In his official facebook group discussions, David Kibbe says that there's no such thing as a specific piece of clothing designed only for one type (and for no one else). He points out that a given dress, shirt, trousers are not "classic", "gamine", "natural" etc. in their nature, but they give those different effects on different body/face types. He does not forbid any type from wearing anything as long as their body lines are honored. So I think your analysis here is really to the point, really insightful, and in accordance with Kibbe's instructions. It's not that big issue of breaking the rules, as the types' body lines are sill honored. You're really good at this!
Love it! I'm a Soft Dramatic having a hard time to accept the weight, strength, obvious power carried by my ID, when my essences are Natural and Ethereal, and my job is all about healing, helping, supporting fragile people, not overpowering them. As a cosplayer, I naturally gravitate towards warriors and/or witches, that just feel ok on me. But recently I attempted an Arwen/Liv Tyler dreamy floaty cosplay, pure Soft Natural lines, and people called it my "signature cosplay". I'm happy to see that Soft Natural might be my way of appearing softer in job circumstances, and keep thé Soft Dramatic lines for stage presence and other showtime occasions...
Amazing! This not only explained how to use kibbe's rules to get different looks, but it also revealed why so many people have such a hard time finding their body types. A person with an untrained eye can mistake someone for a different body type based on the clothes they wear. In the video when Keira Knightly wore the flamboyant natural clothing. She almost looked flamboyant gamine. This is why there are mixed views in the community. For example, most people consider Rihanna a theatrical romantic, but some people also consider her a gamine. I've also seen people consider Scarlett Johanson a soft natural and others consider her a romantic.
Yes I just came to the comments to make this observation! I look much harsher when I wear tiny lines and almost swamped in bigger ones! It totally changes my observation of myself.
@@DefineFive I thought so too, until I watched more videos by Aly Art and she talks about length dominant, curve dominant and frame dominant. Scarlett is curvy but she is, indeed, frame dominant, and that's why she is SN.
I'd love to see a video on naturals and specifically soft naturals. I feel like they're very rarely talked so I'm still a bit confused on what to wear and do with my hair.
This was wonderful! Many years ago I found that my type was Soft Dramatic. Lately I have been wanting to venture into oversized shirts and jackets for comfort's sake even though I feel it may not be my most flattering look. Now I know why! I love the comparison of Rachel Weisz in the Gamine look vs. Soft Natural. The Soft Natural is really flattering on her. Something I definitely will try! I love the idea of using the rules (and breaking them) to achieve different effects. Thank you!
@@MEVP4499 Wouldn't more yang styles make your body shape look more feminine? Because when you think about it, Dramatics look more powerful when they go softer, so wouldn't it soften a Soft Dramatic even further to go more towards her yang?
I think your color palette could do this, going with your darker colors, or a monochromatic scheme. But I think when I go more minimal (classic-ish) that makes me look sharper in a severe way ... I suppose that could be considered badass. I think it makes me look threatening 🤣
This is my all-time favorite video of yours, Merriam! I am so impressed that you've picked up on this concept of borrowing lines to different effects, and it's why I consider you the Kibbe Queen! Excellent. Please do more of these videos, so every type has some guidance on bending the rules. This is brilliant!
She is indeed a queen but Kibbers treat her like a heretic lol. I've seen so much hate against Merriam in other platforms. I think they are jealouse of her being a genius, her Body Geometry system is more accurate than Kibbe's.
This is INCREDIBLY helpful. It helps me train my eye to control the effect I want to achieve rather than having only one option to match the body's inherent lines or simply following a list of recommendations without knowing why. I am soft dramatic and I tend to unconsciously wear a lot of purely soft natural lines hoping to look relaxed and flowy, but they sometimes look too unstructured and my figure kind of disappears. Now I can try mixing SN and SD elements to try to blend them for my body. Other times I want to look more fun and experimental, and I think Jameela Jamil is a SD who achieves that by blending soft dramatic and soft gamine lines for a very playful yet elegant effect. I want to try someone of that as well.
I'm not confused anymore! I always wondered why I was drawn to SN style, even after getting SD answers, now I realize, its not practical in my daily life to wear my real SD style, too much attention. I wear my true lines when I'm going out, or want to get dressed up.
Thank you! Incredible insight into Kibbe theory! :) This video is great showcase of real creativity and deep understanding of proportions, lines, and shapes
This was really cool. I am a soft dramatic and was a model when I was younger and I have photos where I look super dainty and I couldn't really understand it until I thought about it this way. It was when I was in a really voluminous dress - aka soft natural. But it's always been a struggle because of the hard dramatic edge that I still need to find. Also when I wore things with soft draping I had buyers literally follow me around a tradeshow once.
Well this just made everything click, thank you! I've been hanging out in SN for about 2 years and people (for the first time in my life) were making comments about my smallness and surprised when I told them my height. Now I know what was going on, lol. I mistyped myself as SN, I'm really SD, and those clothes were making me look more delicately sharp and small. But all SN all the time, that had me feeling quite off and verging on frumpy. A little bit here and there, that I will have fun playing with! At least now I know why I was able to "pull off" the look. Thanks for your brilliance!
yes!! That was my goal/why I always explain my reasoning (even though it may seem boring and it's more exciting to look at the images of the celebrities in my opinion).
Could you do a video about the difference between soft dramatic and soft natural. I can't seem to figure out what I am. I also think I have some ethereal and ingenue aspects, (I have had people compare my look to both a baby and an angel), but coupled with my heigth (5'10''), broad shoulders, and hourglass figure I am just majorly confused.
I also thought I was a Soft Natural, but I knew the recommended looks don't make me look my best. I'm 5"9 (176cm) and that was the final indicator for me being a Soft Dramatic, because I have a long vertical line
I can't wait for the natural video. I feel like all my answers point to my being a flamboyant natural, but I don't like the look and just feel like a giant in them and don't think they're flattering. So I'm super confused. I feel like you can find info on a natural, but a soft natural and flamboyant natural, I'm having trouble finding any info.
Can you do a video about the differences between soft classic and romantic?🙏 This two types are kind of triky to figure out and I like your take on this topic
I love how you make these videos! They're so informative and your explanations are easy to understand. I can can hardly wait for your videos to come out because you always have such an interesting perspective. Thankyou for making these videos!! :)
gotta add, as a gender non conforming SD with a female body, I sometimes go for delicate tops with thin spaghetti straps or super tight turtle necks to look even more "bad ass", meaning broad and masculine on my shoulders and torso
I would love for you to continue making this series! It's such a great way to understand the different types better and learn to be more creative with the lines, so I'm still hoping for more videos along these lines :)
Merriam you’re amazing .. truly amazing ❤️, I mean this is brilliant these ladies look so different yet still beautiful your interpretations of things really blow my mind, keep on the good work!! 💞
This video really helped me to understand that I am a soft dramatic. Definitely not a natural, as i have no broadness to my body although i am very fleshy and my face is very Yin or classic apart from my angular jaw I have one problem though, which is that i only like to Wear very feminine clothing. Ill be looking up what i should be wearing right now
I think soft dramatic is one of the most feminine/sexy body types. I’m a SD, too. Think draping, big curves and prints. I worn a form fitting dress, off the shoulder dress with a large rose print to a wedding recently and I was getting compliments from men and women.
I feel jealous of SD because they can pull off those huge, statement puffy sleeves, huge ruffles and hugh bows like no one else. I am a TR and everything on trend now is too statement for me. :C I want huge, stiff fabrics too. 😞
@@kuramacabre aww it is just the fashion of the moment! And you can always take the silhouettes you are loving in recent collections and find them in a different fabric which would be more flattering. A small puff sleeve on a chiffon blouse would look stunning on Romantics! But probably wouldn’t do the same for me. And you can always cheat the system and use your garments to create the illusion of the body type you do want. It’s all about keeping proportion!
Merriam's own research on this is remarkable and she is helping so many people to choose their style. I couldn't help but write something here using Merriam's theory. :) I am temporarily writing this and I am sure, our Merriam will make a video on this topic for us elaborating her theory. So Soft Dramatics look intimidating in Dramatic clothes. Flamboyant Naturals can wear Soft Dramatic lines to create a bigger fuller version of their already large roundish blunt bones. Also they can wear Dramatic Classic lines to look dainty. Naturals can choose Flamboyant Natural clothes to look severe, and Soft Natural lines to look dainty. But a Soft Naturals can look for some lines which is common to them like yin flesh and which is a softer version than them. Therefore, a Soft Natural can wear Soft Classic lines to look dainty and more feminine than they already are. Similarly to look severe, they can just choose Natural lines. Dramatic classic can wear Natural to look severe and Flamboyant Gamine to look softer. Classic can wear Dramatic classic lines to look intimidating and Gamine to look softer. And Soft Classic can use Classic to look severe and Soft Gamine to look softer. Flamboyant Gamine can use Gamine looks to look softer and Dramatic Classic to look severe. Gamine can use Flamboyant Gamine to look intimidating and Soft Gamine or Theatrical Romantic to look softer. A Soft Gamine can wear Flamboyant Gamine to look intimidating and Theatrical Romantic or Romantic to look soft. And now a Theatrical Romantic can easily wear Romantic to look softer and Soft Gamine to look severe. A Romantic can't be any softer but she can wear Theatrical Romantic to look a bit more sharp. :) :)
I agree with you almost in everything except the Naturals. Classic lines are too small for their bones, they would look like they are too uncomfortable. Look at Meghan Markle, Natural, wearing Classic lines. I am not sure how FN, N and SN can look softer. Maybe wearing Dramatic but oversized...
I think the SN will look more 'romantic' in SD lines--I'll make a video on naturals and explain my reasoning!!! Here's an example of Scarlett Johansson (SN), wearing SD lines: img3.icdresses.com/pri/o/201412/flatteringly-sequins-embellished-off-the-shoulder-evening-dress-Inspired-by-Scarlett-Johansson-at-Venice-Film-Festival-59487-289704.jpg I would say she looks a bit similar to Kate Winslet there.
I love breaking some rules and following some as long as in doing so i feel the best i can. According to some rules, i should not wear turtlenecks and long earrings but i love them and my face does have some softness even if the bones are wider and angular. I also love some more natural or even romantic styles for specific weather and more dramatic or classic for other. Even if you compare two people from the same type, some will be able to pull off the assigned better than others. Good examples are Marilyn Monroe and Drew Barrymore as Romantics or Keira Nightly and Tilda Swinton as Dramatics.
I think a video on how to dress as romantics would be great. I am looking for more casual looks and most of the time I only find dresses that are for romantics. I love dresses but I would like to know what type of jeans are best, are there casual shirts that look really good despite being casual? Plus most of the time I only find vintage looks and most people don’t understand not all vintage looks are romantic. I would love some clarity!
Very helpful! I think you explained this really well-how wearing a "dainty" dress can actually make someone Dramatic look less dainty and so on. It's also nice that you give ideas on how you don't always HAVE to wear your lines and how you can achieve a certain look with other lines.
I’m new to your channel and still trying to figure out the differences between “round and non-round bones” and some of the other Kibbe determining type rules/guidelines 😅. But I love this video because it shows one can dress outside their body types (to some degree) to achieve new, yet flattering effects. Please do more! This is fascinating!
could you pleeaasee do the same analysis for other Kibbe body types too?? this is SO useful to know! I was so upset seeing this is the one and only video on your channel about how different lines work ;'((( really love your video!
This was the most useful video on Kibbe I have seen so far. A shame you only ever did the Dramatics, but you only have 24h in each day like every one of us. I'll try to see if I can find some trends playing around my type like this.
I include these ideas in a lot of my videos! If you liked this one, I'd recommend 'Rachel McAdams--Style Actualization', and 'are classics boring and gamines fun'.
@@merriamstyle I'm in the process to watching them all, lots of stuff is currently closed due to covid here, and we are told to keep unnecessary contact as few as possible, so I have way too much time to watch youtube videos. ^^; Thanks for lessons, you are good company. ^_~
This is absolutely amazing. Love the artistic license applied to kibbe. The logic in breaking the rules is clearly explained. I was wondering if the opposite is true that is if a soft natural wants more drama would they wear soft dramatic and same for flamboyant naturals with dramatic? Great video about being creative with the kibbe system. Thanks
I don't care about the fact that I'm long and thin. I just HATE all of the recommendations for dramatics and dc's (I'm still deciding between the two- I'm 5'5 so I'm in a tough spot to choose lol). I don't wanna wear menswear and structured everything. I don't wanna wear all black and white. I want to feel pretty and I don't feel pretty in the dramatic recommendations. I feel gross tbh I feel so out of place and aware of myself trying to wear these types of clothes. I still want to look put together though and that's why I got into this. Now Im kind of left feeling like I can't feel comfortable and put together
Fantastic video as always. I love how in-depth and detailed you always are in your explanations. Thank you! Could you maybe make a video about flamboyant natural vs soft dramatic? It seems like a lot of people (myself included) have a difficult time figuring out which one we belong to. Things like: what if you are tall, have wide hips, a big butt and a waspish waist but also broad shoulders and a small bust. How blunt must your bones be to qualify for a natural type in comparison to a dramatic one? How much yin flesh do you need to be a soft dramatic? I would really appreciate if you could explain it in a future video.
Wow interesting! I didn't think this would be a point of confusion because soft dramatic has yin flesh, and flamboyant natural has yang flesh. What you describe honestly sounds to me like some sort of gamine and neither of those types at all. Wide hips, waspish waist, big butt, broad shoulders, small bust--that's a mix both in bones and in flesh, so gamine. But of course there are more questions on the test to consider than what you wrote, but for the start, if that pattern continues, then that would be a gamine body type! And yes, gamines can be tall. I just made a video on Lily Cole and she is 5' 10" and a soft gamine. :)
@@merriamstyle omg this! All the kibbe tests I've ever done say R or TR. But I am 5.7 and when I lose weight I am, test wise, a soft dramatic lol! But maybe when it comes down to it I am gamine!! I would have never thought. People have told me I am too tall for an R or anything else and because of that and because I look feminin with hips, small hands, I must be soft dramatic. But now I read this I believe I might be gamine! Then again aren't most people a mix of many different body types, just because we're a mix anyway of all kinds of dna?
@@merriamstyle Hi, what if your bust is larger, can you still qualify for gamine? I have this description aside from the bust side. Long arms and legs....heart shaped face with pointed chin but some chiseled features as well. I look great in gamine clothes, so it can be confusing.
@Anne Donker soft dramatics dont have small hands/feet. We have larger/longer hands and feet. And long arms/legs. We can be curvy if not very thin. I am a soft dramatic. I'm 5'8, wear size 9 shoes, have pretty big hands with long fingers, long arms and legs, and have a girly figure. Hope this helps.
Hi Merriam, could you please do more videos for this series? I find it so inspiring and interesting. I wonder what you suggest for romantics or soft classics to look more bad ass. :-)
No way. Every time any C wears any N lines it looks off. Classics are, imo, the most difficult body type. I would suggest going for a subtle Dramatic look for the badass impression.
This was an awesome video, Merriam. I would love to hear how soft naturals can use artistic license to create other looks which will not be separate from their own lines? Should we (soft naturals) go for a soft gamine, soft classic, or soft dramatic lines if we want to look different?
Soft Naturals can look for some lines which is common to them like yin flesh and which is a softer version than them as well. If we follow Miriam's theory, then a Soft Natural can wear Soft Classic lines to look dainty and more feminine than they already are. Similarly to look severe, just choose Natural lines.
Awesome; great ideas. I am flamboyant natural. Not sure what direction could go in. I do think I look my personal best in my own lines. I have long since quit wishing to be smaller! But I have the width, the height, the leanness, the asymmetry. not sure what license I could take to look softer or smaller?
To look smaller, I noticed that generally, the more oversized an item, the smaller the person looks--so you could try extremely oversized, and maybe off the shoulder tops that are very oversized. To look softer, you could try primarily dramatic lines. The yang of the flamboyant natural would make it so that it's not completely separate, and, the sharp angles of the dramatic lines will make the blunt angles of the natural look relatively soft. Take a look at Julia Roberts (FN) in this dramatic dress:
What about when a SD wants to look more badass? I was expecting that you would show that towards the end of the video. Sometimes SD would want to look powerful as well :)
omg this is groundbreaking. i'm a dc this explains why i love wearing natural lines, i've always felt like they soften my look and make me look more feminine.
When I saw the title of this video, i thought « great, it’s going to help me figure out if im a SD or a FN », and actually.. it didnt!!! The video is really clear and interesting, many pictures, great insights. But i guess im neither a SD or a FN and that’s why it did not help me? Because my face is long and oval, my shoulders broad and dainty, but i have long and narrow limbs (makes everyone so suprised when i tell them my actual height: i just look taller than i really am), but at the same time, i look really muscular. All this makes me think i could be more of a Natural, but actually, i look terrible in the typical natural clothing- but i also look terrible in dramatic lines. Does this make any sense?
It wouldn't look too bad, pretty harmonious, but it wouldn't have a very specific effect. Because soft dramatics are still a subtype of dramatic. Perhaps the SD would look a bit more womanly in contrast to those sharp lines of D.
I know that this video isn't related to Soft Gamines, but I was wondering. Cowl necks are always recommended for SDs, right? What would happen if a SG wears cowl necks? Would they look like they're drowning in the clothes?
yeah, exactly! you could do R or SG! :) R would be better/safer to not look too separate (and be careful not to do anything childish), I still have to think about SG more, but I feel like some SG does work on Rachel McAdams and does make her look a bit less delicate, but not too many elements at the same time! Romantic would work too of course.
what are the main differences between SD and SN? i feel like my hips and waist area are too broad to somehow “work” with my narrow shoulders (otherwise my features seem rather like the SD), which leaves me kind of uncertain...
soooo....in order to make a soft natural look less dainty and more badass, then soft naturals should dress in flamboyant natural lines? And to look more feminine soft naturals should go for soft dramatic lines?
Are you still helping people figure out their body type via email? If so, im very interested! Ive watched many of your and AliArt's videos but im still unsure which one i am.
Would a Gamine look good and more delicate wearing Romantic clothes in your opinion? (I see a lot of similiarity in them after all: Both small, both youthful, both soft in flesh, both look good with colorful makeup...) As a Gamine, I feel good wearing very feminine and flowy things AS LONG as they have small cleavage and are not too long.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Rattle [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qY6qwqVCsww/mqdefault.jpg)
PLEASE create more videos explaining how all the types can look more dramatic/romantic in this way! Would LOVE that!
Yes, I would like this! :)
Pleeeeease!
Yes, please!
More soft dramatic, please. This was excellent.
In his official facebook group discussions, David Kibbe says that there's no such thing as a specific piece of clothing designed only for one type (and for no one else). He points out that a given dress, shirt, trousers are not "classic", "gamine", "natural" etc. in their nature, but they give those different effects on different body/face types. He does not forbid any type from wearing anything as long as their body lines are honored. So I think your analysis here is really to the point, really insightful, and in accordance with Kibbe's instructions. It's not that big issue of breaking the rules, as the types' body lines are sill honored.
You're really good at this!
Thank you for not calling dramatics Masculine, dry and drag queenish
I wish I looked like a drag queen are u kidding ! 🔥
Love it! I'm a Soft Dramatic having a hard time to accept the weight, strength, obvious power carried by my ID, when my essences are Natural and Ethereal, and my job is all about healing, helping, supporting fragile people, not overpowering them.
As a cosplayer, I naturally gravitate towards warriors and/or witches, that just feel ok on me.
But recently I attempted an Arwen/Liv Tyler dreamy floaty cosplay, pure Soft Natural lines, and people called it my "signature cosplay".
I'm happy to see that Soft Natural might be my way of appearing softer in job circumstances, and keep thé Soft Dramatic lines for stage presence and other showtime occasions...
Amazing! This not only explained how to use kibbe's rules to get different looks, but it also revealed why so many people have such a hard time finding their body types.
A person with an untrained eye can mistake someone for a different body type based on the clothes they wear. In the video when Keira Knightly wore the flamboyant natural clothing. She almost looked flamboyant gamine. This is why there are mixed views in the community. For example, most people consider Rihanna a theatrical romantic, but some people also consider her a gamine. I've also seen people consider Scarlett Johanson a soft natural and others consider her a romantic.
Yes I just came to the comments to make this observation! I look much harsher when I wear tiny lines and almost swamped in bigger ones! It totally changes my observation of myself.
@@DefineFive I thought so too, until I watched more videos by Aly Art and she talks about length dominant, curve dominant and frame dominant. Scarlett is curvy but she is, indeed, frame dominant, and that's why she is SN.
I'd love to see a video on naturals and specifically soft naturals. I feel like they're very rarely talked so I'm still a bit confused on what to wear and do with my hair.
lauren lewis me too! I might be a soft natural or a romantic, I would like to learn more about these two types
Omg yes its impossible to find information about
Ditto
Messy buns took super cute on you!
As well as Dramatic classic
This was wonderful! Many years ago I found that my type was Soft Dramatic. Lately I have been wanting to venture into oversized shirts and jackets for comfort's sake even though I feel it may not be my most flattering look. Now I know why! I love the comparison of Rachel Weisz in the Gamine look vs. Soft Natural. The Soft Natural is really flattering on her. Something I definitely will try! I love the idea of using the rules (and breaking them) to achieve different effects. Thank you!
But what about how to make Soft Dramatics look more badass? I was waiting for that 😢
Amber Cotrone me too! Merriam help us SD to look badass, please!!
They already look badass usually. They queens
I think if D going SD make them look even more badass, maybe us, SDs, going D can have the same effect on us?!
@@MEVP4499 Wouldn't more yang styles make your body shape look more feminine? Because when you think about it, Dramatics look more powerful when they go softer, so wouldn't it soften a Soft Dramatic even further to go more towards her yang?
I think your color palette could do this, going with your darker colors, or a monochromatic scheme. But I think when I go more minimal (classic-ish) that makes me look sharper in a severe way ... I suppose that could be considered badass. I think it makes me look threatening 🤣
This is my all-time favorite video of yours, Merriam! I am so impressed that you've picked up on this concept of borrowing lines to different effects, and it's why I consider you the Kibbe Queen! Excellent. Please do more of these videos, so every type has some guidance on bending the rules. This is brilliant!
She is indeed a queen but Kibbers treat her like a heretic lol. I've seen so much hate against Merriam in other platforms. I think they are jealouse of her being a genius, her Body Geometry system is more accurate than Kibbe's.
This is INCREDIBLY helpful. It helps me train my eye to control the effect I want to achieve rather than having only one option to match the body's inherent lines or simply following a list of recommendations without knowing why. I am soft dramatic and I tend to unconsciously wear a lot of purely soft natural lines hoping to look relaxed and flowy, but they sometimes look too unstructured and my figure kind of disappears. Now I can try mixing SN and SD elements to try to blend them for my body. Other times I want to look more fun and experimental, and I think Jameela Jamil is a SD who achieves that by blending soft dramatic and soft gamine lines for a very playful yet elegant effect. I want to try someone of that as well.
Love this! I am a dramatic that loves looking less intimidating so this is so helpful!
I would love more content from you. You have a beautiful voice and are well spoken.
I'm not confused anymore! I always wondered why I was drawn to SN style, even after getting SD answers, now I realize, its not practical in my daily life to wear my real SD style, too much attention. I wear my true lines when I'm going out, or want to get dressed up.
Thank you! Incredible insight into Kibbe theory! :) This video is great showcase of real creativity and deep understanding of proportions, lines, and shapes
Looking forward to breaking the Kibbe's rules for classic type! I'm an asian with classic or dramatic classic lines I think.
This was really cool. I am a soft dramatic and was a model when I was younger and I have photos where I look super dainty and I couldn't really understand it until I thought about it this way. It was when I was in a really voluminous dress - aka soft natural. But it's always been a struggle because of the hard dramatic edge that I still need to find. Also when I wore things with soft draping I had buyers literally follow me around a tradeshow once.
Well this just made everything click, thank you! I've been hanging out in SN for about 2 years and people (for the first time in my life) were making comments about my smallness and surprised when I told them my height. Now I know what was going on, lol. I mistyped myself as SN, I'm really SD, and those clothes were making me look more delicately sharp and small. But all SN all the time, that had me feeling quite off and verging on frumpy. A little bit here and there, that I will have fun playing with! At least now I know why I was able to "pull off" the look. Thanks for your brilliance!
that is so funny, i experienced the exact same thing! crazy!
Fantastic video. I can actually apply this is in my wardrobe because you presented your raesoning.
yes!! That was my goal/why I always explain my reasoning (even though it may seem boring and it's more exciting to look at the images of the celebrities in my opinion).
Yes! This makes so much sense! I'm a soft dramatic, but I find myself leaning soft natural when I want to lean more casual 🙂
Could you do a video about the difference between soft dramatic and soft natural. I can't seem to figure out what I am. I also think I have some ethereal and ingenue aspects, (I have had people compare my look to both a baby and an angel), but coupled with my heigth (5'10''), broad shoulders, and hourglass figure I am just majorly confused.
same on all of the above 😭
I recommend to look at this blog, she has refreshed view on Kibbe's typology: getthelook.pl/ethereal-typology/
same here! I would love to see this kind of video as I've finally found out who/what I am! xD
I also thought I was a Soft Natural, but I knew the recommended looks don't make me look my best. I'm 5"9 (176cm) and that was the final indicator for me being a Soft Dramatic, because I have a long vertical line
I can't wait for the natural video. I feel like all my answers point to my being a flamboyant natural, but I don't like the look and just feel like a giant in them and don't think they're flattering. So I'm super confused. I feel like you can find info on a natural, but a soft natural and flamboyant natural, I'm having trouble finding any info.
Can you do a video about the differences between soft classic and romantic?🙏
This two types are kind of triky to figure out and I like your take on this topic
I would love also a video a soft classic. 😊🙏🏼 I am not sure if I am a soft natural or soft classic...
I love how you make these videos! They're so informative and your explanations are easy to understand. I can can hardly wait for your videos to come out because you always have such an interesting perspective. Thankyou for making these videos!! :)
gotta add, as a gender non conforming SD with a female body, I sometimes go for delicate tops with thin spaghetti straps or super tight turtle necks to look even more "bad ass", meaning broad and masculine on my shoulders and torso
I would love for you to continue making this series! It's such a great way to understand the different types better and learn to be more creative with the lines, so I'm still hoping for more videos along these lines :)
i am looking forward to a soft natural body type video
Merriam you’re amazing .. truly amazing ❤️, I mean this is brilliant these ladies look so different yet still beautiful your interpretations of things really blow my mind, keep on the good work!! 💞
This video really helped me to understand that I am a soft dramatic. Definitely not a natural, as i have no broadness to my body although i am very fleshy and my face is very Yin or classic apart from my angular jaw
I have one problem though, which is that i only like to Wear very feminine clothing. Ill be looking up what i should be wearing right now
I think soft dramatic is one of the most feminine/sexy body types. I’m a SD, too. Think draping, big curves and prints. I worn a form fitting dress, off the shoulder dress with a large rose print to a wedding recently and I was getting compliments from men and women.
@@cjl1967 This makes me feel better about being an SD , thank you!
I feel jealous of SD because they can pull off those huge, statement puffy sleeves, huge ruffles and hugh bows like no one else. I am a TR and everything on trend now is too statement for me. :C I want huge, stiff fabrics too. 😞
@@kuramacabre aww it is just the fashion of the moment! And you can always take the silhouettes you are loving in recent collections and find them in a different fabric which would be more flattering. A small puff sleeve on a chiffon blouse would look stunning on Romantics! But probably wouldn’t do the same for me.
And you can always cheat the system and use your garments to create the illusion of the body type you do want. It’s all about keeping proportion!
I love this! I am making a wedding dress for a dramatic lady (kibbe type not personality!) and this is so helpful and interesting!
Thank you for sharing all your knowledge. You've changed my life as an SD!!
Merriam's own research on this is remarkable and she is helping so many people to choose their style. I couldn't help but write something here using Merriam's theory. :)
I am temporarily writing this and I am sure, our Merriam will make a video on this topic for us elaborating her theory.
So Soft Dramatics look intimidating in Dramatic clothes. Flamboyant Naturals can wear Soft Dramatic lines to create a bigger fuller version of their already large roundish blunt bones. Also they can wear Dramatic Classic lines to look dainty. Naturals can choose Flamboyant Natural clothes to look severe, and Soft Natural lines to look dainty. But a Soft Naturals can look for some lines which is common to them like yin flesh and which is a softer version than them. Therefore, a Soft Natural can wear Soft Classic lines to look dainty and more feminine than they already are. Similarly to look severe, they can just choose Natural lines.
Dramatic classic can wear Natural to look severe and Flamboyant Gamine to look softer. Classic can wear Dramatic classic lines to look intimidating and Gamine to look softer. And Soft Classic can use Classic to look severe and Soft Gamine to look softer.
Flamboyant Gamine can use Gamine looks to look softer and Dramatic Classic to look severe. Gamine can use Flamboyant Gamine to look intimidating and Soft Gamine or Theatrical Romantic to look softer. A Soft Gamine can wear Flamboyant Gamine to look intimidating and Theatrical Romantic or Romantic to look soft. And now a Theatrical Romantic can easily wear Romantic to look softer and Soft Gamine to look severe. A Romantic can't be any softer but she can wear Theatrical Romantic to look a bit more sharp. :) :)
I agree with you almost in everything except the Naturals. Classic lines are too small for their bones, they would look like they are too uncomfortable. Look at Meghan Markle, Natural, wearing Classic lines. I am not sure how FN, N and SN can look softer. Maybe wearing Dramatic but oversized...
Bless you for this comment!!! This is fantastic!!!
I agree that Rachel looks similar to Emilia in the picture you put up. What happens when SN wears SD lines though?
I think the SN will look more 'romantic' in SD lines--I'll make a video on naturals and explain my reasoning!!! Here's an example of Scarlett Johansson (SN), wearing SD lines:
img3.icdresses.com/pri/o/201412/flatteringly-sequins-embellished-off-the-shoulder-evening-dress-Inspired-by-Scarlett-Johansson-at-Venice-Film-Festival-59487-289704.jpg
I would say she looks a bit similar to Kate Winslet there.
I love breaking some rules and following some as long as in doing so i feel the best i can. According to some rules, i should not wear turtlenecks and long earrings but i love them and my face does have some softness even if the bones are wider and angular. I also love some more natural or even romantic styles for specific weather and more dramatic or classic for other. Even if you compare two people from the same type, some will be able to pull off the assigned better than others. Good examples are Marilyn Monroe and Drew Barrymore as Romantics or Keira Nightly and Tilda Swinton as Dramatics.
This is really brillant! Love this series, expecially this type of videos. Can't wait for the theatrical romantic one! :)
yay thank you!!
Excellent video! What a knowledge you have 👏👏👏
I think a video on how to dress as romantics would be great. I am looking for more casual looks and most of the time I only find dresses that are for romantics. I love dresses but I would like to know what type of jeans are best, are there casual shirts that look really good despite being casual? Plus most of the time I only find vintage looks and most people don’t understand not all vintage looks are romantic. I would love some clarity!
Very helpful! I think you explained this really well-how wearing a "dainty" dress can actually make someone Dramatic look less dainty and so on. It's also nice that you give ideas on how you don't always HAVE to wear your lines and how you can achieve a certain look with other lines.
Amazingly good and insightful video!
I’m new to your channel and still trying to figure out the differences between “round and non-round bones” and some of the other Kibbe determining type rules/guidelines 😅. But I love this video because it shows one can dress outside their body types (to some degree) to achieve new, yet flattering effects. Please do more! This is fascinating!
Great analysis! I’m a dramatic and I need this video. Thanks.
This is so helpful! As a classic dramatic I’m trying to level up on a more feminine style 🌺
My mind is blown
could you pleeaasee do the same analysis for other Kibbe body types too?? this is SO useful to know! I was so upset seeing this is the one and only video on your channel about how different lines work ;'((( really love your video!
This was so helpful to me! Thank you.
This was the most useful video on Kibbe I have seen so far. A shame you only ever did the Dramatics, but you only have 24h in each day like every one of us.
I'll try to see if I can find some trends playing around my type like this.
I include these ideas in a lot of my videos! If you liked this one, I'd recommend 'Rachel McAdams--Style Actualization', and 'are classics boring and gamines fun'.
@@merriamstyle I'm in the process to watching them all, lots of stuff is currently closed due to covid here, and we are told to keep unnecessary contact as few as possible, so I have way too much time to watch youtube videos. ^^;
Thanks for lessons, you are good company. ^_~
This is absolutely amazing. Love the artistic license applied to kibbe. The logic in breaking the rules is clearly explained. I was wondering if the opposite is true that is if a soft natural wants more drama would they wear soft dramatic and same for flamboyant naturals with dramatic? Great video about being creative with the kibbe system. Thanks
Verrrry interesting! Thanks for the experiment .
This is my favourite kibbe types video ever! Just wondering, what effect do dramatic classic lines have on dramatic? What do they exaggerate?
Please do this for soft natural! Loved this and all your content
I don't care about the fact that I'm long and thin. I just HATE all of the recommendations for dramatics and dc's (I'm still deciding between the two- I'm 5'5 so I'm in a tough spot to choose lol). I don't wanna wear menswear and structured everything. I don't wanna wear all black and white. I want to feel pretty and I don't feel pretty in the dramatic recommendations. I feel gross tbh I feel so out of place and aware of myself trying to wear these types of clothes. I still want to look put together though and that's why I got into this. Now Im kind of left feeling like I can't feel comfortable and put together
Could you do a video about aging with dramatic bodytype ... Your vids are great!
Fantastic video as always. I love how in-depth and detailed you always are in your explanations. Thank you!
Could you maybe make a video about flamboyant natural vs soft dramatic? It seems like a lot of people (myself included) have a difficult time figuring out which one we belong to. Things like: what if you are tall, have wide hips, a big butt and a waspish waist but also broad shoulders and a small bust. How blunt must your bones be to qualify for a natural type in comparison to a dramatic one? How much yin flesh do you need to be a soft dramatic?
I would really appreciate if you could explain it in a future video.
Wow interesting! I didn't think this would be a point of confusion because soft dramatic has yin flesh, and flamboyant natural has yang flesh. What you describe honestly sounds to me like some sort of gamine and neither of those types at all. Wide hips, waspish waist, big butt, broad shoulders, small bust--that's a mix both in bones and in flesh, so gamine. But of course there are more questions on the test to consider than what you wrote, but for the start, if that pattern continues, then that would be a gamine body type! And yes, gamines can be tall. I just made a video on Lily Cole and she is 5' 10" and a soft gamine. :)
@@merriamstyle omg this! All the kibbe tests I've ever done say R or TR. But I am 5.7 and when I lose weight I am, test wise, a soft dramatic lol! But maybe when it comes down to it I am gamine!! I would have never thought. People have told me I am too tall for an R or anything else and because of that and because I look feminin with hips, small hands, I must be soft dramatic. But now I read this I believe I might be gamine! Then again aren't most people a mix of many different body types, just because we're a mix anyway of all kinds of dna?
@@merriamstyle Hi, what if your bust is larger, can you still qualify for gamine? I have this description aside from the bust side. Long arms and legs....heart shaped face with pointed chin but some chiseled features as well. I look great in gamine clothes, so it can be confusing.
@Anne Donker soft dramatics dont have small hands/feet. We have larger/longer hands and feet. And long arms/legs. We can be curvy if not very thin. I am a soft dramatic. I'm 5'8, wear size 9 shoes, have pretty big hands with long fingers, long arms and legs, and have a girly figure. Hope this helps.
Brilliant as usual!
This was so helpful! Thank you!
Please make more such videos!
Hi Merriam, could you please do more videos for this series? I find it so inspiring and interesting. I wonder what you suggest for romantics or soft classics to look more bad ass. :-)
How can a classic break the kibbe rules??
Liz Gdoifn Dress like a punk)
Throw the balance off
Thank you for this video! It was so helpful.
Wait but what should soft dramatics wear when we wanna look more badass? Dramatic lines?
I have a video called are dramatics intimidating, or something like that. If dramatic wears Gamine/Mixed lines, then they look more intimidating.
Thanks for this video, I would love to see something similar for soft gamines and soft naturals... I think I'm one of the two but not sure yet.
Very interesting , just getting to know my type . Thank you .
Great concept !
Loved this idea. I as a dramatic classic always wanted to look more dainty and girly. Can u make a video on how I could achieve it?
This video is everything
Thanks for the video. This is actually very useful even though those are not my Kibbe types - definitely helpful for gifts-giving!
Thank you!
i think that soft natural dress looked so good on her
Thank you so much for this vudeo I want to see breaking kibbe rule Soft Gamine!!!
I’d love to see one of these for how Naturals can break Kibbe’s rules!
Great video! Do you think Dramatic Classics can wear a Flamboyant Natural style (or other Natural styles) to look more dainty too?
No way. Every time any C wears any N lines it looks off. Classics are, imo, the most difficult body type. I would suggest going for a subtle Dramatic look for the badass impression.
Can you do this video for flaboyant natural?
This was an awesome video, Merriam. I would love to hear how soft naturals can use artistic license to create other looks which will not be separate from their own lines? Should we (soft naturals) go for a soft gamine, soft classic, or soft dramatic lines if we want to look different?
Soft Naturals can look for some lines which is common to them like yin flesh and which is a softer version than them as well. If we follow Miriam's theory, then a Soft Natural can wear Soft Classic lines to look dainty and more feminine than they already are. Similarly to look severe, just choose Natural lines.
Awesome; great ideas. I am flamboyant natural. Not sure what direction could go in. I do think I look my personal best in my own lines. I have long since quit wishing to be smaller! But I have the width, the height, the leanness, the asymmetry. not sure what license I could take to look softer or smaller?
To look smaller, I noticed that generally, the more oversized an item, the smaller the person looks--so you could try extremely oversized, and maybe off the shoulder tops that are very oversized. To look softer, you could try primarily dramatic lines. The yang of the flamboyant natural would make it so that it's not completely separate, and, the sharp angles of the dramatic lines will make the blunt angles of the natural look relatively soft. Take a look at Julia Roberts (FN) in this dramatic dress:
Great post.
What about when a SD wants to look more badass? I was expecting that you would show that towards the end of the video. Sometimes SD would want to look powerful as well :)
Rockabilly style 🖤
Soft Dramatics will look very badass in Dramatic lines. SDs look dainty and delicate in Soft Natural lines.
omg this is groundbreaking. i'm a dc this explains why i love wearing natural lines, i've always felt like they soften my look and make me look more feminine.
Can you do one of these for soft naturals?
Can you do this video for soft classics? :D
I just wanna drop and say Keira in that long greek inspired dress looked like a gorgeous powerful greek goddess and I love it
When I saw the title of this video, i thought « great, it’s going to help me figure out if im a SD or a FN », and actually.. it didnt!!!
The video is really clear and interesting, many pictures, great insights. But i guess im neither a SD or a FN and that’s why it did not help me? Because my face is long and oval, my shoulders broad and dainty, but i have long and narrow limbs (makes everyone so suprised when i tell them my actual height: i just look taller than i really am), but at the same time, i look really muscular. All this makes me think i could be more of a Natural, but actually, i look terrible in the typical natural clothing- but i also look terrible in dramatic lines. Does this make any sense?
Im a Dramatic and Im sick of people calling me cute so im gonna get whole SD wardrobe and look badass 24/7
I am a soft classic, and I want to look more badass!! Heelp
What effect would have if a Soft Dramatic uses Dramatic lines?
It wouldn't look too bad, pretty harmonious, but it wouldn't have a very specific effect. Because soft dramatics are still a subtype of dramatic. Perhaps the SD would look a bit more womanly in contrast to those sharp lines of D.
Gamine video!
I think I am soft dramatic, but I would love to look like classic. Is that possible?
We need those videos for the other types....
I know that this video isn't related to Soft Gamines, but I was wondering. Cowl necks are always recommended for SDs, right? What would happen if a SG wears cowl necks? Would they look like they're drowning in the clothes?
TR (I'm pretty sure) wondering how I can achieve a badass dramatic queen look ❤️
From what you said in this video I'm thinking R or SG lines might help bring my sharpness into focus?
yeah, exactly! you could do R or SG! :) R would be better/safer to not look too separate (and be careful not to do anything childish), I still have to think about SG more, but I feel like some SG does work on Rachel McAdams and does make her look a bit less delicate, but not too many elements at the same time! Romantic would work too of course.
i have mostly A answers with a few D or E answers under facial bones and facial features. Am I a soft dramatic?
what are the main differences between SD and SN? i feel like my hips and waist area are too broad to somehow “work” with my narrow shoulders (otherwise my features seem rather like the SD), which leaves me kind of uncertain...
soooo....in order to make a soft natural look less dainty and more badass, then soft naturals should dress in flamboyant natural lines? And to look more feminine soft naturals should go for soft dramatic lines?
I think soft dramatic looks dainty in soft natural.
Can you make this for flamboyant gamines too, please?
You should do and Alexa Chung video like this :)
SD here and I love SN lines aha
Genius. That's all.
Are you still helping people figure out their body type via email? If so, im very interested! Ive watched many of your and AliArt's videos but im still unsure which one i am.
Hi Neato, i'm offering style reports through my website now! merriamstyle.com/style_report.html
Would you create a video for romantics? I think that Nicole Kidman is a romantic. Would love to hear what you think!
Would a Gamine look good and more delicate wearing Romantic clothes in your opinion? (I see a lot of similiarity in them after all: Both small, both youthful, both soft in flesh, both look good with colorful makeup...) As a Gamine, I feel good wearing very feminine and flowy things AS LONG as they have small cleavage and are not too long.
Do one for soft gamine please!