Women with Theatrical Romantic bodies are soft and voluptuous yet small and delicate. They also have faces that are soft and lush, with slight angles, and have large eyes, full lips, and dainty features.
Women with this body type have a narrow hourglass figure and delicate bone structure. They also tend to be under 5’5”, with small hands, feet, and wrists.
Even if she 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.
Theatrical Romantic will not be extremely tall, have large or wide bones, have large hands and feet, have extremely prominent facial structure or features, have small eyes narrow, thin or straight lips, or a boyishly straight figure lacking a defined waist.
The Kibbe Theatrical Romantic
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 Theatrical Romantic.
Yin has curved lines, round edges, flowing silhouettes, hourglass figures, fitted waists, rounded shapes, swirls, curves, and circles.
Yang has strong vertical lines, sharp edges, stiff, smooth silhouettes, elongated outlines, geometric shapes, rectangles, and triangles.
Where on the spectrum a person lands depends on their physical characteristics and will determine their Kibbe body type.
The Theatrical Romantic body type is mostly made up of the soft round characteristics of the Romantic body type – which is extremely yin.
However, it also has influences from the – very yang – Dramatic body type’s angular bone structure (often shoulders, jawline, or nose).
Theatrical Romantic Style
This Kibbe body shape is a combination of delicate, feminine features with a touch of drama and glamor, and your style should reflect that.
Always remember that you are a Romantic first and foremost, so delicacy, feminine beauty, charm, and grace is the cornerstone of your look.
The Dramatic undercurrent should always be used in small doses to theatrically add high-fashion flair to your appearance.
Kibbe recommends that you make sure to frame your face with a lot of intricate detail and accessories, including lavish hair and makeup.
Theatrical Romantic Clothes
Kibbe states in his book that “your overall direction is to showcase your curvy body with elegantly soft and fluid clothing, always distinctly defining the waist.”
Theatrical romantic figures have curvy busts and hips with a small waist, so wear clothing that emphasize the curves and defines the waste are idea for you.
Your necklines should be soft (draped necklines are ideal), and your clothes should be tapered at the wrists, hemline, and knees.
The fabric you wear should be lightweight, soft, draped, flowing, and clingy like silks, jersey, challis, crepe, handkerchief linen, etc.
The prints should be soft and delicate, and soft textures, sheer fabrics, and shiny fabrics are very flattering.
Clothing details should be delicate but glamorous, so elements like bows, sheer lace, soft ruffles, ornate appliqué, or even a delicate jabot are helpful.
Gathers, shirring, and draping at the waist create softness and intricacy that looks beautiful on you.
Also, make sure to add very sophisticated and glamorous accessories. They should always be feminine, intricate, and ornate.
He says, if you can, invest in high quality accessories, because polishing your look and providing elegance and sophistication.
Dresses
Theatrical Romantic dresses should always be feminine and shapely.
Dresses that emphasize the curves of your body and defines your waste are perfect for you.
Soft and draped necklines, defined shoulders, intricate detail such as shirring, gathers, sparkles, appliqué, etc. and tapered wrists if long sleeves are ideal.
If the dress is short, it should be tapered at the bottom. If it’s long, it should be flared at the bottom.
Pencil dresses, trumpet dress, fit-and-flare dresses, and circle dresses are beautiful on the Theatrical Romantic body.
Theatrical Romantic wedding dresses styles include tea length, ballgown, marinade, and trumpet.
While Kibbe doesn’t say this, if you want to wear a floor length dress, you can do so if you wear them with heels because they elongate your look.
Skirts
Skirts should be soft and shapely.
Kibbe says “you’re version of a ‘straight’ skirt is actually tulip-shaped, with some gathering at the waist and a narrow taper at the hem … no longer than just below the knee.”
Softly flowing skirts with an uneven hem that reach at least mid calf with draping, shirring, gathers, or bias-cut pieces are also recommended.
He doesn’t recommend pencil skirts, but that probably had something to do with the fabric at the time, because todays pencil skirts are very flattering to the Theatrical Romantic shape.
Trumpets skirts, circle skirts, and sarongs are also flattering.
While Kibbe doesn’t say this, if you want to wear floor length skirts, wear them with heels so you elongate your look.
Pants
Pants should always be high waisted to accentuate the waste.
Kibbe says they “should always be soft and draped, showcasing your curvy figure. [With] gathers, draping, or shirring at the waist, and a narrow or tapered ankle.”
Tapered pants and skinny jeans are the most flattering for Theatrical Romantics.
While Kibbe doesn’t mention this, you can wear bootcut jeans if they are high waisted, worn with heels, and floor length.
The same goes for wide leg pants but you also need to make sure they flatter your backside. This is because many wide leg pants could be loose on the behind and that will not flatter you.
Tops
Kibbe says, blouses should be “soft, silky, and draped styles with draped or ornate detail and lavish, intricate trim.”
He doesn’t write much about other types of shirts, but tucked to emphasize or fitted shirts work fine.
Sweaters
Sweaters should be form fitting knits with soft necklines.
Ornate trim and lavish patterns are recommended.
Jackets
Jackets should be short and nipped at the waist.
Flouncy peplums that flair out or hang down in the back are best.
Shoes
Theatrical Romantic shoes have delicate, feminine styles.
Kibbe recommends “strappy pumps with open backs and toes” as well as shoes with “ornate trim.”
Delicate details, such as ankle straps, bows, or lace accents work nicely.
He also recommends “feminine flats.” Ballet flats are a good option.
Theatrical Romantic Jewelry
Jewelry is your most important accessor. It provides elegance, glamour, and sophistication.
Kibbe says “shapes [should be] intricate, ornate, rounded, swirling, baroque, and rococo [and] sparkly materials are essential (crystal, gems, glass, polished metal, etc.) even for daytime, although you can suggest, rather than pour it on here. In the evening, go for broke-and trail your jewels behind you!”
Just remember to keep it delicate with lavish effect.
Jewelry to avoid include geometrics, sharp, severe, or avant-garde pieces, chunky pieces, rough, heavy, or ethnic pieces, and small symmetrical pieces.
Theatrical Romantic Hair Styles
According to Kibbe:
Hair should be lavish and ornate … the shape should be rounded, soft, and as full as possible.
Waves, perms, sets, teasing, and the like are all potential pluses for you. Just remember to keep the hair soft, never stiff.
If your hair is long, it should be elaborate and voluminous in a very well-cared-for manner.
If you hair is on the short side, it should look super stylized and coiffed.
The cut will require some layering for curve.
Makeup
Theatrical Romantic make up should be “soft and bright colors should be artfully blended around the eyes while the cheeks should be rosy and the lips glossy.”
Theatrical Romantic Outfits
- High-waisted tapered pants with a tucked silk blouse
- High-waisted pencil skirt with a tucked silk blouse
- High-wasted skinny jeans with a tucked in draped soft blouse
- High-waisted pencil skirt with a bodysuit
- High-wasted skinny jeans with a form fitting top
- Round skirt with a bodysuit
Theatrical Romantic Casual Style
Theatrical Romantic and casual are concepts I think Kibbe thought went together.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s not doable.
High waisted skinny jeans are in line with Kibbe’s pants recommendation.
A bodysuit and form fitting tucked in tops would hug your curves in a way that Kibbe recommends too.
Delicate yet simple flats, like basic ballet flats would work well for footwear.
And of course, Kibbe would insist on jewelry. Tasteful delicate layered necklaces should do the trick.
Theatrical Romantic Capsule Wardrobe
The colors for your capsule wardrobe would be based on your personal coloring and the colors you like.
- Skinny jeans
- Pencil skirt
- Tapered pants
- Round skirt
- Blouse
- T-shirt bodysuit
Just as an example, I have deep winter coloring so my capsule wardrobe looks like this:
- Dark-medium blue skinny jeans
- Black pencil skirt
- Medium blue denim pencil skirt
- Black tapered pants
- Dark red bodysuit
- Dark green bodysuit
- Dark purple bodysuit
- Light pink bodysuit
- Black bodysuit
- Dark red blouse
Theatrical Romantic Celebrities
- Vivien Leigh
- Jean Harlow
- Hedy Lamarr
- Rita Hayworth
- Jada Pinkett Smith
- Jane Seymour
- Anna Margaret
- Joan Collins
- Mila Kunis
- Morgan Fairchild
- Salma Hayek
- Selena Gomez
Soft Gamine vs Theatrical Romantic
According to David Kibbe:
The “Theatrical Romantic body has smaller, narrower curves. Hands and feet are narrower, more ‘birdlike.’ Bone structure is narrower. Eyes are round but slanted at the edge. Lips are round but less full. Cheekbones are more pronounced.”
Where as the “Soft Gamine body has more pronounced curves. Hands and feet are fleshier. Bone structure is slightly wider and sharper. Eyes are big and round, lips are very full and cheeks are ‘apple-shaped.”