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Complete Kibbe Body Types Test with Pictures

What is the Kibbe Body Type System?

The Kibbe system is a body type and style essence system that was developed by David Kibbe in the 1980s and focuses on five main categories: Dramatic, Classic, Natural, Gamine, and Romantic.


The Kibbe system essentially evaluates the balance of a body's yang (sharp, angular) and yin (soft, rounded) features to determine to which category it belongs. Each of the five main categories has a more yang or yin version, resulting in 10 body types.


Note: There were originally 13 total types when Kibbe acknowledged pure types. However, he no longer does this as he feels each person leans either more yin or yang within their body type category. If this is all new to you, I suggest you read this post first to better get a lay of the Kibbe land.


How Do I Figure Out My Kibbe Body Type?

By taking the body type test based on the original developed by David Kibbe. However, over time the test has proven to have some limitations and David Kibbe has now said not to use a quiz to figure out your type and that the only way to be “properly” typed is to book an in-person consultation with him. This is obviously not a viable option for most people and while it can be confusing, I think the test is still a great resource.


What's important is to remember that the test is not a mathematical formula. There is more to interpret than just the number of B answers you get, for example. Understanding the test and its answers requires a holistic approach to your lines (bone structure, flesh, and features) as well as your essence.


Kibbe Type Test Preparations


  1. Get a pen and paper ready to record your responses. Or you could use the 'notes' function on a digital device. This quiz needs you to be exact about your responses, and it'll be nice to take notes in case you're unsure about an answer or you're between two answers. We will discuss how to record your responses shortly.

  2. Take a full-length picture (head-to-toe) of yourself- take the photo at chest height and at a 90-degree angle (not tilted) to allow for your true proportions to be clearly visible.

    • Stand naturally with your shoulders back and head up.

    • Wear something that either clearly outlines your body (like a thin full leotard or leggings and a vest) or showcases your body (such as underwear or a swimsuit.

    • Wear a lightly lined, semi-supportive bra that doesn’t tweak the shape of your chest (nothing overly tight or confining or padded).

    • Avoid distracting colors and patterns, make it easy to focus on your body.

  3. Take a back camera (non-selfie) face photo. Selfies and front-facing cameras can cause distortion and you want a true representation of your facial lines.

    • Make sure to prop your phone up in line with your face (not lower or higher, ensure the camera is not angled) and get a natural face shot.

    • Take a few photos, some smiling (these might help you with the facial flesh questions later), and some neutral ones so you have options.

    • You should have little to no makeup on.

    • Make sure you have good light and no strong shadows.


Camera considerations:

  • You can either get a friend to take a picture of you or you can use your phone's self-timer function to do it yourself.

  • A tripod helps ensure a steady, straight photo, but if you don’t have a tripod, then you can stack some level items (like books or shoeboxes) on a table or counter until you get to the desired chest-level height.

  • Be sure to use the rear-facing camera. The front/ selfie cameras have more distortions and generally take a lower-quality photo from a distance.


Mental/ Emotional considerations:

  • Be open to the test. If you've been reading up on the different body types, do your best to release any bias you have about any of them. No woman wants to be described as 'masculine', for example, so the Kibbe language can sometimes create a psychological barrier for many test takers who don't (and don't want to) see themselves a particular way. While I can easily understand why people do this, it is nonetheless a barrier that will hinder you from getting the full benefit of the test.


  • Accept that the test is not perfect. This method is not definitive and your answers as well as your body type may require some tweaking as you learn and understand more. There is a lot of misinformation out there on the Kibbe system (with some contradictions from David Kibbe himself). This is a fun rabbit hole, but it's confusing and it's a lot. So, take the data you get from the quiz and see if it fits. Try out the clothing and style suggestions, and then tweak them as needed.


  • You might not get it right the first time. For most of us, finding your Kibbe body type is a journey, not a 'one and done' type of thing. Knowing this upfront can save you some frustration (I hope).


What Does the Kibbe Test Examine?

The kibbe body test is made up of 15 questions that analyze four main components of your body:

  • Skeleton (bone structure)

  • Body Flesh (how your flesh sits on your bones)

  • Facial Bones/Structure

  • Facial Flesh


For each question, refer to the pictures you just took and compare them to the pictures in the test to choose the answer that is the closest match.


Do not tweak your answers to match the celebrity you want to look like. Just answer honestly for the body you have and not the one you wish you had. You're perfect.


Recording your answers:

The questions are grouped into sections, so group your answers the same. For each section, record the question number and your answer.


A sample answer sheet may look as follows:

Skeleton: 4B

Body flesh: 4B, 1A

Facial features: 3B, 2E, 1D


I'm sure at this point you're just dying to take the test, but I highly recommend you read this post first. As you'll quickly discover by scrolling down to the test questions, the test has a lot of 'Kibbe language'.


The very first question asks about your 'vertical line' and the entire test is designed to ascertain your exact 'yin' and 'yang' balance. If you have no idea what this means, then this post will get you up to speed and I think it will make the test-taking a lot smoother.


Kibbe Body Type Test


Part 1: Bone Structure/ Skeleton

In this section, we will be looking at your skeletal structure which directly relates to how clothes hang on your body. This is arguably the most important aspect of the kibbe body type system. Everything rests on your skeleton, both in real life and in Kibbe.


We will be looking at the shape of your bones as well as their length and proportions.


1. How long is your vertical line?

Your vertical line is your height in relation to your horizontal lines. For simplicity, it can be described as how tall you appear (not how tall you are).


So, for instance, you can have two people of the same height whereas one actually appears taller (when standing separately). The one who looks taller has a longer vertical line.


Let’s look at the example below:


The height of all these women is listed as 5'5, however, they don't look to be the same height. I think the two on the right, Miley Cyrus and Thandiwe Newton look taller than the two on the left. Lupita Nyong'o, and perhaps even more so, Selena Gomez looks shorter. This means that the two on the right have a longer vertical line.


My vertical line is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: vertical line

A. Long ( I look taller than I actually am)

B. Moderately long ( I look slightly taller than I actually am, but not by much)

C. Moderate ( I look to be my actual height)

D. Smallish ( I look slightly shorter than my height)

E. Petite ( It is very obvious that I am small in stature)


Tip: If you’re struggling with this question, ask someone to guess your height from a photo and see how close they are.


2. What is the shape of your shoulders?

When evaluating your shoulder shape, make sure you stand up straight and don't slouch.


My shoulders are:

Kibbe Body Types Test: shoulder shape

A. Narrow, Sharp

B. Blunt, Broad:

C. Even

D. Sloped, tapered

E. Sloped, rounded

3. How long are your arms and legs, and what shape are they?

Note: You're evaluating the length of your arms and legs in relation to the length of your torso. This does not involve actually measuring your arms and legs and it is not dependent on your height. Look at your body as a whole and evaluate the length of your limbs in relation to that whole.


It is possible to be tall and have short arms and legs proportionally speaking, and vice versa.


Tip: Refer to the full-length photo you took and note where the fingertips hit your leg in relation to the knee.


My arms and legs are:

Kibbe Body Types Test: length of limbs

A. Elongated, narrow

B. Elongated, broad

C. Moderate, evenly proportionate to your torso and height

D. Small, somewhat short

E. Small, very short proportionally to height and torso


4. What are the size and general shape of your hands and feet?


My hands and feet are:

Kibbe Body Types Test: size and shape of hands and feet

A. Long and narrow

B. Large and broad

C. Moderate, neither large nor small

D. Small, narrow, delicate

E. Small, slightly wide


Part 2: Body Flesh

In this section, we will be examining how your flesh lays on your body. It is important to note that when we discuss flesh we are not discussing weight or “fat”, but rather how your skin looks over your flesh/ muscles and bones.


This part of the test will also examine how your bust, waist, and hips compare to one another. It will also further investigate the balance of yin (soft, rounded) and yang (sharp, angled) in your flesh.


A tale of two sisters:

The Hadid sisters are a great example of how a different Yin /yang composition can play out. Despite being very thin, Gigi Hadid has very 'pinchable' flesh and a round face with full cheeks. While her skeleton is yang, Gigi's flesh is more yin.


On the other hand, her sister, Bella Hadid is thin and her flesh is also thin. It's taut and sinewy on her body and her face is sharply chiseled with hollow cheeks. Both Bella's skeleton and flesh are yang.


Read the detailed comparison I did on Gigi and Bella Hadid here.


Have your photo ready and let's dive into the nuances of your flesh!


5. What is the overall shape of your body?


The overall shape of my body is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: body shape

A. Long and lean

B. Broad and tends to have a muscular look

C. Moderate, proportionate

D. Shapely, soft hourglass (not extremely defined)

E. Rounded edges, lush, clearly defined hourglass shape


6. What is the shape of your bust/upper torso?

When discussing your bust line it is about the overall shape of your chest and the flesh around it (upper back flesh, and side flesh). What outline does it create? The cup size is irrelevant and should not be considered a defining characteristic. Just because you have a larger chest does not mean you have 'yin'. Likewise, a small bust does not mean you have 'yang'.


Please read the descriptions carefully to see which answer you best fit into.


The shape of my bust/upper torso is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: shape of bust/ torso

A. Flat, taut, small

B. Wide and broad, but still small

C. Moderate, even

D. Curved and shapely, full

E. Prominent, busty


7. What is the shape of your waistline?


The shape of my waistline is:

* Use the same graphic as question 6


A. Elongated, “boyishly tapered” ( weight gain will not change this)

B. Elongated, but broad

C. Moderate, slightly defined

D. Very small in comparison to your waist, hips, and shoulders

E. Slightly defined, but still broad and has a round quality


8. What is the overall shape of your hips?

(Remember this is in relation to the rest of your body)


The overall shape of my hips is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: hips shape

A. Straight, narrow, tapered

B. Fairly straight, slightly tapers in, but also slightly wide

C. Moderate, in comparison to bust and hips

D. Rounded and shapely, more pronounced than waistline

E. Extremely soft and rounded


9. How would you describe the flesh on your upper arms and thighs?

The easiest way to test this is to pinch the skin around your upper arms.


I can describe my upper arm and thigh flesh as:

* Use the same graphic as question 8


A. Long, slender, and lean for your weight (if thin there will be no flesh to pinch, if heavier you may have some flesh but it will be minimal for your weight)

B. Elongated; looks muscular. There is little flesh to pinch and it feels lean/ muscular)

C. Moderate: You fall somewhere in the middle. You might be able to pinch some flesh but not much and it feels neither lean nor fleshy for your size.

D. Soft, but with some definition, You will have some soft flesh to your upper thighs and upper arms that is easily pinchable and still has some definition to it.

E. Very soft, slightly wide, fleshy: Your upper arms and thighs feel fleshy and soft. You can pinch a fair amount of skin despite your weight.


Part 3: Facial Features

For this section, we will be examining your facial features. Make sure you have your face photo ready.


We will examine the shape of each of the features of your face, both their structure and how the flesh lays on it.


10. What is the shape of your jawline?


My jawline is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: shape of jawline

A. Sharp; either very pointed or angular and square

B. Blunt and slightly wide, can feel broad

C. Moderate; neither wide, sharp nor distinctly round

D. Delicate, tapered/sloped, slightly narrow

E. Rounded, softly broad


11. What is the shape of your nose?


My nose is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: nose shape

A. Sharp or prominent

B. Broad or Blunt, can be on the larger side

C. Moderate

D. Delicate, tapered, narrow

E. Rounded or softly wide


12. What is the shape of your cheekbones?

For this question, we are looking at the shape of the actual bones (not the flesh). Referring back to your photo should help you see the shape, but you can also feel your cheekbones to see how prominent they are compared to your cheeks and how rounded or sharp they feel.


The shape of my cheekbones is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: shape of cheekbones

A. High and prominent

B. Wide, blunt

C. Moderate

D. Delicate, narrow, with slightly rounded edges

E. Rounded, full, soft

13. What is the shape of your eyes?


The shape of my eyes is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: eyes shape

A. Narrow, straight, closely spaced

B. Narrow, straight, widely spaced

C. Evenly Spaced, Moderate Size

D. Rounded or upturned, slightly close together

E. Very round and very large


14. What is the shape of your lips?

My lips are:

Kibbe Body Types Test: lips shape

A. Straight, narrow

B. Straight, strong broad

C. Moderate

D. Slightly full and has some roundness

E. Very full and very rounded

15. How would you describe the flesh on your cheekbones?

This is not the same as the shape of your cheekbones (question 12). This question is about the flesh you have on top of your cheekbones (which can alter how prominent they are and the overall shape of your face).


For this question look at a picture of yourself smiling to see how much volume your cheek flesh creates. You can also smile and feel your cheekbones and see how much flesh you can pinch.


The flesh on my cheekbones is:

Kibbe Body Types Test: cheekbone flesh

A. Flat, taught (even when overweight)

B. Fairly tight or muscular; can get puffier if you put on weight

C. Moderate; can be gently soft

D. Soft and fleshy, if you gain weight your cheeks seem to get even fuller

E. Very round and fleshy ( no matter weight fluctuations)


Congratulations- You Did It!

You completed the Kibbe body type test! Take a breather, celebrate, and then meet me over in this post to discuss your results.


I hope this was helpful and I'll talk to you very soon.


Nonjabulo




I've been doing a deep dive into the science and art of dressing well using the body typing system developed by famed stylist David Kibbe. I like this system because its approach to style is not corrective (as so many have been), it's rather about highlighting each person's natural lines.


The style recommendations mimic an individual's natural lines to create a wardrobe that is cohesive with their body geometry and helps them communicate their true essence. This creates a style that is centered around making people look more like themselves, and encourages them to show up as the most authentic version of themselves.



In this way, it's very inclusive and I think it's the kindest system in how it makes space for each person's beauty. I like it very much. That said, it is very (VERY!) confusing, and if you've ever tried to type yourself you may have found yourself in between two (or more) body types, I know I did. In (this post), I discuss how I used a process of elimination to get down to my most likely body types so that further analysis would be easier to determine my exact type.


Aside from knowing your lines, another very important element of great personal style is knowing your colors. I would argue it's even more important because even the most perfectly fitted dress in a clashing color will look terrible. In this post, I'll briefly discuss what the Seasonal Color System is and how I came to determine my type as Soft + Muted or Autumn.

Like the season Autumn, a person who falls into this category has an overall coloring that is rather muted, deep, earthy, and warm.

What Is Seasonal Color Theory?

There have been many color analysis systems and they can be quite overwhelming. The reason I lean toward this particular system is that it feels the most intuitive and simple.


The theory is that everybody's natural coloring is either warm or cool, and bright or muted. Here bright or muted refers to the intensity of the person's natural coloring or 'chroma', and warm or cool refers to their undertones.


What are the four seasons?

With the options of either warm or cool and bright or muted, there are four main categorizations that can form. These form the four seasons. A person can either be:

  • Warm + Bright - Spring

  • Warm + Muted - Autumn

  • Cool + Bright - Winter

  • Cool + Muted - Summer


Now, while this four-season model forms a great base for color analysis, it is also quite limited. For one, it doesn't account for people of color, who just don't fit neatly into these groups. Thankfully, over time, these four groups have been expanded to include a new category of 'light and dark' such that each season breaks into three, creating a total of 12 classifications.


That said, this is not what I'm here to discuss as it's quite detailed and I'd much rather send you to (this great resource) that breaks it down beautifully.


How To Find Your Coloring

This analysis helped me to determine that I am Warm and Muted, which makes me an Autumn.


1. Determine If You Are Warm or Cool

Undertones are the subtle natural color below your skin’s surface. They can either be warm, cool, or neutral. There are a few tests that help you to determine which you are:


Vein Test- One quick way to determine a person's undertones is to look at the color of their veins. Green veins indicate a warm undertone, whereas blue veins indicate a cool undertone.


Metals Test- Another quick test for undertones is to wear silver and gold jewelry to see which one looks better and more harmonious on you. If you have warm undertones, the gold jewelry will complement your skin tone, whereas the silver will highlight your imperfections. If you have cool undertones the silver jewelry will compliment you and the gold will look off. If both look equally good, then you have neutral undertones.


White Paper Test- If you hold a white sheet of paper to your face, you'll be able to see what color comes through on your face. If your face looks yellow against the paper, you have warm undertones. If your face has a pinkish hue against the paper, you have cool undertones.


Am I Warm or Cool?

I have warm undertones. I look better in gold jewelry (rather than silver). I have green veins, and when I place a white piece of paper next to my face, I pick up clear yellowish pigment.

Verdict: Warm

2. Determine If You Are Light or Dark

The best way to determine this is to take a facial photo and set it to greyscale.

I chose this picture because I’m wearing a white top (which is one end of the greyscale special), so I can see just how far my skin tone is from white.


Am I Light or Dark?

My overall coloring is dark, as can be seen in my greyscale photo. I have dark hair and dark eyes and, although my skin is relatively light when compared to my hair and eyes, my skin is also med-dark (this is clear when you compare it to the white of my shirt). My eyes and teeth are very light, which provides contrast. So I have an overall dark coloring.

Verdict: Dark

b. Understanding My Level of Contrast

This is the contrast between their (natural) hair and skin, the pupil to the whites of their eyes, etc. The level of contrast that we have in our natural coloring determines the level of contrast that we can handle in our clothing. As stated, I have an overall deep/ dark coloring with medium to high contrast. This means that I can handle both light and dark colors, though I look my best in medium to dark colors since that‘s where my natural coloring falls.

Let’s take a look:

I think I look good in all of the different depths of colors, from the very light cream white, though the medium green to the dark navy. That said, I think the medium to dark colors are my best because they are closest to my coloring (so least contrast).


The white is the furthest from my coloring and thus the most contrasted. I think the white looks the most separate from me. The value of these colors is easier to see when I set the image to grayscale:

This also means that I can easily handle medium to high contrast looks (so long as I stay within my palette).


Let’s take a look:

Again, the value or depth of these colors is easier to see when I set the image to grayscale:

While both outfits present contrast, the one to the left is made up of colors that are close together on the value scale, so the contrast is lower. The outfits on the right it’s made up of colors that are very far apart on the valley slate, so it has higher contrast.


While both looks work, I think the medium contrast (where both colors fall within the medium value range) look to the left is more harmonious.


Verdict: Medium to High

3. Determine If You Are Muted or Bright

This refers to the chroma that your coloring can handle. Think of it as the brightness or clarity of a color that you can wear without it overpowering you. People with low contrast tend to not do well with bright colors and disappear behind them, whereas people with high contrast look great in bright colors as their own clear coloring can support it.


Am I Clear/ Bright or Muted?

I am overpowered by very bright colors and they leave me looking dull. Because they are not harmonious with my natural coloring, very bright colors compete with my skin for attention, and because they are brighter they always win. This means that you see the bright-colored dress first before you see me. Here's an example:



See how I disappear into the background in this bright orange dress? You first see the dress, and then you see me. If you’re struggling to see this, try to look at my face and watch how your eye is automatically drawn to the dress instead.

Now, compare that to a person with Warm + Bright coloring, who is harmonious with this bright color dress, and see how beautifully it complements her. She does not look separate from it.

I see Meg and the dress together.


The orange complements her and her skin glows against it. She has Deep, Clear, and Bright coloring.


Now, let's look at a similar color on Gigi Hadid:


On Gigi, I first see this outfit before I see her. The orange is too bright and overpowers her. She has muted coloring.


Now, let’s see what Meg looks like in a warm but muted tone:

Here, I see this dress and then I see Meg. It doesn't overpower her as much as it looks separate from her and it drags her entire look down. This look is incredibly dull on her. She needs vibrant color.


Now, let's try a similar muted color on Gigi:

Here, I see Gigi and her dress together. Her beautiful face comes to the forefront (because the dress doesn't pull attention away from her). This muted, warm tone complements her and all her features (hair, skin) shine against it.


Let’s explore this on me again.

These colors are all warm (yellow being the warmest of all), but the yellow to the left is muted whereas on the right it’s clear and bright. We can see the separation principle again.

In the muted colors on the left, I perceive myself and my clothes all together. In the bright colors to the right, the clothes pull away from me. I first see the outfit and then I see me. Even though these are good colors for me, their brightness stands out against my mutedness.


Verdict: Muted

Best Colors for Autumn | Warm + Muted Colors

As an Autumn, my overall coloring is rather muted, deep, earthy, and warm. As such, I'm best complemented by colors that can be described in the same way. It is important for me to choose colors that will echo my natural delicate coloring, and medium to high contrast level. On me, muted and warm colors appear vibrant because they harmonize with my skin and glow against it.



Best Colors for Warm + Muted

The best colors for Warm and Muted are cream, camel, olive green, golden browns, chestnut, coral, tomato red, mellow yellows, beige, forest green, and peach. They are also complemented by navy blue, some shades of warm muted blue, purple, and teal.


A person who is Warm + Muted doesn't need contrast as much as she needs glow. As such, bronze and gold are the metallics that compliment a Warm + Muted person best because it has the right glow for their coloring.


Worst Colors for Autumn | Cool + Light Colors

The worst colors for Warm + Muted are cool, very light, and overly bright colors. These will wash them out and make them look sick. True white and black are too harsh for this coloring, and they should rather opt for a cream white and a charcoal grey, or brown instead.


This makes sense right? If I'm Warm, Muted and Dark- the furthest colors from me are Cool, Bright, and Light. So these would be my worst colors that look the most separate from me.

Let’s see what happens when I wear cool and light colors:

I don't own such colors (and for good reason), so I had to forage in Dear Husband's wardrobe for this t-shirt.

Hahahahahaha- Wow this is so bad.

This blue color is light (especially compared to my skin) and it is cool- this blue reads as ‘icy’. It doesn’t work on me at all.

Now, let’s see what happens when I try blues with some warmth:


These are infinitely better on me. In these shades of blue, I don’t look sick and awful. They are warmer and darker as compared to the earlier blues. They are also less clear, or more muted. So, they work better with my natural coloring (which is warm, dark, and muted). I actually like both these outfits.

Conclusion

So, from a pretty intuitive process of trying everything and seeing what looks and feels better on me, I've concluded that I am: Muted, Warm, and Dark. This, in seasonal color theory, makes me an Autumn. I agree with this result. I think technically I'm either a True Autumn or a Dark Autumn but, for now, I'm just happy knowing which color season fits with me.


I think knowing your best colors is a vital piece of information that can easily transform your style for the better. I first became serious about understanding my coloring about a year ago, and in that time, I've gotten rid of colors that don't work and started only buying colors that complement me. This has saved me time, and money, and has made it easy to create a wardrobe that all works together. It's still a work in progress, but I can attest to its value.


I hope this helps you find your coloring as well, or to better understand the principles behind it. Let me know if it does and what color season you are.


Talk soon,

Nonjabulo



After doing the seasons color analysis on myself, I learned that I am Warm and Muted, which makes me an Autumn. In this post, I go into detail about how I determined this (with plenty of pictures). This time, I'll be discussing how to go about dressing for both your lines and your coloring.


My Coloring: Warm and Muted (Autumn)

As an Autumn, my overall coloring is rather muted, deep, earthy, and warm. I'm best complemented by colors that echo my naturally subdued coloring, and medium to high contrast level. I am overpowered by very bright colors and they leave me looking dull. On me, muted and warm colors appear vibrant because they harmonize with my skin which glows against them.


Let's see me in some of my best colors. Notice how you perceive me and the outfits together, and it's easy to keep your eyes on my face. The clothes don't pull attention away from me, they compliment me.


Correct Coloring is More Important Than Correct Lines

Color is the first thing that your eye picks up when looking at a person's outfit and it either registers as harmonious or not. Harmonious colors then lead to further analysis which picks up on incredible fit (or lack thereof). But if there is a color clash, that’s pretty much all the eye perceives. Let’s look at an example:


Wrong Coloring

First, let's take a moment to appreciate vintage Bey. And now let's talk about it. There is quite a bit wrong here, and all those elements that work together to make this an unflattering look on her.


Above all, I think the use of color is the biggest offender. Beyonce is also an Autumn, which means her best coloring is warm and muted. This particular yellow is too cool for her. It has an 'icy' quality that is further accentuated by the silver metalware (gold would be better). The mesh fabric doesn't quite match her skin tone, making the ornate detailing on the fabric stand out in an unflattering way against her skin. This fabric also feels too light for her, it doesn't visually support her weight.


Her hair and makeup also add to this discoloration. The platinum blonde streaks are again too cool and severe against her skin, which is sadly also covered in makeup that is at least a shade too light (it was all the rage in the 90s) which gives her face a cool, greyish cast.


Almost every aspect of this ensemble looks separate from her, and my eye is drawn to every mistake I want to fix.


The funny thing is that the style of this dress isn't terrible, especially for her body. However, the colors are so off that I don't really even see the lines of the dress. I don't see that it fits her well or even focus on her gorgeous (hello, it's Beyonce!) body. I just see how bad it all looks.


Correct Coloring

Now, let's see her in a similar cut dress in a warmer yellow that flatters her skin and warmer hair color (still blonde) that does the same thing.

Now, this looks like Beyonce. Her skin is glowing, her hair compliments her, and she looks radiant. Here, everything is just sitting right, there's nothing I want to fix. I just want to look at her beautiful face. And even though most of it is covered (thanks to her overcoat and Jay-Z), I feel like I see more of her body that in the first dress. I see her more.


This dress is very similar in style to the first one, but it's worlds apart in how it looks on her. The deeper and warmer yellow flatters her, and the heavier fabric supports her beautifully. The overall golden tint to the entire look (hair, skin, makeup) is harmonious with her warm coloring and the effect is beautiful.


How To Shop to Honor Both Your Body Type + Your Coloring

The trick is to make sure you honor your lines, your colors, and your fabrics. Let's say you walk into a cute store and want to buy a dress. This is how I would go about it:


1. First, I would go to a rack and scan colors and pick out one in my palette, like terracotta for example.


2. Next, I'd pull it out and study the lines. If it's a flowy wrap dress that's perfect, if it's a stiff bodycon dress, then that violates my mostly Natural lines and I'd put it back.


3. Then, I'd examine the fabric. This is not always made or break, but not all fabrics flatter all body types. As a Natural type, I'm best suited by natural fabrics that have some visual weight to them so, in this case, if the dress is in a linen fabric- then that's a home run. If it's a very delicate chiffon with a very delicate pattern on it, it would be too light for me and I'd probably pass. This idea of visual weight takes some practice, so try different things to get a better understanding of what works on you.


4. Lastly, I'd try it on. Nothing beats seeing a garment actually on you to see how it sits on your body. I almost always try things on and it's saved me so much time (spent doing alterations to try and make something I should never have bought work), money, and frustration.


How To Handle Contrast With a Muted Coloring

Contrast coloring can be tricky when attempting to do it in the context of muted colors which, by definition, will be low chroma and thus low contrast. [I discuss contrast in more detail in this post.]


However, the same rules apply, you just have to make sure the brightest and darkest colors you incorporate into your outfit don't go beyond the intensity that your coloring can allow. Doing this will be easier for certain body types than others.


Let's Consider Soft Natural- A Low Contrast Type

Kibbe (Soft) Naturals are best suited by a color palette that harmonizes and has gentle contrast. So, a person with muted coloring who falls into this type will have an easier time honoring their colors. All they have to do is solidify their pallet and then only shop within those colors.



Let's Consider Flamboyant Gamine- A High Contrast Type

Honoring a muted palette can be trickier for a Kibbe body type like Flamboyant Gamine which calls for high contrast as one of its best style elements. However, all you have to remember is that your contrast has to be less extreme.


Let's consider a classic Flamboyant Gamine outfit: a contrasted turtleneck and trousers. On a Flamboyant Gamine with Cool + Bright coloring, a black and white ensemble (first option to the left) would be flattering, but on someone with Muted coloring, it would be much too harsh against their skin. They would be much more suited by a medium to high contrast and muted palette, like the two middle options (depending on whether they are warm or cool).


On them, these colors would be flattering and create the same effect as the black and white on someone with Cool + Bright coloring, without overpowering them. The last option to the right is for someone with warm coloring and very low contrast.



Conclusion

The point of this color analysis and typing is to figure out your best, most complementary palette. This includes your color 'limits' so that you know what colors don't serve you so you can avoid them. With this knowledge, you can confidently play and create whatever stylistic effect you want while always looking harmonious.


I think the best clothes are those that communicate something of who we are. I think when we feel we look good, we show up better. I think that's worth doing for ourselves and those who encounter us. I think tools like this can help us take another step on this great personal style journey. Well, it helped me and I hope it works for you too.


Let me know if it did as well as what your coloring is.


Talk soon,

Nonjabulo



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