A few years ago, I became fascinated with figuring out my Kibbe type. It started as idle curiosity, a casual glance into the ever-expanding world of aesthetic classification, but quickly turned into a puzzle that refused to be solved.
For the uninitiated, a “Kibbe type” refers to the style system developed by image consultant David Kibbe, first introduced in his 1987 book Metamorphosis. A former actor, Kibbe rejected the era’s rigid beauty standards in favor of a more holistic approach—one that considered not just body shape but movement, proportion, and overall essence. His philosophy, which emphasized working with one’s natural lines rather than against them, continues to resonate decades later.
At first, I thought I might be a Romantic, having read that they appeared soft and fleshy no matter how thin they were—a description that resonated with how I saw my own body. But I soon discovered that Romantics were strictly capped at 5’5”, and alas, I am 5’7”. For a while, I wavered between Soft Natural and Soft Dramatic, drawn to the celebrity examples of the former (Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez), yet knowing my height made the latter more likely. An AI program told me I was likely a Soft Classic—curvy, yes, but only moderately so—but although the smooth, flowing lines recommended for that type aligned with my wardrobe, my height once again disqualified me.
This kind of endless self-examination is central to Kibbe, with online forums filled with women posting full-length photos—faces obscured—searching for confirmation of whether they have “Kibbe curve” or simply “conventional curve,” vertical or width, sharpness or softness.
Kibbe’s Metamorphosis categorizes thirteen body types along a Yin-Yang continuum, assigning each an “image identity” meant to guide personal style. Each type comes with a set of recommendations—silhouettes, fabrics, and styling choices designed to highlight an individual’s natural essence. In recent years, the system has seen a resurgence, fueled by social media communities on TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube—alongside other style frameworks like Kitchener essences and seasonal color analysis.
Part of the system’s appeal, explains fashion designer and style blogger Gabrielle Arruda, who has written extensively about Kibbe, lies in the multiple ways you can engage with it. “There’s a ‘junk food’ side to it and a whole meal side to it,” she says. “You can analyze celebrity ‘types’ on TikTok or do an online quiz and get a quick answer. If you find your type, and it resonates, there’s a sense of gratification and connection in that.” But beyond the surface-level fun, she says, the system offers a deeper approach—one that helps people understand which lines and fabrics best suit their bodies and why.
