The Kibbe Gamine Family

In the Kibbe system, the Gamine family is dominated by the juxtaposition of Yin and Yang. To be more precise, the Gamine family possesses Yin sizing, varying degree of Yang in bone structure, and either Yin or Yang in flesh or undercurrent. Let’s take a closer look at each end of the Gamine family spectrum, starting off with the Soft Gamine.

The Kibbe Soft Gamine

Soft Gamines are Yin in scaling or size- no matter how slender they are, they always have a petite looking frame that looks compact and trim in proportion. In terms of bone structure, Soft Gamines have a slightly Yang frame- they possess angularity, some sharpness or broadness especially throughout the shoulder, a bit of edge. Still, they retain a bit of delicacy which is more evident through their facial bones which tend towards broad but shorter curvatures. The Soft Gamine has a Yin undercurrent, and their flesh leans more softly curved and gentle especially at the upper limbs. Soft Gamines also tend to have more curvature throughout the bust and hips with a smaller waist.

The Flamboyant Gamine Body

Flamboyant Gamines lean Yin in size and scaling, despite their upper height limit of 5’6″. Flamboyant Gamines tend to have a compact look as well, and the juxtaposition in their frame prevents them from taking on a very cohesive and continuous look that is seen in more vertically dominated types. The Flamboyant Gamine has a Yang bone structure with angularity, broadness, straightness, and a bit more width than their Soft Gamine counterparts. Their facial bones tend towards a more sculpted look with broad elongation as opposed to delicacy or roundness. In terms of flesh, the Flamboyant Gamine is usually quite well defined and lean at lower weights, with more of a streamlined shape throughout the chest and hips.

Kibbe Soft Gamine vs Flamboyant Gamine

When comparing the Soft Gamine and Flamboyant Gamine, pay attention to bone structure and the upper limbs. Soft Gamines look more delicate but have more tapering throughout their frame. This shape is reinforced by their flesh, which tends to add curvature to the bust and hips and leaves the waist a bit narrower. The Flamboyant Gamine will look more streamlined, elongated, and a bit more muscular and defined. Their limbs don’t take on the delicacy towards the edges- rather, they look more chiseled or sculpted and slightly wider. Their flesh is also more solid looking and they towards more lean musculature.

How to Dress the Soft Gamine and Flamboyant Gamine

Soft Gamines look best in rounded and crisp shapes that hold structure, remain taut against the body, and honor tapering and a bit of sharpness. Soft Gamines look best in a broken line or staccato rhythm that emphasizes the contrast of their bodies.

Flamboyant Gamines shine in angularity, asymmetry, linearity, sharpness, and a sculpted tautness. Their body skimming ensembles ideally have some vertical or diagonal emphasis. Like their Soft Gamine counterparts, the Flamboyant Gamine looks best in a broken line with high contrast and separates with opposite shapes and qualities.

How NOT to Dress the Soft Gamine and Flamboyant Gamine

Put a Soft Gamine in something very fluid, loose, unstructured, and continuous and they will surely obscure the finer nuances of their silhouette.

A Flamboyant Gamine in a wide, loose, unconstructed, and overly round and blended ensemble is also working against their innate beauty.

Modern Soft Gamine and Flamboyant Gamine Examples

Reese Witherspoon has amazing style and always dresses to accommodate the needs of her Soft Gamine silhouette. She often wears fitted clothes with obvious shaping and structuring, round edges, contrasting prints and patterns, and an overall sense of compact but crisp roundness.

Winona Ryder is a Soft Gamine who tends to dress in less obviously animated or perky ways, but she looks amazing in carefully chosen garments that honor the nips, tucks, and tapers of her frame while upholding a crisp roundness.

Zooey Deschanel is often associated with a very specific aesthetic thanks to her wardrobe in 500 Days of Summer and New Girl (she jokingly referred to it as “twee”) but she truly shines in more sleek and sculpted looks that honor the geometrics and contrast needed for her Flamboyant Gamine ID.

Penelope Cruz is a Flamboyant Gamine who shines in more sleek looks that still uphold her need for contrasted separated and geometrics. Watch my video on Penelope Cruz’s style and Kibbe exploration here.

How Not to Dress Modern Soft Gamines and Flamboyant Gamines

To obscure the beauty of a Soft Gamine, put them in overly wide and sweeping looks that are dominated by fluidity and have no small scale structure or sharpness. Put a Flamboyant Gamine in anything rounded and boxy with soft volumes or too much continuity.

Watch My Guide to the Kibbe Soft Gamines and Flamboyant Gamines

For more details, please check out my video.

xx

Nona