Kibbe or Traditional Body Shapes: Which to Choose?

What a tough choice! Today, in this newsletter, I bring you a new article about something you've surely questioned at some point.

If you're defining your style or helping your clients with theirs, which information should you trust more: the result of your Kibbe body type or the result of traditional body shapes (pear, apple, rectangle, hourglass...)?

Kibbe recommends clothing styles considering all their aspects: fabrics, volumes, print sizes, waist features, and many other elements. ( Discover your Kibbe body type with my calculator and get style recommendations by Kibbe Type). It even suggests which colors suit you best based on your Kibbe type, so you may also need to decide whether to follow your Color Season or Kibbe's advice.

There are many methods to define your style: Kibbe, Traditional Body Shapes, Essences, Feng Shui Elements, Astrology, and many others that will continue to emerge over time.

Sometimes, the results of these techniques may not align completely because each expert who created the theory added their unique perspective.

But let me tell you what I find truly useful: all tools are valuable. The more information we have about ourselves, the more control we feel over our physical appearance.

For example, thanks to Kibbe's theory, I discovered I am a Flamboyant Natural, but I also have an hourglass shape with broad shoulders, a Feng Shui wood element, and astrologically a dramatic essence from Capricorn and Scorpio, with a Natural influence from Sagittarius.

As you can see, many style patterns repeat themselves—it almost feels like magic!

However, my hourglass shape (despite the broad shoulders) conflicts with the style proposed by Kibbe for my body. For instance, Flamboyant Natural suggests loose garments, while the traditional hourglass theory advises a more defined waist.

[This is just one of the many contradictions between theories.]

For me, both are valid. The difference is that traditional body shapes provide style guidelines but don't frame you within an essence as Kibbe does.

I take the results of all techniques and, when shopping for clothes, I validate them against my Kibbe Body Type and traditional body shape, while also considering the other theories.

This way, we ensure that we perfectly embody our archetype.

So: Kibbe or Traditional Body Shapes?

Both. Knowledge is power, and these are invaluable tools to truly understand our physicality. You can even mix both approaches. For example, if your color palette contradicts Kibbe, you can always add small touches of color or details in your look using Kibbe's recommended colors to incorporate that essence into your style, fully aligned with your physical personality.

To determine the style that truly represents you, I recommend identifying your Kibbe body type, your traditional body shape, and your color palette. Make it easier with my Style Tool Kit: tools to identify your body, face, and colors—all in one place. Available exclusively with a discount for my subscribers ❤️