Blending My Best Kibbe Style Essences: Ethereal Flamboyant Natural

I’ve spent some time getting to know and documenting my Kibbe body type over the last few weeks. In this post, I try all the suggested clothing lines to find my type via a process of elimination. Then, in this post, I further fine-tune my type by seeing which of the style essences I identify with.

These processes combined to help me figure out that I am an Ethereal Flamboyant Natural. In this post, I’ll be combining both these style identities and essences to create my best looks.

Flamboyant Natural

What is the Flamboyant Natural style identity?

According to Kibbe, Flamboyant Naturals are soft yang. They are frame dominant, with broad shoulders and slim, straight hips that create a clear and prominent T-silhouette. They have a long vertical line and a broadness to their structure.

Following their lines, Flamboyant Naturals are best complemented by loose/ relaxed, oversized, and unconstructed silhouettes that honor both their dominant vertical and horizontal lines. They look great in a mix of natural textures and colors.

What is the Flamboyant Natural essence?

The Flamboyant Natural essence is free-spirited, down-to-earth, and fresh. It's effortlessly bold and open.

Related: Flamboyant Natural Style Analysis: Gigi Hadid

Ethereal

What is the Ethereal style identity?

The Ethereal style is clearly feminine but otherworldly instead of overtly sexy (like Romantics) or sweetly innocent (like Ingenues). It is often called Angelic. Ethereal lines are long and flowing, anything that adds to the sense of flying or floating away (as angels would). The materials are light and shimmery, yet the overall feel is powerful.

What is the Ethereal essence?

The Ethereal essence is feminine, mature, and powerful.

Combine them creates: Ethereal Flamboyant Natural

What is the Ethereal Flamboyant Natural Essence?

The Ethereal Flamboyant Natural essence is feminine, mature, and relaxed. It's effortlessly put together, but not necessarily polished.

What is the Ethereal Flamboyant Natural Style Identity?

The style lines of this hybrid type, specifically when they combine on me, are long, narrow, loose, and flowy.

1. Long

I need clothing that respects my long vertical line. This is especially true of the garments closest to my body.

2. Narrow

My clothes need to sit close to my body to create a narrow silhouette. I am narrower than a typical Natural. [Remember that a typical Natural is broad compared to a typical Dramatic.] This is because while FN sits between Natural and Dramatic, mine sits quite close to Dramatic (which is all yang and very narrow).

3. Loose

However, because I am still first a Natural (and not a Dramatic), my lines need to be loose and unconstructed. There needs to feel like air can flow between me and my tightest layer of clothing, and every layer of clothing for that matter. Failing that, air needs to flow between me and most layers of my clothing.

4. Fly-factor

This is past the looseness factor I’ve just discussed in the above point. This is about layering. I look my best when I have something long to throw over my outfit that adds an additional layer of flow. Something that feels like it's flying to honor my Ethereal Essence. This elevates every outfit by connecting me to that otherworldly essence.

Not all 4 elements are equally important.

Most important: These are important elements necessary for a good outfit. Without them, something is lost.

• Narrow- A narrow silhouette/ clothes that sit close to my body.

• A ‘fly-factor- A long, flowy garment (like a shawl or cape) thrown over the outfit. It elevates my look so I should aim for it whenever I can.

Secondary importance: These elements are important but not critical. They elevate an outfit, but their absence doesn't break it.

• Long- A long vertical line.

• Loose- Clothes that flow gently over my body (not skin tight).

Now Let's Look At Some Outfits

Here’s a perfect example: This look has 4/4 elements.

The inner silhouette is long, narrow, and loose. The dress flows gently over her body (it’s not skin tight), but it’s closely fitted so that it remains narrow and outlines the body. The black boots continue the color of the dress creating a long vertical line.

The long grey shawl takes this outfit to the next level. The way it flows in the wind as she walks creates such a lovely picture. It’s effortlessly beautiful and, on her, cool. On a different person, this shawl would look matronly and boring. They might be better suited by a cropped leather jacket or a wool blazer depending on their essences. But not Angelina, she looks amazing in this.

Try to imagine this outfit without the shawl. It would suddenly be so bland. Not terrible, just not her best. I’m the same way. This outfit is so perfect in capturing all my essences that I’m going to use it as a ‘cheat checklist‘ for similar outfits.

Let’s consider what happens when narrowness is missing: This look has 3/4 elements.

This is still a great look and Angelina can pull it off, but it’s not as great as the first look.

Of the 4 elements listed above, this outfit has 3. It’s long, it’s loose, and it has a 'fly-factor'.

The difference here is that the white dress is not narrow. It’s not gently fitted to her frame and instead is too loose and her body is drowned in fabric. This time, instead of giving her the sense of flying, the grey shawl makes her look dragged down. The outfit looks heavy and shapeless.

Verdict: Narrowness is a critical element for my outfits. Even if every other element is present, if narrowness is missing the outfit doesn't work. I drown and look lost without it.

Let’s consider what happens when only narrowness is present: This look has 1/4 elements:

The only element this dress has is narrowness. It’s missing 3 of the 4 factors. It’s not long, or loose, and it doesn't have a ‘fly-factor’ since I’m without a shawl of any kind.

Surprisingly, for only having one critical element, I look okay. While this is far from being my best look, I would have thought this would look terrible, but this just highlights how narrowness is the most critical element for me. It can singlehandedly carry an outfit and without it, every outfit sinks.

As is, this outfit is quite underwhelming. It would be greatly enhanced by adding another element and, in this case, the only option is a ‘fly-factor’ in the form of a long, flowy jersey.

Let’s take a look: This look now has 2/4 elements:

I think this looks better than the dress on its own. (This is the only color jersey I have, and it’s not the best to accompany this dress- so try to only look at the lines.) Adding the 'fly-factor' elevates this look. The jersey also adds length, which is important for me.

Verdict: Length is a very important element of my outfits. I look my best when clothing (even if it's just one element) honors my vertical line.

Let’s consider what happens when the fly- factor is missing: This look has 2/4 elements.

This outfit is tight and narrow. It’s missing 2 of the 4 factors. It’s not loose and I'm missing a ‘fly-factor’ since I’m without a shawl of any kind. While it’s color-blocked and truncates my vertical line, it still has length as it covers most of my body vertically. Being a Natural, I can easily wear separates without suffering a great loss to the vertical line in the same way a pure Dramatic would.

This look is still quite flattering because it draws out my Dramatic leaning (long and lean) lines. There is actually very little that's ‘Natural’ about this look so, while it’s not my absolute best look, I can carry a mostly Dramatic outfit.

Verdict: Looseness and a 'fly-factor' are not critical elements for my outfits, I can look good without them provided the other two elements are present.

Here is an example of an outfit that puts it all together:

I’ve always loved this outfit. Especially how it moves. Now I know why, it has all 4 elements. The inner silhouette is long, narrow, and flowy. The long, flowy jacket adds the 'fly-factor'. Also, the color palette is complementary to my Autumn coloring. It ticks all the boxes.

Related: How To Dress for Both Your Kibbe Body Type and Your Color Season

Conclusion

Four elements are necessary to create ideal looks that honor all my lines and essences. These elements, in their order of importance, are: narrowness, fly-factor, length, and looseness.

Knowing the exact elements that make up my best looks by honoring all my essences has been a game-changer. I feel like I can plan outfits so much easier and look amazing in them. I now know why the outfits I love so much work, and I can use that information to replicate equally great outfits for different occasions.

I‘m excited to shop and create ensembles armed with this new knowledge as I work to create my (mostly) forever wardrobe.

I hope this has helped you. Let me know where you are on your style journey- what are your 'must-have' style elements?

Talk soon,

Nonjabulo

Flamboyant Gamine vs Dramatic | Zoe Kravitz vs. Tilda Swinton | Kibbe Body Types

The Dramatic and Flamboyant Gamine Kibbe body types and style identities have quite a lot in common, making choosing between them a little confusing. Luckily, they also have some distinct differences which I hope to highlight.

In this post, I make a direct comparison between the Dramatic and Flamboyant Gamine Kibbe body types and style identities to highlight these similarities and differences using a selection of outfits from style icons Tilda Swinton (Dramatic) and Zoe Kravitz (Flamboyant Gamine).

You can Find Your Kibbe Type by taking the test here.

Similarities between Dramatic and Flamboyant Gamine

• Sharp bone structure

• Yang dominant

• Long limbs, may have a 'leggy' look

Differences between Dramatic and Flamboyant Gamine

• Vertical line (long for Dramatic and short for Flamboyant Gamine)

• Essence (grown and mature for Dramatic; fun and youthful for Flamboyant Gamine)

Let's Compare and Contrast

Flamboyant Gamine Staple- Cropped Pieces

Cropped items are a Gamine trait. So, naturally, they look great on Flamboyant Gamines but not quite right on Dramatics.

In this outfit, Tilda looks slightly offish. I want to stretch out her pants so they 'fit' her better. This cut also makes her look wide at the hips.

She is a very tall and thin woman, so that speaks to how unflattering it is when her long vertical line is not respected (and cropped). Where her jumper hits on her hips also aids her to appear wider. Also, the shoes are not the best for her.

Zoe looks amazing in this outfit. She's at home in these cropped pants and cropped tee, because they work to put her body in proportion.

The busy pattern of her pants is also perfect for her. It adds the exciting detail that Flamboyant Gamines need to not appear boring.

If these pants were black, this outfit would still be flattering because the lines all compliment her, but it would be dull compared to how it looks now.

Verdict: Cropped pieces look great on Flamboyant Gamines but they look small and slightly odd on Dramatics. On Dramatics, it looks as though the clothes are small and not long enough for them.

Flamboyant Gamine Staple- Graphic Elements

Graphic elements are a Flamboyant Gamine trait, which is why they look amazing in graphic T-shirts where other body types might look sloppy and childish. On Dramatics, graphic elements are distracting.

I don't know who the lady in this picture is, but I will assume she is a Flamboyant Gamine.

This is perhaps the most graphic coat I have ever seen, it is literally a comic strip- and yet she looks very grown and stylish in it. Fun and playful, yes- but not childish.

(As a Flamboyant Natural, if I wore this, I would look as though I was trying too hard to appear 'fun'.)

There is no picture of Tilda Swinton in an equally graphic coat (because she is smart), but I did find this gently decorated coat on her. This has all the sharp tailoring that a Dramatic thrives in. It fits her perfectly and the color is great for her.

However, I can't stop looking at that thing down her side. It takes all the attention from her, and when I look at this image I have to fight to keep my attention on her face. On her, this graphic detailing is distracting. Any 'fun' element on its own becomes distracting.

The Dramatic essence is intense and bold, so she can handle a print, even a bright one- but it has to be somewhat uniform. As an example, consider this outfit:

In this coat (and outfit) below, Tilda looks incredible. I perceive her and the outfit together. The print is prominent, but not distracting.

Verdict: Graphic elements look great on Flamboyant Gamines, but they look distracting and childish on Dramatics.

Dramatic Staple- Menswear (Suits)

Menswear and specifically men's suits are a Dramatic element. So, naturally, they suit Dramatics perfectly. On a FG, the lines of a men's suit are overwhelming, while the style is typically underwhelming.

Dramatic is the most yang body type, and suits are perhaps the most yang outfit there is. So, naturally, they fit them like a glove and highlight all their best features. In a suit, a Dramatic woman actually looks more feminine.

Tilda looks amazing here. It's so elegant and complete on her. I have no notes. The lines of her clothes and body blend into each other and almost move into the background to highlight her feminine features (of which some are on her face).

I mean...Amazing. I just love her in a suit!

In a suit, Zoe looks small. I know that she is small but, generally speaking, when she's in her best lines, I don't see her small statue first- I see how amazing she looks, and then I may make note that she is a small woman. In these long, sharp dramatic lines, she looks tiny.

In the red-striped suit especially, the outfit highlights the size of her head and it looks very large in comparison to her body. The second suit is slightly better, I think due to the presence of a contrasting color from her top as well as the crop of the pants, but not by much.

The suit below is the best I've seen on Zoe. The cut is more flattering on her, and the pattern and the contrasting button detail are Gamine elements that make it more harmonious with her. However, I still feel like something is missing.

While this is really beautiful, the look is still rather subdued on her. It doesn't fully communicate her essence. I think a pop of color (shoes/bag) would have elevated this look.

Verdict: Menswear looks amazing on Dramatics but is underwhelming on Flamboyant Gamines. On Dramatics, it highlights their sharp bone structure, lean physique, and long vertical line. On FGs, it highlights their smallness in a way that isn't as flattering.

Dramatic Staple- Long Vertical Line

A long vertical line is a Dramatic element. So, naturally, it looks great on Dramatics but drags Flamboyant Gamines down.

I love this look on Tilda Swinton. This bold, long, and straight dress highlights her tall frame. It's perfectly harmonious with her bone structure. In this dress, she looks powerful- her Dramatic essence is on full display.

This long, slinky, plain white dress is very underwhelming on Zoe. It drags her down. The long vertical line overwhelms her small frame. The biggest problem though, in my opinion, is that the dress is so plain.

She looks so dull. I wish someone would accidentally spray paint her so that she had some visual interest because this is too boring for a Flamboyant Gamine.

Verdict: A long vertical line looks great on Dramatics but is overwhelming on Flamboyant Gamines. While it enlivens a Dramatic, it drags a Flamboyant Gamine down.

Flamboyant Gamine Staple- Staccato Effect

A staccato effect is a Flamboyant Gamine element. As such, it looks great on FGs, but it looks disjointed and inelegant on Dramatics.

Tilda Swinton's outfit makes me frown, involuntarily. There are a few things that work against this look for her, but none worse than the crop, so that's all I'll focus on here.

This horizontal cut across her body looks so random, haphazard, and unnecessary. A typical Dramatic body (like Tilda's) is a straight line, so there are no natural breaks (like at her waist) where this crop would look at home or natural. As a result, all my attention is drawn to this line that shouldn't be there.

This crop top and skirt combo looks amazing on Zoe. That slice of skin where her crop top ends looks beautiful and natural. Blocks of clothing (staccato) look amazing on FGs, so this is not surprising. A different color top/ skirt would have been excellent but this is still beautiful.

Note: Even that giant necklace with a giant blue jewel on her neck doesn't take attention from her face. On her, it's prominent, but it's still just a detail and she is still the main attraction. Also, without it, this would be bland. No body type can handle stylistic detail like a Flamboyant Gamine (or fall flat without it).

Verdict: A staccato effect looks great on FGs, but it looks disjointed on Dramatics.

Dramatic Staple- Monochrome vs Flamboyant Gamine Staple- Color Blocking

Monochrome is a Dramatic element, and color blocking is a Gamine element. As such, I expect that each type will be best suited by its element and look rather separate/ bland in the other.

In these monochromatic looks, Zoe looks rather boring. The pink dress is also a bit too light and whimsical for her essence. The stiffer black dress is better suited to her, and the cutout detail is a life-saver. Still, these are both quite underwhelming.

I think she looks so much better in these dresses. The color blocks elevate each of her outfits and she looks more fun, which in turn makes her look more elegant.

I won't pretend not to love these color-blocked looks from Tilda Swinton because I do. She is a style icon- the end.

However, with respect to her lines and her essence, as a Dramatic- or more specifically, an Ethereal Dramatic- she is best suited to monochromatic looks. Some of her elegance is lost when she breaks her vertical line with color blocks.

In a head-to-toe look, she looks her most elegant. Something of her essence is better communicated in these looks and I think she looks very stylish but also quite complete.

Verdict: Monochrome looks great on Dramatics but is underwhelming on Flamboyant Gamines. In contrast, color blocking looks great on Flamboyant Gamines but is inelegant on Dramatics.

Conclusion

While the Dramatic and Flamboyant Gamine Kibbe body types and style identities have a lot in common, they also have some key differences that set them apart. The purpose of this analysis was to highlight these similarities and differences.

A Dramatic will look childish and busy in pure Flamboyant Gamine lines, and a Flamboyant Gamine will look overwhelmed and boring in pure Dramatic lines. The use of color is also different for these body types. Bold graphic elements are better suited to FGs, and solid colors or patterns are better suited to Dramatics.

If you were stuck between these two style identities, I hope this post helped. You can Find Your Kibbe Type by taking the test here.

Talk soon,

Nonjabulo

Flamboyant Gamine Style Analysis: Zoe Kravitz | Kibbe Body Types

Let's face it, the Kibbe Body Type system can be very confusing, so it can be very helpful to have an example to refer back to. Someone who wears the lines correctly and who just oozes that essence. When pictured in similar outfits, you can have a reference to see if you're pulling it off or not and thus have a better idea of whether that is or isn't your body type.

In this post, I'm diving deep into Zoe Kravitz's style to see what makes her a perfect Flamboyant Gamine style icon as well as discussing some looks that didn't quite work. I'll be making a special note on lines, fit, colors, patterns- and overall style/ outfit breakdown. I'll also discuss how that particular outfit works with or against her Flamboyant Gamine lines and essence. Let's dive in.

You can Find Your Kibbe Type by taking the test here.

What Is The Flamboyant Gamine Body Type?

According to Kibbe, Flamboyant Gamines are an uneven mix of yin and yang opposites with additional yang. The 'uneven' is important because it's a standout characteristic for Flamboyant Gamines- where their yin and yang often appear irregular and potentially mismatched.

This means that their bodies sometimes give off the impression that they were made with parts that belong to different people. So, a Flamboyant Gamine can have a very short torso with long arms and legs, for example. They appear lean, strong, and are made up of straight lines, with a tendency toward a leggy look.

Following their lines, Flamboyant Gamines are best complemented by segmented lines that create a staccato effect. The silhouette should be broken up at the natural breaks of the body. They look great in sharp, boxy, geometric, and irregular silhouettes. They look great in bold/ wild and contrasting colors and prints.

What Is The Flamboyant Gamine Essence?

The Gamine essence is energetic, youthful, and mischievous. They give off a rebellious yet fun 'I make my own rules' vibe. They are often outwardly tomboyish in style and attitude, or rather not overly traditionally 'girly'.

Zoe's Body Structure:

Zoe has a short vertical line. She is small and she looks small. Her body is made up of short, straight lines. There is a sharpness to her structure. Over her bone structure, she has lean, taught flesh. While she does tend toward a soft hourglass, in general, she comes off as boyish (as opposed to overtly 'womanly' or voluptuous).

Short Vertical Line

Zoe has a short vertical line, so as her outfits get longer they look less flattering on her. The shorter the better.

Flamboyant Gamine- Hits

This is a collection and discussion of some of Zoe's outfits that honor her Flamboyant Gamine body type and essence.

Cropped Items + Bold Patterns

Cropped pieces are a staple of the Flamboyant Gamine body type as they honor the short, straight lines of their bone structure. Bold patterns and colors highlight their fun essence.

This outfit looks amazing on Zoe. She looks cool and edgy. The cropped top and cropped pants make allowance for her small structure, and the fun pattern of her pants gives expression to the fun, eclectic energy of Flamboyant Gamines and the Gamine essence.

A different body type would look childish and silly, but she pulls it off with sophistication.

Staccato Effect

The staccato effect is the blocky break in lines that works wonderfully for Flamboyant Gamines, particularly when they line up with the natural breaks in their bodies, such as the look on the right. Here, the black belt at the waist acts as a break between the two distinctly different patterns of the ensemble. This outfit would easily look too busy on a different body type, but it works on Zoe's Flamboyant Gamine structure.

The look on the left doesn't break at a natural 'body line' but the pink color block adds a needed element to what would otherwise be a boring black dress on her.

Cropped Items + Bold Jewelry

The cropped top and its high neckline are classic Flamboyant Gamine elements, and they save this look. If this dress was one piece it would look matronly and rather severe on Zoe, it would be less flattering because it would be less 'fun'.

The neckless makes this outfit. It raises the neckline even higher and the bold pop of color adds the fun element that the Flamboyant Gamine body type always needs.

Grungy + Quirky

This is more about the Gamine essence than Flamboyant Gamine lines. Quirky outfits and the 'Grunge' aesthetic visually communicate an 'I don't care' and 'I don't play by the rules' attitude that is at the heart of this essence identity.

Zoe looks at home in these outfits. She looks cool and effortless. On her, this is stylish. On a different person of a different body type, this would look like someone trying too hard to look cool at best. At worst, it would look disheveled and like they failed to make an effort- not effortless.

Accessories are the life force of the Flamboyant Gamine, the more elements to an outfit the better. Notice how in the middle image, even her mask looks like it's a part of the outfit. Masks take away from most people's outfits, not Flamboyant Gamines and definitely not Zoe.

Flamboyant Gamine- Misses

This is a selection and discussion of some of Zoe's outfits that don't honor the Flamboyant Gamine body type and essence.

Monochromatic + Long

Flamboyant Gamines are best suited by broken-up silhouettes that show up as blunt lines across the body. Long straight lines drag them down and monochromatic color schemes drain their vibrant essence.

This long, slinky, plain white dress is very underwhelming on Zoe. It drags her down. The long vertical line overwhelms her small frame. The biggest problem though, in my opinion, is that the dress is so plain.

She looks so dull. I wish someone would accidentally spray paint her so that she had some visual interest because this is too boring for a Flamboyant Gamine.

Boring

The essence is Flamboyant Gamines is fun and bold. Their best outfits communicate this with their use of color, patterns, and design. When this is lacking, they look dreadfully boring.

These outfits are gravely underwhelming on Zoe. The first and third looks (left, right) honor her short vertical line, the first look also has the short, boxy silhouette so complementary to Flamboyant Gamines. Even so, it still looks boring on her, there is no visually interesting place to rest my eyes.

The white outfit (right) is too girly and unconstructed to complement Zoe's lines and essence. The open neckline, flouncy skirt, and lace fabric all work against her. The middle outfit is at least fitted and stiffly constructed, but the length is too long and a higher neckline would be better.

Too Big + Too Long

Flamboyant Gamines are small and they have a short vertical line. They look their best in fitted and cropped garments that honor this petite frame. They drown in overly big and long clothing, and they look even smaller than they are.

In the first outfit (left), it actually looks like Zoe's clothes are heavy on her. I feel bad for her having to carry that jacket. In reality, she's perfectly capable of wearing her coat, but visually the weight and length of her clothes overpower her.

This is a cool outfit and I like it, I just think it would look better on someone with a bigger frame, such as a Flamboyant Natural (imagine this on Gigi Hadid for example).

Similarly, the second outfit also swallows her up. However, I think it works better than the first one because the fabrics are visually lighter, so it better balances with her frame.

Overly Girly

Flamboyant Gamines are boyish in essence. Anything overly girly will clash against this essence and stand out against them, which tends to make them appear more masculine or rather, boyish.

I think the first outfit (left) is cool, but it isn't quite right for Zoe. This look gives me 'little girl' energy and Zoe doesn't have any of that Ingénue essence. Her feminine essence is fully grown and sensual, not youthful.

So this pleated skirt and the schoolgirl shoes contrast against her and look off. As a Flamboyant Gamine, she has what can be overly simplified as 'little boy' energy, so the overly girly pieces will always look off.

The second look (right) actually looks really good on her and I think it's an example of how Flamboyant Gamine can successfully pull off 'girly'.

While the pattern is floral and girly, the fabric is stiff (and not flouncy). Even though the pleated edging is not ideal, the neckline is high which respects her lines. Her hair is cropped and her makeup is natural. She also has great accessories to pull it all together. She looks great.

Similarly here, the first look (left) is overall more Soft Gamine than Flamboyant Gamine, meaning it leans more toward the feminine essence of this body type. This is encapsulated in the light fabric and dainty print of the dress.

It works on her because the short length and high neckline still respect general Gamine lines. The socks and shoes are quite boyish so they are Flamboyant Gamine, which is perfect and adds a necessary balance to this look for her.

Unfortunately, the hair in pigtails throws it off by adding that Ingenue essence that just doesn't work on her. The overall effect is that this isn't one of her best looks. She looks okay. I think if she just had her hair different, perhaps in a pixie, it would swing the balance back in her favor and while this still wouldn't be one of her best looks, it would look good.

The second dress is too flouncy and her accessories are minimal. It does nothing for her.

Overly Sexy

Flamboyant Gamines are 'boyish', so anything overtly sexy will only highlight how voluptuous they aren't and bring out their boyishness in a negative way.

The white dress (right) is too girly and feminine, both of which work against her Flamboyant Gamine composition. The lace fabric and the cut of the dress are very feminine and would work better on a more voluptuous body type and on a woman with a Romantic essence and body type.

The petals and white color evoke a very girl essence, which is opposite to her natural 'sexy tomboy' vibe. The shoes are sadly an extension to the dress. This outfit looks very separate from her.

Consider that in two of these looks (left, right) she is half naked and these outfits are clearly meant to be 'sexy' but that isn't the impression I'm left with at all. I feel like she's playing dress-up. At best, it's cute.

I think the middle look is the best of the 'sexy' looks. The short length honors her small frame and the flower detail adds visual interest. However, it is still a bit too flouncy and girly. Again, for me, it reads as 'cute'.

This look is an example of something that could have worked but didn't. That is to say, it had many of the elements that are great for Flamboyant Gamines such as the stiff fabric, the fun print, and the short length.

However, it also had opposing elements (for FG) such as the long train that adds length to the back, the low neckline, and the lack of color (while the print is fun, it is very low contrast) and edge. The result is an overall underwhelming look that is even difficult to classify. In this outfit, Zoe almost looks like someone else.

Essence- Hair

Zoe and Flamboyant Gamines in general are suited by very short hair. They can rock a boyish pixie/ cropped cut like no one else. Zoe is also complemented by very long hair, just not anything in the middle. Mid-length does nothing for her.

As far as colors, she is best suited to high contrast, which for her means dark hair (on account of her light complexion). Blonde hair doesn't provide her with enough contrast and, at least for me, doesn't look as good on her.

Related: How To Find Your Color Season

I think these are some of her very best hairstyles. Aside from being stunning on her, they communicate both her Dramatic essence and her Gamine essence. She looks fully like herself.

Essence- Makeup

I think Zoe Kravitz has a strong Dramatic essence, so dramatic makeup suits her but she has to be careful not to take it too far. In these looks, the over-dramatic eye makeup and intense lip colors overpower her and I think she actually looks better in the more Natural essence makeup in the next section.

This is not typical for all Flamboyant Gamines, so if this is your type you'll need to experiment and identify your essence(s). Let's look at Zoe's face:

Bold makeup detracts from her beauty. It competes with her. Where her eyes are bold I find myself looking at them and similarly, where her lips are bold I find myself looking at them and not at her face as a whole.

This is Zoe at her best. Natural makeup with a nude lip and delicately defined eye, all in natural shades. Her beauty shines here and I perceive her entire face at once. Also, she is stunning and I could look at her all day.

Best Looks- Flamboyant Gamine

Yaaassss! The glasses, the coat, the cropped pants, the pattern of the pants, the loafers, the green pop of color- EVERYTHING! This outfit is perfection. Her cropped hair and subtle makeup are also perfect.

She is respecting her lines and playing up her Flamboyant Gamine essence and she looks so at home, so in her full stylish power in this outfit. Remember, as Flamboyant Gamine, more is more!

How a Flamboyant Gamine correctly wears a long vertical line:

With their short vertical line, Flamboyant Gamines can struggle to wear a long dress (as discussed earlier). I love this next outfit because it demonstrates how Flamboyant Gamines can pull off a long vertical line beautifully while still honoring their essence:

This is beautiful. The bold, colorful print; the staccato effect that is created by that horizontal pattern; the high neckline- all these elements are distinctly Flamboyant Gamine, and they stand out and are perceived first before the long vertical line. That is, it's almost secondary that she's wearing a very long dress, everything else that I've mentioned catches my eye first and all those things compliment her.

This look is how a Flamboyant Gamine does understated. Take note of all the stylistic pieces; the pattern of the shirt, the earrings, the shades, the bag, the blonde crop, and even the coffee (haha). If you take these elements away, something will be lost.

The almost monochromatic color scheme makes this look rather subdued on Zoe, so these stylistic elements are vital to balance it out. If you are a Flamboyant Gamine, remember to accessorize or you will look boring.

I love this look. This is how a Flamboyant Gamine does a little black dress. A single-color ensemble can quickly be boring on Zoe, but the stylistic elements of this dress remedy that. The length is perfect, it's short which honors her short vertical line. The fabric is heavy and stiff, which gives her the visual weight her prominent bone structure requires.

The best part of this dress is the weird pointy thing in the front that adds visual interest, which is vital for a Flamboyant Gamine. The cropped dark hair and nude makeup are perfect complements. The earrings are a cool statement without taking away from the dress. Zoe looks cool, edgy, and incredibly sexy.

Conclusion

The Flamboyant Gamine essence is fun, youthful, rebellious, and boyish. To convey this in their clothing, Flamboyant Gamine lines are short and sharp, with a staccato styling. Prints are wild. bold, and vibrant.

Outfits that most people would look at as 'busy' or 'clashing' are exactly what's prescribed for this body and style type. Lacking this, Flamboyant Gamines look underwhelming. Their outfits look flat and it creates a desire to add some (any) detail to make them more interesting.

If your outfits often give you this feeling, and if you would probably look the same in similar outfits as our Flamboyant Gamine style icon, Zoe Kravitz, then you might be a Flamboyant Gamine. You can Find Your Kibbe Type by taking the test here.

I hope this style breakdown helps you in your search for your body type. Please let me know.

Talk soon,

Nonjabulo