One of the most common situations that happen when we find our Kibbe Body Type, is to dicover some of the suggested dressing lines do not look or feel 100% right. This makes us think it might be the wrong Kibbe ID, but the explanaition is your essences. Sometimes our Kibbe and Kitchener Essences dressing lines are completely different and we just have to learn to find the balance between them.
When it comes to Soft Dramatics, there is an essence blend that harmonizes perfectly with what David Kibbe suggests for your dressing lines: Romantic + Dramatic + Classic. This means, that you can almost simply follow your Kibbe lines and your look will be complete. However, most people won’t have that essence blend and they will need to find a way to incorporate their essence blend into their Soft Dramatic body shape and we’re here to help you figure that out!
What’s the difference between the Kibbe System and the Kitchener Essences?
The Kibbe System focuses more on your body type (bone structure + body flesh), while the Kitchener Essences are mainly about your facial features.
Both of the Systems work with Yin (soft features) and Yang (sharp features). So, this makes it easier to combine both of the systems. However, it’s easy to feel confused about how to comibine them without messing up.
So, once you know your Kibbe ID, you want to figure out what your Kitchener Essences are. Essences can make a huge difference and they’re usually the missing part when it comes to figuring out what looks best on you. They are basically what makes everything make sense, and they go beyond only “looking good.” When you figure out what your essences are, you can actually understand why people see you the way they see you and surprisingly sometimes they go hand-by-hand with your personality (not in all cases).
how can I figure out my Essence Blend?
There are a few ways, like analyzing your own features, booking a consult with John Kitcher, you can try our free quiz to get an idea of what your essences might be, or you can simply book an Essence Analysis with us and we’ll be happy to make a Style Guide based on your Essence Blend + Kibbe ID.
On the other side, if you already know your blend, you might be looking for a way to incorporate your Essences to your style without getting in the way of your Soft Dramatic lines. Don’t worry, we’ve got you! Just keep reading to find out how to incorporate your essences to your Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID.
……
Dramatic Essence + Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID
Soft Dramatics are mainly Dramatics with added softness. The softness is usually found in their chest, hips and in some facial features like lips, nose or eyes. Because of that, it is important to respect the Yin features and not make the outfit too sharp. To add the dramatic essence make sure to respect the long and straight lines, along with the V necklines.
In the case of having Dramatic as your main essence, you have the freedom of adding more sharpness to your outfits than usual. As a Dramatic, you can add flamboyant details and exagerate your shoulders by following the T body shape that is recommended for Soft Dramatics, as David Kibbe says. Remember, more is more, unless you have classic essence as your first complementary essence.
If Dramatic is your first complementary essence, you can incorporate the essence by wearing bold colors or dark colors, animal prints, sleek hairstyles, heavy makeup, or a whole garment. This will depend on where your Dramatic essence is situated. We recommend to do your makeup accoridng to the essence each of your facial features have.
Then, if Dramatic is your secondary complementary essence, it is better to wear the essence in your colors, your hair, or by only adding a bold lip color, winged eye liner, an exotic print, or flamboyant jewelry.
Of course, some colors like black or very bright ones will not look good if you’re outside the Winter family in the Seasonal Color System. So, to learn how to dress Dramatic in your color palette make sure to book a consultation with us. We’ll be happy to guide you into your most authentic style.
Read more about the Dramatic Essence here.
Natural Essence + Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID
A Soft Dramatic usually looks good with lightweight, high quality fabrics. Opposite to the Natural essence, wich includes fabrics that tend to be heavy and less flowing. While a Soft Dramatic looks better in a more elegant and high-end style, having Natural Essence means the style has to be more relaxed and less sharp. Including a few natural fibers and fabrics, keeping the long lines and daring to add a few oversized pieces will help achieve a more harmonious look. It’s all about going for a more relaxed style.
If Natural is your main essence, it’s important to add at least one oversized item to each of your outfits. Something too polished and sharp would feel awkward and forced. Instead of going for a T shape silhouette, you must look for a rectagle shape. Long cardigans and coats, oversized dressing pants and shirts, and V necklines will help you achieve that. Don’t forget about the heaviness of the fabrics.
If Natural is your first complementary essence, you can incorporate it by adding a slightly oversized garment to your outfit, handmade jewelry and accessories. Natural looking makeup and earthy colors (but this will depend on your seasonal color palette).
Finally, if Natural is your secondary complementary essence, it’s a good idea to wear your hair down and free, natural fibers in natural colors, and accessories made of leather or canvas.
In this case, if you are not an Autumn in the Seasonal Color Analysis, there’s a possibility that Natural colors will look off. We can help you find a way to incorporate your Colors to your Kibbe + Esssences if you book a consultation with us.
Gamine Essence + Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID
If Soft Dramatic had an opposite, it would be the Gamine essence. But let’s not worry, because there is a way to make these two work. Depending on how much percetage your have of Gamine Essence, you might be able to wear shorter dresses, pants and skirts. Also, let’s not forget that “more is more” applies here too as Gamine is full of fun and expression.
When it comes to incorporating the Gamine essence into the Soft Dramatic Kibbe, it really depends on the other two essences you have and your percentage of Gamine. If you don’t know your Essence blend percentages and would like to know how to mix everything together make sure to book a Complete Consultation with us right here.
When Gamine is your main essence, you can wear shorter lines. You are free to play around with mini skirts, shorts, cropped pants, crop tops, sweaters and short sweaters. Adding a short item to each of your outfits along with adding lots of color and pattern mixing will be the best you can do. (Again, this doesn’t apply if you have Classic essence, as Classic is more about balance).
On the other side, if Gamine is your first complementary essence, don’t be scared and start incorporating fun prints and colors to your outfits. Accessories are also what makes an outfit for Gamines. So hats, belts, fun bags, creative small jewelry, and layers in your outfits will elevate it.
Finally, if Gamine is your secondary complementary essence, keep in on the details like jewelry, hair, colors and maybe eye makeup (if you have Gamine eyes, of course).
Classic Essence + Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID
Classic is one of the essences that best align with the Soft Dramatic Kibbe. Because Soft Dramatics have a sophisticated and high-end style, the elegance and timeless feeling that the Classic essence brings, helps this body type shine in the best possible way.
When Classic is your main essence, this means your rule becomes “less is more”, in every Kibbe ID this applies and it means that the outfits must be clean, polished, and timeless. You long and curvy frame gives you space to really embrace the elegance in a very feminine way. Classic shirts, v-neck knit sweaters, dressing pants and shorts, and timeless accessories. Your hair and makeup has to be neat and slightly voluminous.
But then, if Classic is your first complementary essence, you should also consider not adding a lot of jewelry or accessories to your outfits. Clean, minimal outfits will be your best friends and let’s not forget about timeless colors like dark blue, white, black, beige and red. Monochromatic outfits will never go wrong.
And of course, if Classic is your secondary complementary essence, as long as you keep things balanced you’re good too go. This means, you can explore the colorfulness of Gamine or Dramatic, but in a way that isn’t too much. Maybe by keeping the prints in only one item or the pops of color in either your bottoms or tops.
Romantic Essence + Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID
The Romantic Essence shines in the Soft Dramatic body type. The Soft Dramatic Kibbe dressing lines already have Romantic essence in them, so it isn’t hard at all to incorporate the essence. It’s all about keeping the waist definition, open or deeper necklines, pairing a tight top with wide leg bottoms and using delicate, luxurious materials.
In case Romantic is your main essence, this means you can add a few softer and rounder lines than usual. Puffy sleeves, tight clothes, tops and dresses with an open back, along with open necklines, even sweetheart necklines that aren’t recommended for Dramatics. Don’t forget Romantics are also a lot about makeup, so glamourous looks, lots of volume on your hair, jewelry that feels and looks luxurious, high heels, long nails, all of these are Romantic features you might want to incorporate to your Soft Dramatic Kibbe dressing lines.
What happens when Romantic is your first complementary essence? Begin by enhancing your waist on each of your outfits, maybe adding tight sleeves or a bit of volume to your hair. You can wear the Romantic essence in the fabrics of your clothes and choose materials like satin, silk, faux fur, any luxurious material. Of course, makeup that accentuates the Romantic features in your face. Deep colors like red, black or rouge and prints with big florals are key.
Lastly, when Romantic is your secondary complementary essence, you just need to always add a touch of glamour to your outfit. Pehaps red or glossy lips, long eyelashes, long hair, and high-end jewelry.
If you don’t know which features in your face are Romantic, make sure to book a consultation with us, so you can learn which features are which essence and learn how to enhace them.
Ingenue Essence + Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID
The Ingenue essence is the youngest sister of the Romantic essence. So, instead of adding that mature femininity you would add in the Romantic essence, you have to add a youthful femininity. Everything from dainty details, small and delicate jewelry, tiny flower prints, small bags, light colors, and long hair will do the job.
If Ingenue is your main essence, you can begin by adding a few lightweight materials, round necklines and puffy sleeves. Makeup and hair are always a good way to enhace those delicate features, so adding lots of blush to your looks, pink and soft colors around your eyes is key. Don’t limit yourself and add a few ruffles or flower prints.
In case Ingenue is your first complementary essence, keeping it in the round necklines instead of sharp V necklines, would be best. Small, delicate jewelry, soft waves in your hair, flower prints, small purses and shoes with round tips are all good ideas.
Finally, when Ingenue is your secondary complementary essence, you can simply add light colors to your wardrobe, like sky blue, yellow pastel, baby pink, maybe a few flower prints. And of course, small jewelry, accessories with a few girly details, bows and ribbons.
Angelic Essence + Soft Dramatic Kibbe ID
The Angelic Essence is known as the most Yin essence. However, it is close to the Soft Dramatic essence because both are long and creative in their own way. The biggest difference between them is that the Ethereal essence includes a lot of soft, flowing materials.
To incorporate the Ethereal/ Angelic to your Soft Dramatic Kibbe lines, if it is your main essence, you might need keep those lightweight and flowing materials that are recommended for your Kibbe. Simple as that. Don’t forget to play with textures, add lots of lightweight knits, transparencies, or shiny fabrics. Less contrast is prefered as Angelic is more delicate and very bold colors could interfere with the softness. However, if you are a Winter in the Seasonal Color System, this might not work for you. We’ll teach you how to mix your Kibbe + Essences + Colors here.
Very long hair and lots of shimmer in your makeup, glowing skin, all of these contribute to an Ethereal style. Unique accessories that feel outwordly. Don’t forget to consider which type of Angelic you are, as that could make the whole difference. You could be an ethereal that looks like a fairy or a mermaid and the accessories, makeup looks and colors you wear would be very different from an Angelic that has a witchy or godess vibe. The type of Angelic you are depends on the mix of your other essences.
When Angelic is your first complementary essence, adding garments that wrapped around your body and flowing sleeves will always work. Don’t forget about the textures, transparencies and irradiacent materials.
Finally, when Angelic is your secondary complementary essence, you can incorporate the essence by only adding metalic materials to your shoes, bags or simply wearing unique, long and delicate jewelry.
Don’t forget that you can strengthen your essences by wearing a perfume that smells like it.
Hopefully this guide helps you get inspired to play around with your essences. As long as we keep the right balance between our essences and respect the basics of our Kibbe lines (length + fit + silhouette), you will be able to achieve flawless outfits that represent who you are on the inside out.
If you’re still struggling after this, don’t be shy to reach out and book a consultation with us. We’ve got you!!
I absolutely LOVE it! Thanks for this insightful article 🙂
I’m grateful for the natural essence part which is a good inspo for the upper-curved that enjoy a good oversized tee! No we get ideas on how to make it work 😉