Dramatic family · Vertical + Narrow
DramaticD
A long, narrow silhouette that reads as one clean vertical line.
Read Dramatic →The reference
The 13 Kibbe types, family by family
Ten current Image Identities, three retired 1987 types, five families. Each entry gives the line formula, the physical cues and the styling direction — without ranking one type above another.
New to the system? Start with 13 types or 10? then take the 18-question test.
How to read the diagrams. The wine line is the dominant line. The gold marks show the secondary trait. A dashed outline means a small, petite scale; brackets mean balance; outward arrows mean width. These are not body illustrations and they are not to scale.
Dramatic family
Sharp yang · Length and precision
The Dramatic family is built on length, narrowness and a clean edge. Its two current identities differ on whether curve interrupts that line.
Dramatic family · Vertical + Curve
Soft DramaticSD
A long vertical line with curve laid over it; the bones stay large and angular.
Read Soft Dramatic →Natural family
Blunt yang · Width and ease
The Natural family is built on breadth through the shoulder and upper back, with blunt rather than sharp bones. Ease matters more than precision.
Natural family · Vertical + Width
Flamboyant NaturalFN
A long line with breadth through the shoulder and upper back; blunt rather than sharp.
Read Flamboyant Natural →Natural family · Retired in 2025Retired
NaturalN
The original middle of the Natural family: relaxed, broad and unconstructed. Retired in the 2025 system.
Historical type. Start with Flamboyant Natural or Soft Natural.
Read Natural →Natural family · Curve + Width
Soft NaturalSN
Soft curve on a frame with visible width across the shoulders; relaxed, not sharp.
Read Soft Natural →Classic family
Balanced · Proportion and control
The Classic family is built on balance: even proportions, moderate scale and a smooth line. The two current identities lean slightly yang or slightly yin.
Classic family · Vertical + Balance
Dramatic ClassicDC
A tailored, symmetrical line with a crisp yang edge; nothing oversized, nothing ornate.
Read Dramatic Classic →Classic family · Retired in 2025Retired
ClassicC
The original balanced type: even proportions, moderate scale and no dominant extreme. Retired in the 2025 system.
Historical type. Start with Dramatic Classic or Soft Classic.
Read Classic →Classic family · Curve + Balance
Soft ClassicSC
A balanced frame with soft, rounded flesh; smooth and symmetrical rather than sharp.
Read Soft Classic →Gamine family
Yin-yang contrast · Small scale, broken line
The Gamine family is built on contrast rather than blend: small scale, a compact or broken line, and a crisp, animated finish.
Gamine family · Vertical + Petite
Flamboyant GamineFG
Small scale with a long, broken line; sharp, boxy and animated rather than smooth.
Read Flamboyant Gamine →Gamine family · Retired in 2025Retired
GamineG
The original even yin-yang contrast: compact, fitted and animated. Retired in the 2025 system.
Historical type. Start with Flamboyant Gamine or Soft Gamine.
Read Gamine →Gamine family · Curve + Petite
Soft GamineSG
Small, rounded and curvy on a delicate frame, with crisp edges in the detail.
Read Soft Gamine →Romantic family
Lush yin · Curve and softness
The Romantic family is built on curve, soft flesh and rounded lines. Its two current identities differ on how narrow the underlying frame is.
Romantic family · Curve + Narrow
Theatrical RomanticTR
Lush curve on a narrow, delicate frame with a faint sharp edge.
Read Theatrical Romantic →Romantic family · Curve + Double curve
RomanticR
The most yin type: full double curve, soft flesh and rounded lines throughout.
Read Romantic →The three retired types
Kept for reference · not test outcomes
These were part of the 1987 thirteen-type system. The current ten-identity system treats them as family centres rather than final identities.
- Natural (N) — compare Flamboyant Natural and Soft Natural.
- Classic (C) — compare Dramatic Classic and Soft Classic.
- Gamine (G) — compare Flamboyant Gamine and Soft Gamine.
Questions about the list
Are there 13 Kibbe types or 10?
The 1987 book listed thirteen. The current system keeps ten identities and retires the three pure middle types: Natural, Classic and Gamine. This page shows all thirteen so older charts still make sense, but only the ten current identities are test outcomes.
What do the line diagrams show?
The wine line is the dominant line: straight for vertical, curved for curve. The gold and navy marks show the secondary trait — narrow, width, balance, petite, curve or double curve. They are diagrams of a styling idea, not body drawings.
Why are Natural, Classic and Gamine still here?
Because most published charts, books and forum posts still use the thirteen-type vocabulary. Removing the three pages would leave readers without a bridge. Each retired page explains which two current identities to compare instead.
Where the list comes from. The family names, the 13-type vocabulary and the
physical descriptions are drawn from the published framework and its summaries; the ten
current identities follow the 2025 dominant-plus-additional chart. Sources and dates are on
the method page.