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Introduction
This is a community dedicated to discussing the work of David Kibbe. David Kibbe is best known for his work as a stylist and image consultant in New York City. In 1987 he published his acclaimed book, Metamorphosis: Discover Your Image Identity and Dazzle as Only You Can. In his book he discusses the 13 (now 10) Image Identities, based on the Old Hollywood Archetypes, and how one can embody these style archetypes through their clothing and essence. David’s work differs from other styling systems that seek to “correct” one’s body into a conventional hourglass. Instead, he seeks to harmonize with one’s natural yin-yang balance by having their clothing imitate their natural shapes in their silhouette. The Kibbe system is about creating a style that is authentically you, embracing your natural features and enhancing them.
The Kibbe system is a tool to help people learn the importance of creating a head-to-toe look and occasion for which you are dressing. Additionally, it will teach you about your accommodations and how clothing interacts with you body. This system is a tool to develop your style, not a body typing system. It takes a holistic view of the body and help us to have “enlightened subjectivity” when looking at ourselves. The journey may be long, but will result in a better understanding of personal style.
Disclaimer
This is a body positive sub, and Kibbe's styling system is body positive. If you are looking for hot & not "body types", then it might not be for you - none of the Image IDs are a negative one. If you are looking for which IDs are more "feminine", then again, this might not be the system for you; and yin/yang do not equate feminine/masculine in their original meaning, nor in the Kibbe system appropriated meaning. This sub is NOT affiliated with vindicta, redpill, and the like.
r/Kibbe Rules
Book extracts
Please note: The book contains some bits that are considered outdated today.
Visual glossary
Visual glossary regarding styling, however ~unofficial~ :)
Image IDs are not aesthetics
Breaking stereotypes: TR’s in playful aesthetic and SG’s in glam aesthetic
Breaking stereotypes: romantics in suits, dramatics in floral dresses
Breaking stereotypes: classics in animated/detailed styles VS gamines in simple/classic styles
Breaking stereotypes: naturals in non-boho styles. Ft. Other families in boho
Breaking stereotypes: Gamines in non-preppy aesthetics, everyone else dressed preppy
Resources
(There are no "body types", it is Image Identities. The test was never intended for "typing". It is not a prescriptive system etc. No boxes. No stereotypes.)
Rita is someone who has gone to see David Kibbe herself.
Please note: There's a lot of other YT channels and blogs on Kibbe out there, however, a lot of them are inaccurate, especially when they mainly use the test - which was never intended for "typing" - to work backwards/reverse engineer the Image ID's characteristics. Even those who have access to the (now outdated) book fail to interpret terms like "true hourglass" with the silent generation context in mind (where it refers to round shapes coming from the flesh, not WHR). They also fail to interpret the clothing descriptions - which come from an 80s book referring to Old Hollywood concepts. Example: a dress with a loosely defined waist is this, not this.
An amazing post on fabric and dressing for your own lines.
A Facebook group where David Kibbe is active himself; contains a lot of resources for learning about the system and dressing for your own silhouette; updated info and clarifications in regards to the now outdated book.
Helpful threads
From the main menu: Kibbe Glossary - Silhouette Terms - How to Outfit? - Black List
(an introduction)
(on diversity within the IDs - they are not boxes within which all people must look the same)
Why the feedback on your image ID help posts should be taken with a grain of salt
What are “personal lines” and why we should use those instead of “FG/D/R etc. lines”
(on using Kibbe as a tool, not a way of putting people into boxes)
(on Kibbe vertical line)
(on Kibbe width)
(verifieds from all the IDs of a similar height)
(on misconceptions)
(on misconceptions)
(on Kibbe essence)
(on Kibbe essence)