Should You Dress for Your Body or Your Face?

In the world of personal style, two popular approaches stand out: the Kibbe system, which focuses on body type, and the Kitchener system, which looks at your face and personality. Both aim to help you discover the style that suits you best, but they do so from very different angles. Understanding the contrast between the two can help you align with the one that fits you better—or even combine them for a more holistic approach.

Developed by David Kibbe in the 1980s, this system classifies people into 13 body types based on a balance of soft (yin) and angular (yang) traits, along with bone structure, proportions, and physical details. The goal is to help you dress in a way that highlights and respects your body as it is.

• Dramatic Types: Dramatic, Soft Dramatic
• Natural Types: Natural, Flamboyant Natural, Soft Natural
• Classic Types: Classic, Dramatic Classic, Soft Classic
• Gamine Types: Gamine, Flamboyant Gamine, Soft Gamine
• Romantic Types: Romantic, Theatrical Romantic

Each type suggests different lines, cuts, and fabrics to complement your natural body structure. However, some people feel this theory doesn’t always reflect their inner self, especially when their personality seems at odds with their body type. That’s where Kitchener comes in.

John Kitchener’s 7 Style Essences system takes a different approach. Instead of focusing on your body, it uses your facial features and the energy you project to define your personal style. It also incorporates personality, which makes it especially helpful for those who feel their inner self isn’t fully represented by body-based style systems.

Some people find Kitchener more accurate, especially when their body type seems to contradict their true nature. With this system, your personal style can reflect not only how you look—but who you are.

To help you discover your unique combination of style essences, I’ve created a Kitchener Calculator, available in my shop. This tool analyzes both your physical features and your personality, offering a more complete and intuitive result.

• Facial features: face shape, bone structure, eyes, lips, nose, and overall facial impression.
• Personality traits: how you behave, how you express yourself, and what kind of energy you naturally give off.
• Movement and expression: your way of walking, gesturing, and your presence in a room.

Thanks to this combination, the calculator can identify your exact blend of style essences and help you dress in a way that feels authentically “you.”

And remember that you have here the Face Essence Calculator to find out how to dress through the characteristics of your face.

• Dramatic – Intense, sophisticated, bold.
• Natural – Relaxed, casual, effortless.
• Ethereal – Delicate, mystical, artistic.
• Classic – Balanced, elegant, timeless.
• Gamine – Playful, youthful, quirky.
• Naive (Ingenue) – Sweet, soft, innocent.
• Romantic – Warm, sensual, emotionally expressive.

Most people are a mix of two or three essences. Discovering yours helps you understand why some styles feel “right” while others don’t quite fit—no matter how flattering they are physically.

Ultimately, you don’t have to choose between Kibbe and Kitchener. Many people use Kibbe for silhouette and structure, while turning to Kitchener for detail, texture, and emotional resonance. It depends on what part of yourself you want to express more—your physical form, or your inner essence.

What matters most is that your style reflects who you are, makes you feel confident, and allows you to show up in the world as your most authentic self.

Click here to get the Kitchener Calculator in my shop and start aligning your style with your true essence today.