C
- Body Flesh: 5E 2D
- Facial Features: 5E 2D
The answers are divided into yin and yang families – A and B are yang dominant (sharp, angular), while D and E are yin dominant (soft and rounded).
Who is David Kibbe?
David Kibbe is a Manhattan-based stylist who established the concept of “image identity” in 1987.
His book Metamorphosis, A Personal Image And Style Book For Women is out of print, with used copies selling for hundreds of dollars.
While other body type theories focus on balance and symmetry, Kibbe believes in embracing and emphasising one’s natural appearance.
According to his website, Kibbe turned his back on a career as a classical pianist to pursue his “fame and fortune” in New York.
While working for a famous casting director, he observed that not all most talented people got the job – rather it was the ones who had a “visual focus”.
From there he became one of the pioneering members of the Color-Me-Beautiful movement and has “built his own business, one client at a time, while developing and evolving his own style and color theories”.
He is married to actress Susan Slavin, with Kibbe saying of his soulmate: “Her outer beauty needs no explanation. Yet her
inner beauty is equally stunning.”