Women with the Romantic body type are have a very soft, slightly wide, and curvy body type with fleshy arms and legs. They also have very rounded and lush facial features like large eyes, luscious lips, a soft slightly full nose and jawline, and fleshy cheeks.
Women with this body type have hourglass figure and tends to be under 5’5”, with small hands and feet which may be slightly wide.
Even if a Romantic body type gains weight, she will still have a an hourglass figure with a defined waist, while upper arms, thighs, and face will become fleshy.
Kibbe says a slight deviation from the characteristics is always possible and should not be worried about as long as it does not upset the overall combination of yin with yang undercurrent.
A Romantic will not be extremely tall, have large bones, have large hands and feet, have a straight or boyish figure, have angular or sharp facial features, or have a prominent nose or angular chin.
The Kibbe Romantic Body Type
In 1987, David Kibbe published a book called Metamorphosis, A Personal Image And Style Book For Women.
In the book Kibbe defines 13 body types based largely on a person’s balance of yin and yang, including Romantic.
He describes Yin as: petite, rounded voluptuous curves, delicate bone structure, large luminous eyes, delicately pointed chin, sloped or tapered shoulders, hourglass figure, small hands and feet, delicate skin, fair complexion, and softly textured lustrous hair.
And he describes Yang as: tall, angular, broad or sharp bone structure, high or exotic cheekbones, blunt jawline, prominent nose or facial features, square shoulders, straight body lines, large hands and feet, distinct coloring, extreme texture to hair (silky-smooth, extra-fine, or wildly coarse).
Where on the spectrum a person lands depends on their physical characteristics and will determine their Kibbe body type.
The Romantic body types position on the Yin/Yang scale is an extreme soft Yin as opposed to the Theatrical Romantic which has a little bit of Yang sharpness to it.
Romantic Body Type Clothes
Kibbe suggests that Romantic body types should “everything that goes into creating your look should take its cue from your voluptuous, outer physical form-from the softness” and should “seek to express your extreme Yin in your appearance.”
He also says that “your outline should always be soft and flowing silhouettes that showcase the lush curves of your body” and that you should “keep your shapes rounded with soft edges.”
If you are a Romantic body type, remember waste definition is essential, and so is as is lots of gentle draping everywhere. And, you should avoid severe silhouettes, tailored silhouettes, straight lines with angular edges, vertical lines that hid the waist, and unconstructed, boxy, or horizontal lines.
Use lightweight fabrics that drape easily like softly woven fabrics like challis, crepe, tropical-weight woolens, jersey, and sheer fabrics like chiffon, voile, batiste, handkerchief linen.
Ultra-shiny fabrics like charmeuse, shantung, crepe de chine, metallics and ultra soft plush textures like suedes, velvets, boucle knits, angora are flattering for you.
However, you should avoid stiff fabrics, heavyweight fabrics, rough textures, and extreme matte-finished fabrics.
Detail should be soft, intricate, ornate, and feminine. Any kind of sparkle, like pearls, sequins, or beading, is excellent.
Prints should be “rich and luscious” with the emphasis a watercolor blend with swirls of color, flowing together, with soft and rounded edges may be used in abundance.
Large prints with oversized florals or feather shapes are very nice on you. However Kibbe recommends that you avoid geometrics prints, animated prints, small prints, symmetrical prints, stripes, plaids.
Your tops and bottoms should always have a blending of plush textures, draped fabrics, and colors so you don’t disrupt the soft fluidity of line.
Always avoid any kind of harsh contrast between the top and bottom.
Make sure to avoid tailored, angular, severe, hunky, rough, or oversized detail and geometric necklines, sharp edges–pleats, square shoulder pads. Likewise, avoid crisp detail like perky bows and tiny ruffles. As well minimal or “no detail” looks.
Dresses
Romantic dresses should always be feminine and flowing with ornate detail and swirling or flouncy bottoms.
Your waistline should always be emphasized. Ideally, with soft gathers, folds, draped sashes, or lightweight and supple belts to give a cinched effect. Any belt buckles should always be intricate and feminine.
Make sure to avoid stiff, structured, or tailored styles. They also shouldn’t be straight styles with no waist, shapeless, wide, baggy, coat-dress, or chemise.
Skirts
Romantic skirts should be kept full and flowing with soft gathers at the waist and uneven hemlines.
Flared styled skirts are flattering on you and so are pencil skirts and tulip shaped skirts.
Ideally, uneven hemlines should reach the mid calf and tapered styles with an even hemline should reach the mid kneecap.
Kibbe recommends that you avoid straight and tailored skirts, A-lined skirts, and skirts with pleats.
Pants
Romantic pants should always be soft, draped, and showcase your curves. High waisted skinny jeans and trousers with gathers at the waist and a tapered or pegged bottom are ideal for you.
You should avoid straight or tailored pants, baggy unconstructed styles, and sharp details like pleats, cuffs, and pockets.
Tops
Romantic tops should be soft draped styles, ideally with sophisticated flounces and fills.
Necklines should be soft and draped with curved edges. Ornate necklines look especially sophisticated on you.
Shoulders should be curved and shoulder tucks or gathers, leg o’ mutton, and draped dolman styles all work for you.
Oversized bows, flouncy ruffles, and delicate lace that are they are luscious and womanly are always a nice choice for you.
Sleeves should be tapered at the wrist with intricate buttons, or very soft and flowing.
Tailored styles are not flattering to your shape.
Sweaters
Romantic sweaters should be soft fluffy knits, clingy draped knits, plush knits, short lengths with waist detail. Cowl necks are very flattering.
Skinny ribbed knits, thick nubby knits, oversized sweaters, turtlenecks and long pullovers, cardigans, crew-necked shetlands do not flatter you.
Jackets
Romantic jackets should always be fitted at the waist. Soft supple styles with peplums with waists emphasis and belts are very flattering on you.
Jack lapels should be curved, rounded, or shall-collard, but lapel-less jacks are also be good. Shoulders with gathers, tucks, or bouffant shapes work well for you.
Sleeves should be tapered.
Intricate or antique-looking your buttons are great on you and any draped, gathered, or shirred touches fantastic accents.
You should avoid tailored jackets like blazers, double-breasted, and boxy jackets, as well as long, straight jackets that hide the waist. Unconstructed, shapeless jacket and sharp edges jackets like sharp lapels, pleats, or angular detail.
Accessories
According to Kibbe, “accessories should always be kept feminine, ornate, and softly sophisticated. The effect may be lavish, but the workmanship should be intricate and delicate.”
He also warns to avoid anything heavy, chunky, sharp, or tailored.
Shoes
Romantic body types should wear delicate, feminine styled shoes. Ideally strappy, slender-heeled with a tapered or open toe. Lightweight and supple leather shoes are also recommended, as well as feminine flats, with ornamentation.
Tailored, chunky, angular, heavy styles, and plain styles should be avoided.
Bags
Purses should be small with rounded shapes made of soft, supple leather or fabric, with ornamentation or luxurious detail like beads, gathers, trim, and delicate shoulder straps.
Elegantly slim briefcases are also recommended.
Not recommended are tailored, angular, or boxy shapes, stiff leather, or heavy shoulder straps.
Belts
Should be a soft and supple leather or fabric, buckles should be intricate, and all beaded, bejeweled, or sparkly styles are recommended. They should give a “cinched-waist” effect.
Avoid stiff belts, whether wide or narrow, geometric buckles, and plain belts.
Hats
Hats should have soft, curvy shapes, and “picture-frame styles.” Large, fluffy fur hats are also recommended. However, crisp or man-tailored hats are warned against.
Hosiery
Hosiery should be sheer and Kibbe says “a ‘light leg’ with the stocking and shoe in one color, several shades lighter than your hemline, is very elegant.’
Jewelry
Jewelry for Romantic body types should always be delicate and lavish, with intricate and ornate touches.
According to Kibbe “Rounded shapes, curves, swirls, and lots of dangles add the perfect touch to pull your look together. Sparkly materials are essential (crystal, gems, glass, polished metal, etc.), and antique, baroque, or rococo effect is desirable.”
Though heavy chunky pieces, jewelry with sharp edges or geometric shapes, avant-garde and contemporary styles, small symmetrical pieces, minimal styles should be avoided.
Evening Wear
Evening wear should have fitted shapes with ornate necklines and waist emphasis made of sheer fabrics, draped fabrics, sparkly fabrics, and/or have elaborate trim.
Hourglass ball gowns, swirling chiffon gowns, ornate cocktail dresses, bustier dresses are ideal.
Makeup for Kibbe Romantic Type
Makeup should be “elaborate and blended into a soft, watercolor face” and using soft pretty colors on cheeks and lips.
Kibbe says “eye makeup should be colorful and soft, with a bit of sparkle even for daytime. Evening makeup can be extremely glitzy!”
And he recommends against a neutral, “no color” makeup look, high-contrast colors, and angular contouring of cheeks, all matte-finished products, with no frosts or sparkles. He says these looks will either make you look tired or it will have an aging effect.
Hair for Kibbe Romantic Type
Hair should be “soft and stylized with a wispy silhouette framing the face. It should have a set, somewhat ornate look, but should never be stiff. The cut must be layered to accentuate curl or wave, as well as to hold a set effectively. Perms are possible for you, but your hair will still need setting to avoid a messy look.”
Geometric shapes with angular edge, sleek smooth styles, blunt-edged, blow-dry, overly layered hair, wash ‘n wear styles, stiff bouffant styles should all be avoided.
Celebrities with Romantic Body Types
- Marilyn Monroe
- Jessica Lange
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Jean Simmons
- Emma Samms
- Arlene Dahl
- Madonna
- Bernadette Peters
- Susan Sarandon
- Dolly Parton
- Gina Lollobrigida
